Spain: notarial and document services
Source: gov.uk (2025-02-03)

How someone in Spain can get documents legalised, witnessed or certified, take an oath of British citizenship and obtain informative notes.

Overview

British consulates in Spain can provide a range of notarial and documentary services for British nationals. You can apply for most services online or by post. The only services for which you’ll need to attend an appointment in person at the British consulate are for the issue of a foreign marriage recognition certificate or a citizenship ceremony.

Where local notaries can provide services, the British consulate will not provide them. In many cases Spanish notaries (https://notaries-directory.eu/) or English speaking lawyers (https://find-a-professional-service-abroad.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/find?serviceType=lawyers&country=spain) in Spain can provide services more cheaply, quickly and conveniently.

You cannot get documents for marriage in the UK (https://www.gov.uk/marriages-civil-partnerships) from British consulates in Spain.

British consulates in Spain do not translate documents. For a list of all accredited translators and interpreters in Spain see the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation online database (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/spain-list-of-translators-and-interpreters/list-of-translators-and-interpreters-in-spain).

For further information, see the section on services we do not provide (#Services-we-do-not-provide) and the useful links for information on living in Spain (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/useful-information-living-in-spain).

Services we provide in Spain

We issue:
- certificates relating to marriage such as a ‘Certificate of No Impediment’ or a ‘Marital Status Certificate’ (#Marriage-docs) (online application)
- certificates of marital status for cohabitation registration (pareja/unión de hecho) (#MSC-pdh-other) (postal application)
- certificates of marital status for other reasons such as to register a child’s birth (#MSC-other-reasons) (postal application)
- certificates of foreign marriage recognition (#FMRC)
- certificates of no objection for adoption for British nationals resident in Spain (#Adoption) (postal application)
If you can’t find the service you are looking for on this page, see other services provided by British consulates in Spain (https://www.gov.uk/government/world/organisations/british-embassy-madrid#our-services), the Living in Spain page (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-spain) and the list of services we do not provide (#Services-we-do-not-provide).

Marriage documents

From 3 February 2025 we will no longer accept paper applications for marital status certificates for marriage (MSC) or certificates of no impediment (CNI). Please apply online using the links provided in the ‘Apply online’ section (below.

Before applying online for a Certificate of No Impediment and/or a Marital Status Certificate, you must check with the Civil Registry which documents you are required to present. This can vary across Spain. For example, British nationals submitting marriage paperwork to the Central Civil Registry in Barcelona should note that only marital status certificates are accepted since May 2019.

When to apply

The Spanish authorities usually consider that certificates expire 3 or 6 months after the date of issue depending on the type of certificate. You must apply for the appropriate consular certificates approximately 3 months before your civil registry appointment date when you hand in your documents to arrange a wedding date or, the date of your actual wedding ceremony if you are holding a religious ceremony first and registering the marriage at the civil registry afterwards. Check this requirement with your Civil Registry.

What documents you need to provide with your application

When you begin the online application process for the service you need, the full list of the supporting documents you’ll need to provide will be listed.

Consular fees and payment

Payment is made once you have completed the online application form and submitted the necessary supporting documents in digital format.

See the full list of consular fees (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/consular-services-fees).

Application processing times

We do not provide updates on application status.

Applications are processed only when the British Consulate-General Madrid has received all the necessary original documentation by post or courier service (the original notarised affirmation and / or notices of marriage and any supporting documents required).

Processing times do not start at the time of payment. We will only begin to process your application after receipt of your original documentation. Plan ahead as processing can take up to a maximum of 30 working days from the date of postal receipt of your application at the consulate.

We are not able to issue a Certificate of No Impediment until a minimum of 8 days after the date of application approval and no impediment has been shown to exist.

Apply online

Select the service you require to apply online:
- Certificate of No Impediment (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/getting-married-in-spain#apply-for-a-certificate-of-no-impediment)
- Marital Status Certificate for marriage (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/getting-married-in-spain#apply-for-a-marital-status-certificate) (marriage only – if you require a Marital Status Certificate for cohabitation (pareja / union de hecho) registration or another reason see other services we provide (#Other-services)
- both Certificate of No Impediment and a Marital Status certificate (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/getting-married-in-spain#msc-cni)
Other notarial and documentary services we provide in Spain

1. Marital Status Certificate for Cohabitation Registration (Pareja/Unión de Hecho) or other reason in Spain

Pareja/Unión de Hecho registration

The consular Marital Status Certificate may be required to register a cohabitation (pareja / union de hecho) arrangement with the regional Spanish authorities depending on where you reside and where you wish to register in Spain. This is not equivalent to a Civil Partnership registered in the United Kingdom.

The full list of requirements to register may differ according to the region (Comunidad Autónoma) in which you wish to register with your partner. Also some regions require a Marital Status Certificate issued by the British consulate and 5 regions do not. See section on regional differences below.

Check specific requirements

Each Pareja/Unión de Hecho office has its own requirements therefore you need to make enquiries about the documents required with the office where you wish to carry out the registration.The type of document required to prove you are single depends on the region where you reside in Spain.

Cohabitation registration is not a British consular service and therefore we cannot to answer enquiries about their requirements.

Applying from Andalusia, the Balearic or Canary Islands, Valencia or Madrid

Regions (Comunidades Autónomas) in Spain where the authorities have confirmed they do not accept a Marital Status Certificate for Pareja/Unión de Hecho registration issued by the British consulate:
- Andalusia
- Balearic Islands
- Madrid
- Valencia
- Canary Islands
If you are single and you are requested to provide a Marital Status Certificate in one of the 5 Autonomous Communities mentioned above, you need to apply for a “No Trace Letter” by telephone from the Certificates Section of the General Register Office (https://www.gov.uk/general-register-office) in either England and Wales, Northern Ireland or Scotland, translated (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/spain-list-of-translators-and-interpreters/list-of-translators-and-interpreters-in-spain) into Spanish and legalised (https://www.gov.uk/get-document-legalised).

Although the 5 regions mentioned above may request a ‘marital status certificate’, the document they are referring to is actually the ‘No Trace Letter’ which more closely matches the format of their regional equivalent document.

If you apply for a consular certificate to register a Pareja/Union de Hecho in any of these regions, we will be obliged to send the documents back to you by post.

A Marital Status Certificate issued by the British consulate is usually accepted for Pareja/Unión de Hecho registration in all the other regions (Comunidades Autónomas) of Spain except for the 5 previously mentioned above.

Other reasons for applying for a Marital Status Certificate issued by the British consulate

You may be asked to present a Marital Status Certificate issued by the British consulate for other reasons such as supporting the late birth registration of a child born in Spain at a Spanish Civil Registry.

There is a checklist of required supporting documents in the application pack. You will need to get any documents that are not in English or Spanish translated into Spanish.

You must sign the affirmation in the application pack in front of a local notary public in Spain (https://www.notaries-directory.eu/) and post this to us by registered post along with the other documents as listed in the application pack.

We recommend you submit your application approximately 3 months before the date of your appointment to carry out your registration with the Spanish Pareja/Unión de Hecho office. The approval process can take up to 30 working days from the date of receipt of an application by the consulate. If we receive a fully completed application with all of the required, correct, supporting documents we will process the application much sooner.

If both you and your partner are British, you will need to make 2 separate applications.

Application form to register a Cohabitation Registration (Pareja/Unión de Hecho) or other reason in Spain

If you wish to register a Pareja/Unión de Hecho in any region in Spain except for Andalucía, las Islas Baleares, Comunidad de Madrid, Comunidad Valenciana and las Islas Canarias, or you require this certificate for another reason (not marriage), you should download and complete the Marital Status Certificate application pack for Pareja de Hecho registration or other reason (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65e6fc257bc3290adab8c1ca/Marital_Status_Certificate_application_pack_for_Pareja_Union_de_Hecho_or_other_reason_Feb24.pdf) (PDF, 309 KB, 9 pages).

2. Foreign Marriage Recognition Certificate

If you have a Spanish green residence certificate in A4 format or credit card size (Certificado de Residencia de Ciudadano de la Unión Europea) or the new TIE residence card issued under the withdrawal agreement; and your marriage took place in a country other than Spain or the UK, the Spanish immigration authorities may ask you to register your marriage in the UK in order for your spouse to apply for a Spanish residence card.

It is not possible to register a marriage celebrated in a foreign country at the General Register Office or with any other government authority in the United Kingdom or in a British consulate/embassy abroad.

A UK government authority cannot state whether a foreign marriage is valid, legal and subsisting. As a result, British consulates issue the Foreign Marriage Recognition Certificate, which usually covers this requirement.

Your spouse may need this certificate to apply for a Spanish residence card from the Spanish Foreigners’ Office (Extranjería). Read the instructions in the application pack (link below). After we have received a fully completed application from you by email, we will contact you to arrange an appointment at the nearest British consulate in Spain.

Both you and your spouse will need to attend the appointment to apply for the certificate, when you will both need to make separate declarations regarding your marriage. The declarations will be provided for you.

This certificate is not issued in support of Spanish visa applications and both of you must be in Spain when you apply.

If neither of you speak English or Spanish, you should take a sworn interpreter with you.

Application form for a Foreign Marriage Recognition Certificate

Download and complete the Foreign Marriage Recognition Certificate application pack (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1041005/Foreign_Marriage_Recognition_Certificate_pack_Nov_2021.pdf) (PDF, 714 KB, 4 pages).

A checklist of required supporting documents is set out in the application form. Any documents that are not in English or Spanish need to be translated into Spanish. See translation guidance (#Translation) below for further information.

Book an appointment for the Foreign Marriage Recognition Certificate

Send your completed application form and your supporting documents (max 4 MB) by email to the following address:

Email: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

The consulate will contact you if they have any queries about your documents. We will contact you within a maximum of 10 working days of reading your email either to confirm that you have provided the correct documentation or to request further supporting documents.

After your application has been approved, you will be contacted to make an appointment at your nearest British consulate (https://www.gov.uk/government/world/organisations/british-embassy-madrid#our-services) in Spain.

3. Certificate of No Objection for Adoption by British nationals resident in Spain

British nationals resident in Spain who wish to adopt a child from a country other than the UK may be required by the Spanish adoption authorities to obtain a certificate of no objection from the British consulate.

You must first obtain independent legal advice (https://find-a-professional-service-abroad.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/find?serviceType=lawyers&country=spain) as to whether Spain is your habitual place of residence and then swear a statement witnessed by a lawyer or a notary in which you confirm your country of residence.

Depending on the country where the adoption takes place and the legislation of the country under which the child is being adopted, some adoptions are automatically recognised in the UK. For further information and before applying for a certificate read the following information:
- information on designated countries (https://www.gov.uk/intercountry-adoption-information-for-adoption-agencies)
- adoption: statutory guidance 2013 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/adoption-statutory-guidance-2013)
- register as a British citizen: children born out of the UK (https://www.gov.uk/register-british-citizen/children-born-outside-uk)
- UK Visas and Immigration (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration)
- child adoption (https://www.gov.uk/child-adoption/adopting-a-child-from-overseas)
Making your application

At the time of making your application for a certificate from the consulate you will need to confirm whether the adoption is being processed under Spanish law or under the law of the country that the child is being adopted from.

Download and complete a Certificate of No Objection for Adoption application pack (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1150134/Certificate_of_No_Objection_for_Adoption_application_pack_April23.pdf). There’s a checklist of required supporting documents in the form. You will need to obtain a translation (#Translation) into Spanish of any documents that are not in English or Spanish.

Send your application pack with your supporting documents by registered post to:

British Consulate-General MadridNotarial ServicesTorre EmperadorPaseo de la Castellana 259D28046 Madrid

After your application has been approved, you will receive a certificate of no objection by courier.

You will need to pay fee 2ii (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/spain-consular-fees) £50 for each certificate plus £13 courier fee for mainland Spain and Balearics or £10,60 for urgent registered post to Canary Islands.

If you and your partner are both British, the consulate is willing to issue one certificate which includes both sets of details. You need to confirm beforehand with the Spanish adoption authorities whether individual certificates will be needed or if one certificate for both of you will be sufficient. In any case, you have to submit separate application forms and copies of your documents.

Translation and legalisation

Translation

British consulates in Spain do not translate documents.

Translations in Spanish are usually accepted by the Spanish Foreigners’ Office if they’re by one of the following:
- a sworn translator: see the list of translators and interpreters in Spain (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/spain-list-of-translators-and-interpreters/list-of-translators-and-interpreters-in-spain)
- the consulate or embassy in Spain of the country where the marriage took place
- a translator in the country where the marriage took place as long as the translation has been certified by the consulate/embassy in Spain of that country
Legalisation

The Spanish Foreigners’ Office (Extranjería) will usually require your marriage certificate to have been both issued and legalised (https://www.gov.uk/get-document-legalised) in the last 3 months prior to the date of your appointment to submit your residence card application. Otherwise, you need to check with your local Spanish Foreigners’ Office as to whether they will accept a marriage certificate issued more than 3 months and/or legalised (https://www.gov.uk/get-document-legalised) more than 3 months beforehand. You must do this before applying for your consular certificate.

If the country where you married is part of the Hague Convention, the legalisation office in that country will place a stamp or vignette called ‘The Hague Apostille’ (Apostilla de la Haya) on the back of the document.

Check the list of countries that are part of the Hague Convention (https://www.hcch.net/index.cfm?oldlang=en&act=states.listing).

If not, you’ll need to use the diplomatic legalisation process which usually consists of the following:
- contact the authority in the country where your marriage was registered and get your marriage certificate stamped and signed (legalised (https://www.gov.uk/get-document-legalised)) by the authority which issued the certificate
- take your stamped and signed (legalised (https://www.gov.uk/get-document-legalised)) marriage certificate to the Spanish embassy in the country you got married in so they can then legalise the stamp/signature (legalisation) of the issuing authority
- for advice on how to do this once in Spain, contact the embassy or consulate of the country where you got married
Services we do not provide

British Consulates in Spain do not:
- translate documents (#Translations)
- provide criminal records check or good conduct certificates (#Criminal-records-conduct-certificates)
- issue ‘Life certificates’ (#Life-certificates)
- ‘legalise’ documents (#Legalise-document)
- provide recognition of marriage between a British national and a non-EU national for Spanish visa application purposes (#Recognition-marriage-certificates-non-EU%20national)
- ‘legalise’ UK educational documents for use in Spain (#Legalised-educational-documents)
- convert a civil partnership to marriage (#Convert-civil-partnership-marriage)
- issue ‘Consular Registration Certificates’ (#Consular-registration-certificate)
- provide a letter of ‘Transfer of address’ (#Transfer-address)
- issue certificates confirming changes of name/or surname for ‘certificados de concordancia’ (#Name-change-certificado)
- issue certificates of changes of name and / or surname in a British passport (#Name-change-passport)
- issue a letter ‘proving address for marriage’ (#Proof-address-marriage)
- provide a certificate proving a change of British passport number (#Change-passport-number)
- provide information on marriage banns (#Marriage-banns)
- issue certificates confirming your British nationality or proof that you do not have British nationality (#Certificates-confirming-British-nationality)
- provide a certified authorisation for children travelling from Spain (#Children-travelling-from-Spain)
- witness signatures or administer declarations (#Witnessing-signatures-administering-declarations)
- provide copies of UK birth, marriage or death certificates (#UK-birth-marriage-death-certificates)
- provide copies of UK divorce decrees (#UK-divorce-decrees)
Translations

For official translators in Spain visit the Sworn Translators-Interpreters page on the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAEC) website (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/spain-list-of-translators-and-interpreters/list-of-translators-and-interpreters-in-spain). British consulates in Spain don’t translate documents.

UK and Spain criminal records check/good conduct certificates

The consulate is not able to provide criminal records checks and good conduct certificates. If you are a British national resident overseas or of another nationality but have previously resided in the UK, see information on how to apply for a UK criminal record check certificate (https://acro.police.uk/s/).

If you are resident in Spain, to apply for a job you may need to provide a Spanish criminal records certificate. Visit: Certificado de Antecedentes Penales (https://sede.mjusticia.gob.es/en/tramites/certificado-antecedentes) for more information.

To work with children, you may require a certificate from the Spanish sex offenders registry. For further information visit: Certificado de Delitos de Naturaleza Sexual (https://sede.mjusticia.gob.es/en/tramites/certificado-registro-central).

Life certificates

The consulate does not provide life certificates for British nationals claiming a British pension abroad. Refer to the List of professionals who can witness a life certificate (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5d1dc20540f0b609da30d3e1/5_Life_Certificate_Witness_Options.pdf) (PDF, 17.8 KB, 2 pages)

Recognition of marriage between a British national and a non-EU national for Spanish visa application purposes

Note that British consulates are not able to correspond or reply to enquiries about requests for recognition/registration/validation of a foreign marriage in the UK for Spanish visa application purposes.

For further information, seek the advice of a lawyer (https://find-a-professional-service-abroad.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/find?serviceType=lawyers&country=spain).

Visa applications and proving validity of a foreign marriage

British embassies no longer provide standard wording to comment on the validity of a foreign marriage under UK law nor confirm that a foreign marriage cannot be registered in the UK or at a British embassy or consulate for the purpose of a visa application to Spain by a non-EU spouse of a British national.

This was agreed at a meeting between consular staff at the British Embassy in Madrid and the Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores, Unión Europea y de Cooperación on 8 February 2016. At this meeting the Ministry confirmed that Spanish embassies would consider each visa application on its own merits and would do so without recourse to comment from the UK authorities. The British Embassy Madrid wrote formally by Note Verbale to the Ministry on 22 March 2016 which was duly acknowledged by the Ministry on 6 April 2016.

Las Embajadas británicas ya no expiden la nota informativa que comenta sobre la validez, según la ley en el Reino Unido, de un matrimonio celebrado en un país extranjero o la confirmación de que no se pueden registrar dichos matrimonios en el Reino Unido, en un Consulado o una Embajada británica a efectos de una solicitud de visado para España por el cónyuge no comunitario de una persona de nacionalidad británica.

Esto fue acordado en una reunión entre oficiales consulares de la Embajada británica en Madrid y el Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores y de Cooperación el 8 de febrero de 2016. En esta reunión el Ministerio confirmó que las Embajadas españolas examinarían cada solicitud de visado según las circunstancias y factores propios e individuales de la solicitud sin recurrir a los comentarios de las autoridades británicas.

El 22 de marzo de 2016 la Embajada Británica en Madrid confirmó por Nota Verbal la retirada de dicha Nota Informativa y recibió acuse de recibo con fecha 6 de abril de 2016 del Ministerio.

Notarial Services Madrid June 2016

If both you and your non-EU spouse are already in Spain and your non-EU spouse wishes to apply for a Spanish residence card, see our information above on how to apply for a Foreign Marriage Recognition Certificate. This certificate is not applicable to Spanish visa applications.

Legalise a document

This service is for customers who require confirmation that the signature, seal or stamp on a document is genuine. It does not certify the authenticity of a document or give approval of its content. The British consulates in Spain do not legalise UK documents with the Hague Apostille therefore UK public documents must be legalised by the Legalisation Office (https://www.gov.uk/get-document-legalised).

You can get certain official UK documents ‘legalised’ (https://www.gov.uk/get-document-legalised) by asking the Legalisation Office to confirm that the signature, stamp or seal is from a UK public official.

The Legalisation Office will check the document, including whether the signature, stamp or seal is genuine. They’ll legalise the document by attaching a stamped official certificate (Hague Apostille) to it.

Legalisation of UK educational documents for use in Spain

From 31 October 2021, if you require educational or professional recognition in Spain of UK educational documents, they will need to be certified and then legalised by the FCDO Legalisation Office (https://www.gov.uk/get-document-legalised).

The British Council and the British consulates in Spain are not able to provide assistance with certifying or legalising UK educational documents.

Prior to sending your degree certificate or other educational document to the FCDO Legalisation Office (https://www.gov.uk/get-document-legalised) your certificate or transcript must be certified by a notary public in the UK (that is, a UK public official).

When the notary public signs the document, they must:
- have a valid practising certificate
- sign the document in the UK
- state the action they have taken, for example, witnessed, certified a copy, confirmed as original
- use their personal signature, not a company signature
- include the date of certification
- include their name and company address
- the notary public’s signature must be an original, hand-written signature. The Legalisation Office cannot accept a photocopy or scan of a signature
If your document has not been certified in line with this guidance, the Legalisation Office will not be able to provide the service you require and your document will be returned to you.

Convert a civil partnership to marriage

You can’t convert a civil partnership into marriage in Spain. You need to contact a UK registrar and make an appointment to convert your civil partnership into marriage (https://www.gov.uk/convert-civil-partnership/convert-a-civil-partnership-in-england-and-wales).

Consular Registration Certificate

As of May 2013, British consulates in Spain no longer issue the Certificate of Consular Registration.

Explanation of marriage banns

From 1 April 2015, British consulates in Spain no longer issue the “Informative Note: Explanation of the Marriage Banns”. If your local civil registry still asks for information on the marriage banns, print out the Informative Note re publication of Marriage Banns (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5d1dc22b40f0b609f39009d3/6_NV_87_Informative_Note_re_marriage_banns.pdf) (PDF, 84.5 KB, 3 pages) and show it to them.

Transfer of address

British consulates in Spain no longer issue the Consular Letter: Transfer of address for importation of vehicles/household goods/change of registration plates (also known as the Baja Consular).

You can provide the following documents in place of the Baja Consular:
- work contract or proof of self-employment
- a residence permit or work permit for the country you have been residing in - if you’re coming from outside the UK
If you don’t have either of these, contact the Spanish state tax administration agency (https://sede.agenciatributaria.gob.es/Sede/en_gb/inicio.html) (Agencia Estatal de Administración Tributaria/AEAT).

If the tax authorities insist on a letter from the consulate, you can print out the Communication about Baja Consular (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5d2c226340f0b64a8553156f/7_Baja_Consular_Communication.pdf) (PDF, 141 KB, 1 page) and show it to them.

Change of name and/or surname and Certificado de Concordancia

British consulates in Spain no longer issue the Informative Note regarding English law on naming convention and change of name and/or surname in the UK. If you are having problems changing your name in Spain, you can print out the Statement of Law on name changes (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5d2c226fed915d2fefd0bd3d/8_NV_208_Statement_of_Law_name_change.pdf) (PDF, 139 KB, 3 pages) and show it to the authorities.

If you have changed your name and/or surname and you are required to provide a ‘certificado de concordancia’ confirming your name and/or surname change(s) and that you are the same person, you need to submit a subject access request to HMPO (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/subject-access-request-form).

Change of name and / or surname on British passport

British consulates are not able to provide proof of previous name and/or surname, previous passport number or proof of identity. If you have been requested to provide proof of your previous British passports to show evidence of a change of name and/or surname (‘Certificado de Concordancia’) or for other reasons you must contact His Majesty’s Passport Office (HMPO) (https://www.gov.uk/passport-advice-line) to request this information.

You can do this by completing a data subject rights request form (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/subject-access-request-form) and sending it to HMPO.

The Spanish authorities usually ask for the letter you received from HMPO to be legalised (https://www.gov.uk/get-document-legalised) and accompanied with a sworn translation into Spanish. British consulates do not legalise or translate documents.

A sworn translation is a translation carried out by a sworn translator who is registered as such with the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. See our list of sworn translators in Spain (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/spain-list-of-translators-and-interpreters/list-of-translators-and-interpreters-in-spain) for further details.

Proof of address for marriage

British consulates in Spain no longer issue the “Consular Letter: Proof of Address for Marriage” (Confirmación de domicilio para casarse en España). Use one of the following documents instead:
- a letter confirming your address (for example, electoral roll)
- bank or building society statement, credit card statement
- mortgage statement
- council tax letter
- utility bills
- recent proof of entitlement to local or state benefits (for example, tax credits, pension, education or other benefits)
If you’re still asked to provide documentation from the British consulate, you can print out the Informative Note re Change of British Passport number on renewal (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5d2c2288ed915d2fefd0bd3e/10_Informative_Note_Change_of_British_passport_number_on_renewal_ES.pdf) (PDF, 77.5 KB, 2 pages) and show it to the authorities.

Change of British passport number

British consulates in Spain no longer issue the “Consular Certificate: Change of British passport number on renewal”. You can use instead the Informative Note re Change of British Passport number on renewal (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5d2c2288ed915d2fefd0bd3e/10_Informative_Note_Change_of_British_passport_number_on_renewal_ES.pdf) (PDF, 77.5 KB, 2 pages).

Alternatively, you can submit a Freedom of Information Request (https://www.gov.uk/make-a-freedom-of-information-request) to HM Passport Office (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-passport-office), asking for confirmation that you were the holder of your previous passport(s).

You’ll need to visit HM Passport Office (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-passport-office) for further information.

Certificates confirming your British nationality or proof that you do not have British nationality

Even if you or your children have British passports, you may be asked by the Spanish authorities for a certificate confirming you are a British national.

Also, the Spanish authorities sometimes request a certificate confirming that you or your children do not hold British nationality.

In both cases visit UK Visas and Immigration (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/citizenship-application-forms) and the section entitled Nationality Services for further information.

Children travelling from Spain

On 1 September 2019, the Spanish authorities implemented a new regulation. Children (under 18 years old) resident in Spain, who travel out of Spain without a person who has parental responsibility, may need a certified authorisation by that person. This is required in addition to a valid travel document.

The Spanish authorities have confirmed that the regulation does not apply to foreign children resident in Spain who are subject to the law of their country of nationality, or to non-resident foreign children visiting Spain.

We have notified the Spanish immigration authorities that there is no similar standard regulation in the UK, so British consulates do not provide travel authorisation documents. British children do not need written permission to travel unless they are subject to a court order which states that written permission is required from those holding parental responsibility.

If the child is subject to such a court order, or to ensure that an unaccompanied child will be able to leave Spain without delay, you must obtain the certified authorisation from a public notary (https://notaries-directory.eu/en) in Spain.

If you have parental responsibility for Spanish children in Spain, you can obtain a certified authorisation at a notary, national police station (in Spanish) (https://sede.policia.gob.es/portalCiudadano/sede_electronica/ciudadanos/declaracion_permiso_viaje_menores.pdf), or at the Guardia Civil (in Spanish) (http://www.guardiacivil.es/en/servicios/Procedimientos_administrativos/Permiso_para_salida_de_menores_al_extranjero.html).

Witnessing signatures or administering declarations

The services below may be provided by Spanish notaries (https://www.notaries-directory.eu/) or English speaking lawyers in Spain (https://find-a-professional-service-abroad.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/find?serviceType=lawyers&country=spain):
- witnessing signatures on probate documents
- witnessing signatures or administering declarations on powers of attorney
- witnessing signatures or administering declarations on wills
- witnessing signatures or administering declarations on company documents
- witnessing signatures or administering declarations on name change deed polls and similar documents
- certificates or statements of law in the UK
- certified photocopies of British passports, Home Office registration/naturalisation certificates, UK educational documents (including those issued in the UK by a recognised institution and listed in the Legalisation Office website), British driving licences, British divorce decrees, and foreign documents including passports, educational documents and ID documents
- certifying your identity for British banks, building societies and other institutions
UK birth, marriage or death certificates

You should contact the General Register Office (https://www.gov.uk/general-register-office) for information on how to apply for a copy of a UK birth, marriage or death certificates

UK divorce decrees

See Get a copy of a decree absolute or final order (https://www.gov.uk/copy-decree-absolute-final-order) for further information.

Taking of Evidence (TOE)

Refer to the information in the link below and submit any enquiries directly to xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/service-of-documents-and-taking-of-evidence

Perjury Act (1911)

Under the Perjury Act (1911) it is a criminal offence to knowingly make a false declaration. Offenders face the possibility of a fine and/or a jail sentence.

Data protection

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office holds and uses data for purposes notified to the Information Commissioner under the Data Protection Act 2018 (https://www.gov.uk/data-protection/the-data-protection-act). Such personal data may be disclosed to other UK government departments and public authorities.

Disclaimer

This information is provided as a general guide and is based upon information provided to the consulate by the relevant authorities and may be subject to change at any time with little or no notice. Accordingly the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and the British consulate will not be liable for any inaccuracies in this information.

For all notarial and legalisation services it is the responsibility of the customer to ascertain the precise requirements of the person requesting the notarial or legalisation service and to satisfy themselves that the service provided by the consulate will be accepted.