How do I apostille documents for a Spanish student visa?
An apostille is the official stamp from the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) that makes a UK document legally valid in Spain. The official service costs about £45 per document and takes around 10 working days by post; fast-track agencies such as 1Apostille turn it around in 1-2 days for roughly £82-£95 per document. For a student visa you typically apostille the ACRO police certificate and, for some consulates, the medical certificate.
Which documents need an apostille
- ACRO police certificate: always, for stays over 6 months
- Medical certificate: consulate-dependent, check yours before paying
- Sponsor documents (birth certificate, notarised sponsorship letter): only if a parent or guardian is funding you
Original documents only
The FCDO can only apostille wet-ink originals or properly certified copies. Printouts and emailed PDFs are rejected. This is why the postal ACRO certificate matters, and why you should wait until documents physically arrive before sending anything for legalisation. Sending the ACRO and medical certificate together saves a round of postage.
Official route vs agencies
- FCDO official service: about £45 per document, around 10 working days postal, longer in summer
- Fast-track agencies (for example 1Apostille): about £82-£95 per document, typically 1-2 days
- Both produce the identical apostille; you are paying for speed, not a better stamp
After the apostille
The apostilled documents still need a sworn Spanish translation, and the translation must cover the apostille itself. Do the apostille first, translation second, or you'll pay for translation twice.
Streamline the whole process
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Start my free planFrequently asked
How much does an apostille cost in the UK?
The official FCDO service is about £45 per document. Fast-track agencies charge roughly £82-£95 per document for 1-2 day turnaround.
How long does an FCDO apostille take?
Around 10 working days by post on the standard service, longer in peak summer. Agencies offer 1-2 day turnarounds.
Does Spain accept e-apostilles for student visas?
Practice varies by consulate. The paper apostille on the original document is the safe option; confirm anything else with your consulate first.