Apostille and Sworn Translation of U.S. Marriage Certificates for Divorce, separation, or legal proceedings in Barcelona

At Express NIE, we help Americans in Spain handle this process quickly and correctly:

✅ Apostilling your U.S. marriage certificate for international recognition

✅ Providing sworn Spanish translations approved by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs

✅ Delivering your documents directly to your address in Barcelona

💡 Did you know?

Barcelona blends historic charm with modern comforts, making everyday life feel easy and inspiring for newcomers.

Why You Need a Marriage Certificate for Divorce, separation, or legal proceedings in Spain

Spanish authorities require apostilled and translated marriage certificates for many situations, including:

• Marriage registration (inscripción de matrimonio) — registering a U.S. marriage in Spain
• Spousal or family residency — proving family ties for residency or visa applications
• Citizenship or dual nationality — demonstrating marital status for naturalization processes
• Legal name change or divorce — updating civil records or legal documents
• Inheritance and notarial acts — validating marital status in property or estate cases

If your Divorce, separation, or legal proceedings involves Spain’s civil or immigration authorities, your U.S. marriage certificate must be apostilled and translated by a sworn translator to be legally valid.

Apostille & Sworn Translation: The Two Essential Steps

👉 At Express NIE, we manage both steps to ensure your documents meet all Spanish legal requirements.

What You Should Know About Getting Married or Registering Your Marriage in Spain

Getting married in Spain involves both civil and, optionally, religious procedures. U.S. citizens can marry in Spain, but specific documents — including your apostilled and sworn-translated U.S. marriage certificate — are required depending on your situation.

Civil Marriages (Registro Civil or Ayuntamiento)

• Foreigners can marry a Spanish citizen or another foreign resident in Spain.
• One of the partners must usually be a legal resident of Spain or a Spanish citizen.
• The marriage process is handled through the local Civil Registry (Registro Civil) or City Hall in your area (Barcelona).

Commonly Required Documents

Requirements can vary slightly by region, but most couples will need to provide:

• U.S. birth certificates (apostilled and sworn-translated)
• Proof of single status (Certificado de Soltería) or affidavit of marital status
• Passports and NIE cards (Spanish ID for foreigners)
• Certificate of residency (empadronamiento) if applicable
• Divorce decree or death certificate (if previously married), apostilled and translated
• U.S. marriage certificate (for Divorce, separation, or legal proceedings, such as registering a prior U.S. marriage)

💡 Tip: Many Spanish registries require documents issued within the past 3–6 months, so timing your apostille and translation correctly is essential.

Religious Marriages

• Catholic marriages performed in Spain are recognized civilly if registered afterward.
• Even for church ceremonies, apostilled and sworn-translated U.S. documents may be required (e.g., baptism and birth certificates).

Need your U.S. marriage certificate apostilled and translated into Spanish for Divorce, separation, or legal proceedings?

At Express NIE, we make the process fast, accurate, and fully compliant with Spanish legal standards.

Use the form below to request your apostille and sworn translation.