Q&A · Documents · updated 22.08.2026
Updated: 22 August 2026 · Verified against official sources
No: under the Hague Convention, the stamp can only be issued by the country that issued the paper — which means Russian certificates, records and diplomas are certified in Russia, at the relevant government body or its regional office. Spanish authorities do not certify foreign documents this way. In Barcelona or Madrid, you handle the next step instead: the sworn translation, diploma homologation and filing with the right authority.
The logic of the Hague Convention is simple: a signature and seal are certified by the state whose official placed them. A Russian civil registry office is verified by a Russian authority, a Spanish notary by a Spanish one. That's why a request like "certify my birth certificate here" gets refused in Spain — not out of spite, but for lack of authority. The only way is to arrange it in your home country or remotely, through a representative acting under power of attorney. That's exactly how we handle the criminal record certificate: the client stays in Spain while the document arrives already certified.
| Document | Who certifies it | Next step in Spain |
|---|---|---|
| Civil registry certificates (birth, marriage) | Regional civil registry office in Russia | Sworn translation, filing with extranjería or the Registro Civil (civil registry) |
| Criminal record certificate | Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs | Translation; watch the validity period |
| Diploma, school certificate | Rosobrnadzor | Translation and homologation or convalidation |
| Spanish document for use in Russia | MAEC, Colegio de Notarios, Ministerio de Justicia | Consular translation and filing in Russia |
Here everything mirrors the above. Notarial acts are certified by the notaries' association, court documents and criminal record certificates by the Ministry of Justice, and everything else by MAEC and its territorial offices. This scenario is most often needed when applying for citizenship, handling an inheritance or registering a marriage outside the country. We cover the procedure in detail on our service page on document legalization.
Not sure exactly what needs certifying? Build a personal list in a minute: document checklist generator — pick your permit grounds and family composition and get a list marked with where a sworn translation is required.
This is a preliminary assessment based on official sources, not individual legal advice. Your case may differ — we'll review your situation for free.
Official sources: BOE — Spanish legislation · Ministry of Inclusion and Migration · Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs