If you need to apostille Singapore documents for Spain, you are probably applying for a Spanish visa or dealing with the Spanish civil registry after a marriage or birth. In both cases Spain wants two things: an authentication it recognises (the SAL apostille) and, often, a Spanish translation by a sworn translator. The details vary by visa, so this page follows what the Spanish Embassy in Singapore publishes.
This page is for Singapore citizens, PRs and pass holders living in Singapore. It covers Spanish visas (non-lucrative, digital nomad, student, highly qualified worker) and marriages to Spanish nationals. We are a private service provider and are not affiliated with the Singapore Academy of Law.
Documents Spain asks Singapore applicants to apostille
The Spanish Embassy in Singapore says that with effect from 18 January 2021 it no longer legalises Singapore official documents. They are apostilled by SAL instead and need no further step. Its visa pages add that foreign documents "must be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish".
Documents we apostille for Spain most often:
| Document | Used for | Route |
|---|---|---|
| Police Certificate of Clearance (COC) | Residence visas (non-lucrative, digital nomad, student, work) | SAL apostille directly, or notarised copy + SAL |
| ROM marriage certificate | Registro Civil entry, family reunification, spouse visas | SAL apostille directly |
| ICA birth certificate | Civil registry, nationality or family files | SAL apostille directly |
| Degree certificate (e.g. NTU, NUS) | Study, work and qualification recognition | SAL apostille directly for Singapore public universities (degree certificate apostille) |
| Medical certificate | Residence visas | Private: notary + SAL |
| POA | Buying property, opening accounts in Spain | Notary + SAL (power of attorney apostille) |
If your document is not in the table, send us the details and we will confirm the route.
Police certificate for a Spanish visa
Most Spanish residence visas ask adults for a criminal record certificate from every country they lived in over the past five years. For Singapore residents, that is the Singapore Police Force Certificate of Clearance (COC).
How recent it must be
This is where applicants get caught. The Spanish Embassy in Singapore's own pages are not uniform:
- The highly qualified worker / intra-company transfer page says the certificate is valid for three months from the date of issue.
- The residence visa with work permit exemption page says it cannot be older than six months, unless the certificate states a longer validity.
- The non-lucrative residence visa page asks for the certificate with apostille and official translation but does not state a period.
Count back from your appointment date, not your application date, and follow the page for your visa type. If in doubt, work to three months.
Getting the COC apostilled
SPF issues the COC as a digitally signed PDF. SAL can apostille it in three ways: a direct paper apostille, a notarised copy with a paper apostille, or e-notarisation with an e-Apostille. For a Spanish consular file, a paper apostille is the practical choice. The COC must already be issued, since a pending application cannot be apostilled. More on this is on our police certificate apostille page.
A Singapore resident applying for a Spanish non-lucrative visa needed the COC apostilled and translated into Spanish. The practical point is timing: the apostille and sworn translation should be lined up as soon as the COC is issued, so the certificate stays inside the visa's validity window.
Sworn Spanish translation (traducción jurada)
A traductor-intérprete jurado (sworn translator-interpreter) is appointed by Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation (MAEC) after an exam or recognition of equivalent EU qualifications. Their signed and sealed translations "have official character" before Spanish courts and administrations. MAEC publishes a searchable list of all appointed sworn translators.
When you need one
- Spanish civil registry: foreign civil documents not in Spanish generally need a sworn translation. The Ministry of Justice's guide on registering a Spaniard's marriage abroad asks for the certificate "legalized, or apostilled and translated by sworn interpreter".
- Visas: the non-lucrative visa page asks for an official Spanish translation. The work-permit-exemption page asks for sworn translation only for documents not in English. The highly qualified worker page accepts English. An English COC may therefore need translating for one visa and not another.
What we arrange
We work with a sworn translator (traductor jurado) appointed by Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They translate the apostilled document, including the apostille page. We send a proof so you can check names and dates before the translator signs.
Marriage and birth certificates for the Spanish civil registry
If you married a Spanish national in Singapore, the marriage must be recorded in the Spanish Registro Civil before Spain recognises it for Spanish-law purposes. It also matters for your partner's family book and, often, your residence card in Spain.
What Spain's Ministry of Justice lists
For a Spaniard's marriage celebrated abroad:
- ID of the applicant and proof of residence
- The Singapore marriage certificate, apostilled and with a sworn translation
- The foreign spouse's birth certificate (officially translated if necessary)
- The Spanish spouse's Spanish birth certificate
- Divorce or death certificates for any previous marriage
The guide says there is no deadline to apply. The application goes to the Civil Registry for your residence in Spain or to the Central Civil Registry. For Spaniards living in Singapore, the Ministry's guide makes the Consular Civil Registry competent, and the Spanish Embassy in Singapore lists marriage registration among its civil registry services, so start there. The registry judge may interview both spouses.
A couple needed their ROM marriage certificate apostilled for the Spanish registry. A ROM certificate is a public document, so SAL apostilles the original directly with no notary, and the sworn translation follows.
A Singapore birth certificate follows the same pattern: SAL apostille, then sworn translation. See our marriage certificate apostille and birth certificate apostille pages for digital-certificate rules. Planning to marry in Spain instead? Start with documents to get married overseas.
Apostille for Spain price and time
| Service for Spain | Government fees included | Our all-in price (from) |
|---|---|---|
| SAL apostille on a COC, ROM or ICA certificate or local degree | SGD 10.70 | SGD 25 per document |
| Notarised certified copy + SAL (e.g. passport, bank statement) | SGD 172.20 | SGD 185 per document |
| POA signed before a notary + SAL | SGD 202.20 | SGD 215 per document |
| Sworn Spanish translation (traducción jurada) | None | SGD 45 per page |
Time: SAL processes documents over the counter the same visit, and the apostille stage takes 1–2 working days with us. Sworn translation is the longest step, at 3–5 working days. Tell us your visa appointment date so we can plan backwards from it. Urgent cases can use our same-day apostille service for the SAL part. See the full fee table on apostille price. Collect from our office at 7 Temasek Boulevard, #12-07 Suntec Tower One, Singapore 038987, or we courier to your Singapore address.
Ready when you are
Get your Singapore documents ready for Spain
Send us your visa type and appointment date, and we will plan the apostille and sworn translation around it. Please send:
- A copy of your COC, ROM or ICA certificate, or degree
- Your passport details page (for name spelling in the translation)
- Your visa type or the Spanish registry's checklist
For anything not listed here, request a quote; the apostille price page has every fee. Questions? Call or WhatsApp +65 3129 4104, Monday to Friday 9am to 9pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am to 6pm.
Last verified 29 September 2026. We are a private service provider and are not affiliated with the Singapore Academy of Law.