Spain Embassy Attestation and Document Legalisation in the UAE

Spain Embassy Attestation Requirements

Spain Embassy attestation requirements apply to UAE-issued public documents and eligible notarised or publicly registered private documents intended for official use in Spain.

Under Spain’s diplomatic legalisation rules, the document must first be legalised by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then by the Embassy of Spain responsible for the UAE. The Embassy of Spain in Abu Dhabi confirms that UAE-issued documents must carry UAE MOFA attestation before Embassy legalisation.

Mandatory Document Requirements

• Eligible document: The document must be a public document or a private document that has been notarised or entered in a public register.
• Original or true copy: Submit the original document or a true copy issued by the same authority that issued the original. Ordinary photocopies cannot be legalised.
• Prior UAE verification: Complete any issuing-authority verification, notarisation or public registration required for the document type.
• UAE MOFA attestation: The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs must legalise the document before submission to the Spanish Embassy in Abu Dhabi.
• Required signatures: The document must contain every signature required by the applicable legalisation procedure. Each signatory must have the authority to sign in the stated capacity.
• Accepted signature format: Spain’s general diplomatic legalisation rules require handwritten signatures and state that electronic signatures are not accepted. The format of a digitally issued UAE certificate should be confirmed with the Embassy before submission.
• Valid document: The document must remain valid under the rules that apply to its intended use in Spain.
• Acceptable condition: The document must be complete, unlaminated, undamaged and free from alterations or signs of tampering.

Official Spanish Translation Requirements

A UAE document written in Arabic, English or another foreign language must be accompanied by an official Spanish translation. Translation does not replace UAE MOFA attestation or Spanish Embassy legalisation.

• A translation completed by a sworn translator certified by Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is valid in Spain without further legalisation by the Ministry’s Legalisation Service.
• A translation prepared by a local translator in the UAE is not automatically equivalent to a Spanish sworn translation. It can require UAE MOFA and Spanish Embassy legalisation, and acceptance must be checked with the receiving Spanish authority.
• The translation must contain a statement confirming that it is faithful and accurate, together with the translator’s recognised handwritten signature and stamp.
• It must include a complete copy of the original document, with every page dated and stamped where required.
• The translation, certification and copy of the original must form one complete, undivided document.
• The translator must not write, sign or stamp directly on the original document.

GloboPrime can coordinate the translation route specified by the receiving authority through its certified legal translation services in the UAE.

Embassy Appointment and Document Submission

A legalisation appointment must be booked with the Embassy of Spain in Abu Dhabi. The official Embassy page currently lists appointment submissions from 1:30 pm to 2:15 pm, Monday to Friday.

Submit the UAE MOFA-legalised document, the required official Spanish translation, any supporting documents listed in the appointment instructions and the applicable consular fee. The Embassy currently states that collection takes place the following day without a separate appointment, from 1:30 pm to 2:15 pm, upon presentation of the receipt.

Official legalisation and translation email: emb.abudhabi.leg@maec.es

Documents That Cannot Be Legalised

• Ordinary photocopies or laminated documents
• Documents missing a required signature
• Documents signed by a person without the necessary authority
• Electronically signed documents that do not meet Spain’s diplomatic legalisation rules
• Foreign-language documents without an official Spanish translation
• Documents that have expired under applicable Spanish rules
• Forged, altered, tampered with or materially damaged documents

Validity note: Spanish Embassy legalisation does not expire. However, it does not extend the validity of the original document. A police clearance certificate, medical certificate or other time-limited document can still expire after legalisation.