Notariado
Notaries public or notaries are public officers who have the authority to act as official witnesses when contracts, deeds or out-of-court documents are signed. When a document has to be submitted to a foreign institution, they may perform one of the following tasks:- Certified copies. Notaries compare and certify that a certain copy (often a photocopy) is a true copy of an original document (a certification is stamped or attached to this new document).
- Apostille. This official certification, which was approved in The Hague Convention of 1961, is used to authenticate a signed document so that it can be used in other countries. This certification can only be used by the signatory countries of the said convention (official list).
- Legalisation. This official certification is used to authenticate a signed document so that it can be used in other countries. However, it can only be used when the document has to be submitted to a foreign institution of a country that is not included in the said convention.
If you need a certified copy, an apostille or to have your documents legalised, you can find a notary public by clicking on the following links:
- National Directory of Notaries (Spain)
- European Directory of Notaries (UK and Ireland not included)
In the United Kingdom and Ireland, notaries' functions and duties are carried out by other legal practitioners. You can find a notary public by using these websites:
- The Notaries Society (England and Wales)
- Law Society of Scotland
- The Law Society of Northern Ireland
- The Faculty of Notaries Public in Ireland
Simplification of bureaucratic procedures in the EU
EU authorities have decided to simplify certain bureaucratic procedures and allow citizens and documents to move and be shared more easily. The authenticity stamps known as apostilles are no longer required for documents issued and submitted within the EU. Moreover, no sworn or certified translations will be required for certain
public documents as stated in Regulation (EU) 2016/1191 of the European
Parliament and of the Council, of 6th July 2016, on promoting the
free movement of citizens by simplifying the requirements for presenting
certain public documents in the European Union and amending Regulation
(EU) No. 1024/2012.
This regulation, which came into force on 16/02/2019, establishes that no sworn or certified translation will be required for the said documents if an official standard form is attached as translation aid. However, EU authorities will have the right to require a sworn or certified translation of these documents if they consider that it is necessary to ensure the procedure is completed.
Multilingual standard forms
The standard forms to be used as translation aids for any documents issued regarding birth, life, marriage, marital status, death, registered partnership, domicile or residence, and absence of a criminal record are available in the European e-Justice Portal. Forms can be downloaded by clicking on the attached picture.
Notes:
Regulation (EU) 2016/1191 can be consulted in the official website of the Official Journal of the European Union (OJ). This information can be accessed by clicking on the image on the right.
For further information on how EU documents should be managed and shared, please refer to the section created by the European e-Justice Portal. This information can be accessed by clicking on the image on the right.
The regulation covers public documents issued in the following areas:
- Birth
- A person being alive
- Marriage
- Marital status
- Death
- Name
- Divorce, legal separation and annulment
- Registered partnership
- Parenthood
- Adoption
- Domicile or residence
- Nationality
- Absence of a criminal record
- Right to vote and stand as a candidate in municipal and EU elections
This regulation, which came into force on 16/02/2019, establishes that no sworn or certified translation will be required for the said documents if an official standard form is attached as translation aid. However, EU authorities will have the right to require a sworn or certified translation of these documents if they consider that it is necessary to ensure the procedure is completed.
Multilingual standard forms
The standard forms to be used as translation aids for any documents issued regarding birth, life, marriage, marital status, death, registered partnership, domicile or residence, and absence of a criminal record are available in the European e-Justice Portal. Forms can be downloaded by clicking on the attached picture.Notes:
- EU authorities may require certified translations if they consider that the form submitted is incomplete or inadequate.
- Apostilles are no longer necessary if a public document issued by an EU Member State is submitted or presented in a different EU Member State.
Regulation (EU) 2016/1191 can be consulted in the official website of the Official Journal of the European Union (OJ). This information can be accessed by clicking on the image on the right.For further information on how EU documents should be managed and shared, please refer to the section created by the European e-Justice Portal. This information can be accessed by clicking on the image on the right.