Procedure
Apostilles and legalisation
The Hague apostille certifies the authenticity of the signature, the capacity of the signatory and, where applicable, the identity of the seal on a public document, allowing it to be used in another contracting State without further legalisation.
Who issues it
- United Kingdom: the Legalisation Office of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
- Italy: the Prefettura or the Procura della Repubblica, depending on the nature of the document
- Spain: the Ministerio de Justicia, the Tribunales Superiores de Justicia or the Colegios Notariales, depending on the type of document
An apostille is not a translation
The apostille concerns the origin of the document, not its content. If the receiving office works in another language, a sworn or certified translation is still required, and in some cases that translation must itself be legalised. The order in which these steps are taken is decisive and is the most common cause of rejection.
When consular legalisation is needed
Documents from States that are not party to the Hague Convention still require consular legalisation, which follows a different route and timetable. We confirm the regime applicable to each document in the file before any application is made.
Would you like to know which procedure applies to your case?
Tell us the nationality, place of residence and intended place of marriage of each party, and we will reply with a written assessment and the list of documents required.
Request an assessmentThe information on this page is provided for general guidance only. It does not constitute legal advice and does not create a professional relationship. Every requirement must be confirmed with the authority handling the file in the individual case.