We handle the Hague Apostille on documents issued in Argentina so they hold legal validity in Spain. Ideal for certificates, criminal records, diplomas and powers of attorney.
What this covers
An Argentine document is not valid in Spain as it stands. It does not matter that it is an original, signed and stamped: before an immigration office, a Civil Registry or a university will accept it, it needs the Hague Apostille. That is the seal certifying that the signature and stamp on the document are genuine, and every country in the 1961 Convention recognises it — Spain and Argentina among them.
Here is the part that catches almost everyone out: only the country that issued the document can apostille it. Neither the Argentine consulate in Spain nor any Spanish body can apostille your birth certificate from Córdoba. It has to come out of Argentina. That is why people assume they have to fly back, or ask a relative who, not knowing which exact version is needed, sends over a document that turns out to be useless.
Neither is necessary. We handle it from here: tell us which document you need and what you need it for, and we push it through the competent body in Argentina until it reaches you apostilled.
Who it's for
- You are applying for arraigo, residence or family reunification and they are asking for your Argentine birth certificate or criminal record.
- You are applying for Spanish citizenship by residence and the Civil Registry wants Argentine paperwork.
- You want an Argentine degree recognised or validated in Spain.
- You are getting married in Spain, registering a child or dealing with an inheritance and Argentine certificates are required.
- You need to use a power of attorney granted in Argentina here in Spain.
How it works, step by step
- 01
Tell us what you need, and what for
Which document it is and, above all, which Spanish procedure it is for. A birth certificate for the Civil Registry is not the same as a criminal record for the immigration office: it changes which version has to be requested.
- 02
We check what you already have
We look at whether the document you hold will do, whether a fresh copy is worth requesting, or whether it needs some prior legalisation before it can be apostilled.
- 03
We request the document in Argentina if needed
When you don't have it, or the one you have won't work for your procedure, we request it from the issuing body.
- 04
We obtain the apostille
We file the document with the competent body in Argentina and follow the case through until the apostille is issued.
- 05
We check it works for your procedure
Before calling it done we verify that the apostille is valid and that the document meets what the procedure you need it for actually asks for.
- 06
We hand it over
You get the apostilled document, ready to file.
What we need from you
- Your details exactly as they appear on the document: first name, surnames, Argentine DNI, date and place of birth.
- A legible copy or photo of the document, if you already have it.
- Which Spanish procedure you need it for and, if you know, exactly what you were asked for in writing.
How long it takes
The apostille itself is the quick part. What really sets the clock is obtaining the underlying document when it has to be requested again, and that depends on the body and the Argentine province issuing it. If you have a hard deadline — an immigration appointment, a ten-day correction window — tell us up front: we will say whether the standard service makes it or whether the 24-hour express version is the right call.
Mistakes we see often
- Assuming the Argentine consulate in Spain can apostille. It cannot: the apostille always comes from the country that issued the document.
- Apostilling a document that no longer works for the procedure. The apostille does not expire, but the document underneath can: criminal records have limited validity and nearly every procedure wants a recent one.
- Asking a relative in Argentina to sort it without knowing which exact version is required, and ending up with a document that is correct for something else.
- Apostilling a plain photocopy when the procedure calls for the document in the form the issuing body requires.
- Leaving it until the week of the appointment. If the underlying document has to be requested again, it will not arrive in time.
What's included
- Review of the document to be apostilled
- Handling of the apostille with the competent body
- Verification of its validity for use in Spain
- Tracking of the procedure's status
What's not included
- Sworn translation. Argentine documents are already in Spanish and most procedures don't require it, but if your particular case does, that is a separate service.
- Filing the document in the Spanish procedure you need it for.
- Documents issued in any other country. This service covers Argentine paperwork only.
Frequently asked
Do I have to fly back to Argentina to get a document apostilled?
No. The apostille has to come out of Argentina, but you don't have to go: we handle it remotely with the competent body. What we do need is your exact details and to know which Spanish procedure the document is for, because that determines which version has to be requested.
Can the Argentine consulate in Spain apostille it for me?
No. The Hague Apostille can only be issued by the country that issued the document, and for an Argentine document that means Argentina. The consulate handles other things, but not apostilles on documents issued on Argentine soil. This is the misunderstanding that causes the most wasted trips.
Does the apostille expire?
The apostille does not expire, but the document underneath can. A criminal record certificate has limited validity and most immigration procedures want a recent one. A birth certificate, by contrast, does not change over time. Before requesting it, check what maximum age your procedure accepts.
Do I also need a sworn translation?
Usually not, because Argentine documents already come in Spanish. It is different for documents from non-Spanish-speaking countries, where sworn translation is almost always mandatory. Even so, some bodies apply their own criteria: if yours does, we will tell you and arrange it separately.
I need an Argentine criminal record for an arraigo. Does this cover it?
Yes, it is one of the documents we handle most. Two warnings: the certificate has limited validity, so it is worth requesting once the rest of your file is on track rather than months ahead; and the immigration office usually asks for records from every country you have lived in recently, not only Argentina.
Does this work for exchanging an Argentine driving licence?
For the licence exchange a standalone apostille is not enough: what is asked for is the certificate of legality together with the driving history. We have a specific product for that which already includes its own apostille, so that is the right route if the licence is your goal.
Which documents can I apostille?
Birth and marriage certificates, criminal records, academic diplomas, powers of attorney and other Argentine public documents. If you are unsure whether yours qualifies, send us a photo before buying and we will confirm.
Is the apostille valid in Spain?
Yes. The Hague Apostille gives the document international validity between the signatory countries of the 1961 Convention, and both Spain and Argentina are signatories. With the apostille, the document is filed directly with the Spanish administration without further legalisation.
Where can I understand the whole process before hiring?
Our complete guide to the Hague Apostille for Argentinian documents covers all of it: who issues apostilles in Argentina, which version of each document to request for your Spanish procedure, how long each stretch takes and how long each paper stays valid. Read it before buying if you are unsure which case is yours.
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