In our day-to-day work at BigTranslation, as a translation agency which is also specialised in sworn translations, we often come across apostilled documents or documents that require an apostille in order to be valid in other countries. This type of procedure usually raises many queries among our customers – what exactly is an apostille, when are they needed and how do you obtain one? Therefore, today we’re going to clarify some key points to make the process easier and prevent delays in the submission of official documents.

Do you need to submit an official document in another country and have been asked for an “apostille”? If you don’t know where to start, don’t worry: in this article, we explain what a Hague Apostille is, what documents you can get apostilled, how much it costs, where you can obtain them from, and how long it takes to process.

What is the Hague Apostille?

The Hague Apostille is an international certificate that confirms that the signature, seal or stamp of a public document are authentic.
Thanks to the 1961 Hague Convention, this system enables you to avoid consular legalisation, simplifying the process for using official documents abroad.

In other words, if your document is apostilled, it will be automatically recognised as valid in any member country of the Convention.

But the Hague Apostille always raises lots of questions, doubts or queries. We’ve tried to put together the most common ones to provide you with some answers.

What documents can be apostilled?

It is only possible to apostille public documents issued in a country that is a signatory to the Hague Convention.
Some examples include:

• Birth, marriage or death certificates.
• Court rulings or official resolutions.
• Notarised documents and powers of attorney.
• University degree certificates and academic certificates.

 If your document belongs to a private company (a contract or invoice, for example), it cannot be apostilled directly. In these cases, ordinary legalisation is required.

Where is the Hague Apostille processed?

Each country has a specific authority for issuing apostilles.
For example, in Spain, they can be obtained from:

• Associations of Notaries.
• High Courts of Justice.
• The Ministry of Justice (also with an online option in some cases).

Before contacting them, it’s worth confirming which is the relevant body according to the type of document.

How much does apostilling a document cost?

The price will vary depending on the country and type of document.
In Spain, the cost usually varies between 15 and 25 euros per document, although some notaries may add a small handling fee.

How long does it take to obtain the apostille?

The processing time depends on the country and volume of requests.
In most cases, in Spain, the process takes between 2 and 7 business days, although it is possible to request an express service for urgent cases.

Which countries accept the Hague Apostille?

Currently, more than 120 countries form part of the Hague Convention and recognise the Apostille as a valid certification method.
This includes most of Europe, America, Asia and Africa.

Before starting the process, check the destination country is on the official list of members of the Convention.

 What happens if the country does not accept the Apostille?

If the document needs to be submitted in a country which is not a member of the Hague Convention, the traditional diplomatic legalisation procedure will need to be followed.
This involves authenticating the document at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then at the embassy or consulate of the destination country.

The Hague Apostille is a fast, secure and internationally recognised way of validating public documents between member countries of the Convention.
Knowing where to obtain one, which documents are accepted and how to combine it with a sworn translation can save you time, money and complications.

Do you need to translate your apostilled document?

If the document needs to be submitted in another language for a bureaucratic procedure, a sworn translation may be mandatory in order for it to retain its legal validity.
Our team are specialists in sworn translations and we work with a fast turnaround and clear quotes.

You can obtain your no obligation quote through our Instant quote service or by sending your documents to the email address sales@bigtranslation.com and our team will be delighted to assist you.

Ultimately, sworn translation plays an essential role when there is a need to guarantee legal validity and use of official documents in other languages. Having an accredited sworn translator not only guarantees the accuracy of the content, but also that the document will be recognised by public and private bodies. At BigTranslation, we offer you a team of accredited professionals who are specialised in sworn translations and can guarantee quality, confidentiality and compliance of the necessary legal requirements so that your international formalities are handled without delay.