How to request the Diplomatic Legalisation of a document
The Diplomatic Legalisation of a public document is free, and can be done in the following ways
1. Without an appointment
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation (MFA) Legalisation Service is located at Calle del General Pardiñas nº 55, Madrid, 28006. Open from Monday to Friday, except for public holidays, from 09:00 to 14:00.
IMPORTANT
Capacity may be limited from 13:00 onwards, depending on the number of applicants.
The maximum number of documents accepted per person is 3, except in the following cases:
- Family unit documents, maximum 6.
- Duly authorised company documents, maximum 20.
- Documents submitted by duly accredited and authorised lawyers and other professional agents, maximum 10.
2. By registered mail
Steps to follow
- You will need to buy a premium envelope or registered letter.
The envelope should be addressed to:
Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores, Unión Europea y Cooperación
Servicio de Legalizaciones
Calle General Pardiñas 55, CP 28006 – Madrid.
- The envelope should include:
- The original document to be legalised with a handwritten signature (photocopies or electronically signed documents will not be legalised) and, where applicable, the corresponding translation into Spanish.
- A postage-paid envelope, suitable for the weight of the documents, for the return (premium or registered letter) with the addressee's name and full address.
- A piece of paper with a contact phone number.
- If not for Spain, state which country the documents must be valid in.
IMPORTANT
- Mailing only within national territory.
- For documents sent from the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla and the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands, you must provide, in addition to a telephone number, the recipient's National ID Card No. (DNI), Foreigner Identity Number (NIE), or passport number.
- Mail sent to a mailing list must be accompanied by a telephone number and email address.
- This Service is not responsible for loss or delays in the delivery of documents if this method is chosen.
3. Using a courier firm
Documents shall be sent to the same address as registered mail:
Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores, Unión Europea y Cooperación
Servicio de Legalizaciones.
Calle General Pardiñas 55, CP 28006 – Madrid
There are two options for their returns:
- Collection by the courier firm. An email address must be provided to receive notification that the document is ready for collection.
- Providing a certified/registered envelope for return. This must meet the same requirements as for the registered mail procedure.
4. Through an authorised agent
If you wish to use the services of an administrative manager, visit the website of the General Council of Administrative Managers of Spain, https://www.consejogestores.org/
In order to have access to the legalisation service, you must prove that you are a registered administrator in any of the Official Associations of Spain.
IMPORTANT
Before requesting the legalisation of a document, please ensure the following:
- The documents must have a handwritten signature and the corresponding signature footnote, otherwise they cannot be legalised.
- Check that the country where the documents are to be valid, or the country that issued them, is not a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention, because in this case the documents must be prepared for an Apostille Certificate, and cannot be legalised. You can check the list of signatory countries.
- If the document is not written in Spanish, it must be accompanied by an official translation, also with a handwritten signature, done by any of the official sworn translators authorised by the MFA, by the corresponding Spanish Consulate or Embassy, or by the Embassy or Consulate of the country issuing the document in Spain. You can check the list of the official sworn translators authorised by the MFA.
Visit Our website for the full procedure for each type of document to be legalised, with different channels depending on the document in question.