Legalisation and translation of documents
Legalisation
The legalisation of documents is a necessary step in the process of applying for and being admitted to doctoral studies. This procedure validates studies completed abroad and varies depending on the country of origin of the studies.
The following documents must be submitted legalised:
Academic qualifications
Academic certificates
European Diploma Supplement (EDS)
For the legalisation of documents, the following methods will be taken into account depending on the country of issue of the document to be legalised.
Member countries of the European Union or signatories to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (list):
For documents issued in these countries, legalisation will not be necessary (only comparison with the original).
Member countries of the European Higher Education Area that do NOT belong to the European Union or the European Economic Area (list):
Documents issued in these countries must be legalised using one of these two procedures, described in the following sections:
Countries that are signatories to the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961, with which Spain recognises its entry into force
The Hague Apostille abolishes the requirement for diplomatic and consular legalisation of public documents originating in a country that is a signatory to the Convention and intended for use in another. The single legalisation procedure - known as the apostille - consists of the competent authority in each country affixing an apostille or annotation to the public document itself, certifying the authenticity of public documents issued in another country.
For documents issued in these countries, the documents must be presented with a Hague Apostille.
Countries that have signed the Andrés Bello Convention
In the case of countries that have signed the Andrés Bello Convention (Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Spain, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela), legalisation by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not necessary.
Documents will be legalised through diplomatic channels. To do so, they must be submitted to:
The Ministry of Education of the country of origin for academic qualifications and certificates, and the corresponding ministry for birth and nationality certificates.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country where the documents were issued (the stamp of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs is NOT required).
The diplomatic or consular representation of Spain in that country.
Other countries
Documents will be legalised through diplomatic channels. To do so, they must be submitted to:
The Ministry of Education of the country of origin for academic qualifications and certificates, and the corresponding ministry for birth and nationality certificates.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country where the documents were issued.
The diplomatic or consular representation of Spain in that country.
The Legalisation Section of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Tel. 913799700). (In the case of countries that have signed the Andrés Bello Agreement (Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Spain, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Dominican Republic and Venezuela), legalisation by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs is NOT necessary).
For documents legalised after 10/06/2013:
All foreign documents legalised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MAEC) must bear a transparent security label on the last signature of legalisation.
Foreign documents duly legalised by Spanish embassies or consulates, provided they bear the aforementioned security label, will be fully valid in Spain without requiring subsequent legalisation by the Legalisation Section of the MAEC.
Documents issued by diplomatic or consular authorities of other countries in Spain must be legalised by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Translation
Documents issued in a language other than Spanish, English or French must be accompanied by an official translation into Spanish, which may be done:
By the Language Interpretation Office of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (c/ Oquendo 11 (Madrid). Tel. 91 71 11 908).
By UNESCO, the Office of the Ibero-American Cooperation Centre or any other organisation recognised in Spain.
By any diplomatic or consular representation of the Spanish State abroad.
By the diplomatic or consular representation in Spain of the country of which the applicant is a national or, where applicable, of the country of origin of the document.
By a sworn translator, duly authorised and registered in Spain.