When does the Hague Apostille expire?

When handling administrative procedures in a foreign country, you will often be asked to submit apostilled documents — meaning, documents bearing the Hague Apostille. This raises common questions: Do apostilles expire? When? As we will see, the validity of the Apostille is directly linked to the validity of the public document it accompanies.

 

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What is the Hague Apostille?

The Apostille does not certify the content of the document. Instead, it certifies the authenticity of:

• The signature of the person who issued or signed the document;

• The capacity in which that person acted; and

• Where applicable, the identity of the seal or stamp appearing on the document.

What does a Hague Apostille look like?

Under the applicable regulations, the Apostille follows a standardized format — a square of at least 9 centimeters per side — and is attached either directly to the document or to an extension of it, remaining inseparably bound to it.

Additionally, in Spain, every Apostille — whether issued in paper form or electronically — is recorded in a centralized Electronic Registry of the Ministry of Justice, allowing verification of authenticity at any time.

Which countries are part of the Hague Convention?

The number of countries party to the Hague Convention is extensive and is updated frequently as new states accede to it. Including a static list in an article would quickly become outdated.

To ensure accurate and up-to-date information, it is advisable to consult the official source: the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH), which maintains the current list of contracting states.

How long is a Hague Apostille valid? Does it expire?

The Apostille does not have an expiration date. Its validity is linked to the validity of the underlying public document. Therefore, the general rule is:

• Apostilles without expiration: If attached to documents that do not lose validity — such as a university degree or a property deed — the Apostille remains valid indefinitely.

• Apostilles with expiration: If the document has a limited period of validity, the Apostille becomes ineffective once the document expires. A clear example is civil registry certificates (birth, marriage, etc.), which are often required to be issued within the past three or six months, depending on the specific procedure.

It is important to note that an Apostille is issued for use in a specific destination country. If you need to use the same document in a different country — even if both are part of the Convention — you must obtain a new Apostille for the second country.

Which documents can be apostilled?

The Apostille applies exclusively to public documents. Spanish regulations clearly state that private documents cannot be apostilled.

The main categories of apostillable public documents are:

Administrative Documents

• Civil Registry certificates (birth, marriage, death, criminal records).

• Documents issued by the General State Administration, Autonomous Communities, or Local Authorities.

• Official academic certificates and degrees (university and non-university).

• Certifications issued by Land Registries, Mercantile Registries, and Movable Property Registries.

Judicial Documents

• Resolutions issued by judicial authorities or court officials, such as judgments, orders, or writs.

Notarial Documents

• Public deeds, notarial acts, and signature authentications.

Important clarification

A private document — such as a company contract or a bank certificate — cannot be apostilled directly. However, its signature may be notarized. In such cases, what is apostilled is not the private document itself, but the notarial document (the deed of signature authentication) attached to it.

How can we help you?

As shown, the Hague Apostille is an extremely useful tool when completing formalities abroad. At Adlanter, we can assist you with all necessary procedures, especially if you need to relocate employees to a country that is a party to the Hague Convention.

If what you need is to apply for a non-lucrative residence permit to live in Spain (provided your country of origin is also part of the Hague Convention), you may be interested in our dedicated service at Adlanter.