In residence and visa applications to Spain, a significant share of files are delayed because of the form of the documents, even though the requirements are met. Knowing these three points before you start preparing will make things easier.
Apostille
Official documents issued in Türkiye must bear an apostille to be valid in Spain. This covers criminal record certificates, civil registry extracts, and marriage and birth certificates. Apostilles are issued at provincial and district governor's offices (valilik and kaymakamlık), and at courthouses for judicial documents.
Sworn translation
Documents not in Spanish must be translated by a sworn translator (traductor jurado) authorised by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or the translation must be certified by the consulate. A translation from an ordinary translation agency is not accepted in most applications.
Validity periods
Documents such as the criminal record certificate and the medical certificate are generally considered valid for 3 months from their date of issue. This is why the order in which you obtain documents matters: a document obtained too early may expire before your appointment date.
Suggested order
- First, complete the documents that do not expire: degree certificates, contracts, proof of income
- Once your appointment date is confirmed, obtain the criminal record certificate and the medical certificate
- Do not leave the apostille and translation to the last few weeks; find out the sworn translators' turnaround time in advance
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This article is for general information and is not legal advice. Legislation and case law may have changed since it was written.