UK company documents for Spain
For Spain, start with official Companies House certificates — often a Certificate of Good Standing — then an FCDO apostille if the recipient asks for legalisation. Spain has been a Hague Apostille Convention party since 1978, so embassy legalisation is not usually required. Confirm paper versus e-Apostille with the named recipient. CH documents are buy-now; apostille stays quote-only.
How a typical Spain document job runs
Working-day steps — confirm the recipient’s written list first.
Confirm the recipient checklist
Get the Spanish bank, Registro Mercantil, notary or counsel list in writing: exact documents, age window, paper vs e-Apostille, and whether a sworn Spanish translation is required.
Order Companies House originals (buy-now)
Order COGS, certified incorporation, articles or the pack. Standard CH aims ~10 working days; we then scan and send, typically within 1–3 working days of receipt.
Request an apostille quote if needed
If the checklist needs legalisation, submit a quote. We confirm fulfilment before taking apostille money. Official FCDO fees: paper £45 · e-Apostille £35 (GOV.UK).
Hague Apostille — Spain is a party
The HCCH Apostille Convention status table (last update 30 June 2026) lists Spain as a Contracting Party: signature 21 October 1976, ratification 27 July 1978, entry into force 25 September 1978. Spain’s Ministry of Justice and MAEUEC describe Apostille as the Hague route between Convention parties.
GOV.UK Get your document legalised is the UK FCDO apostille service (including Companies House certificates). For Hague destinations the apostille is normally the UK legalisation step; GOV.UK’s embassy-then-ministry chain is for non-Hague countries. We will not invent extra embassy steps.
Confirm with the receiving authority
- Ask for paper vs e-Apostille, language, age window and the exact Companies House products.
- Banks, Registro Mercantil and private counsel can differ. One Spanish recipient is not a national rule.
- Private-agent document notes only — not legal, visa, immigration or bank-account-opening advice.
Paper versus e-Apostille
GOV.UK offers paper apostille and e-Apostille and tells you to check what the person asking actually wants. Official fees: paper £45 (+ courier/postage); e-Apostille £35. Standard paper is usually up to 25 working days; e-Apostille up to 2 working days — always recheck live GOV.UK. e-Apostille is not universally accepted. Guide: e-Apostille and Spanish banks. Apostille stays quote-only — no buy-now apostille button.
Typical company-document list (examples only)
Common checklist items include a Certificate of Good Standing, certified incorporation and certified articles — sometimes further filings for counsel or Registro Mercantil packs. These are examples, not account, NIE or branch advice. Map the written list before you pay. Guide: Registro Mercantil and articles. Ambiguous wording? Use Which document?.
Buy-now Companies House prices (ex VAT)
- COGS — £79 std (CH £22) · £129 express (CH £65)
- Certified incorporation — £49 (CH £22)
- Documents pack — £249–£299 (typical £279; CH £66 on the standard three-doc set)
CH standard aims ~10 working days; we typically scan and send within 1–3 working days of receipt. Express COGS follows the before-11am CH rule where offered.
Freshness and translation
Companies House prints no legal expiry. Spanish recipients often want documents within about 90 days — recipient practice, not UK law. Check age with the freshness helper. Spanish sworn translation is recipient-specific and quote-only — confirm language, translator type and sequence in writing.
Related pages
Who we are
PASECOM GROUP LTD / Pasecom Group Ltd · 17139327 · 82a James Carter Road, Mildenhall, IP28 7DE · ICO ZC117546 · pete@pasecom.co.uk. Trading as UKCOGS. Private agent — not Companies House, not the FCDO, not GOV.UK.
Sources checked the week of publish: HCCH status table (cid=41, 30 June 2026 — Spain EIF 25 Sep 1978); GOV.UK legalisation; Ministerio de Justicia Apostilla; MAEUEC legalización y apostilla. Page last updated 16 September 2026.
FAQ — UK documents for Spain
Confirm every answer against the recipient’s written checklist. Last updated 16 September 2026.
Is Spain in the Hague Apostille Convention?
Yes. The HCCH status table for the 1961 Apostille Convention (last update 30 June 2026) lists Spain as a Contracting Party: signed 21 October 1976, ratified 27 July 1978, in force 25 September 1978. An FCDO apostille is the usual UK legalisation step. Confirm the named recipient still wants it.
Do I still need Spanish embassy legalisation?
Usually no for Hague-covered public documents. Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs describes the Apostille as replacing full legalisation between Convention parties; diplomatic legalisation is for non-Hague documents. If a checklist still names embassy attestation, ask the recipient in writing before paying for extra steps.
What Companies House documents are commonly listed?
Examples: Certificate of Good Standing (company certificate with summary statement where eligible), certified Certificate of Incorporation, certified articles — sometimes further filings for Registro Mercantil or counsel packs. Examples only — match the written list. Not legal, visa or bank-account advice.
What are UKCOGS prices for the Companies House stage?
Buy-now ex VAT: COGS £79 standard / £129 express (official CH £22 / £65), certified incorporation £49 (CH £22), pack £249–£299 (typical £279; standard three-document CH fees £66). Confirm official fees on GOV.UK.
Will a Spanish recipient accept an e-Apostille?
Not universally. GOV.UK says ask whether the person wants paper or e-Apostille, and some document types are not eligible for e-Apostille. Many Spanish banks and registries still prefer paper. Ask in writing. Apostille remains quote-only with UKCOGS.
How fresh should the certificate be?
Companies House does not print a legal expiry. Recipients commonly ask for documents within about 90 days — sometimes 30 or 60. That is recipient practice, not UK statute. Use the document freshness helper and confirm the written window.
Do I need a Spanish translation?
Often yes for Spanish authorities. Sworn (traducción jurada) rules, language and whether translation happens before or after apostille are set by the recipient. Translations are quote-only. Do not assume English-only documents will pass.
How long does this take in working days?
CH standard aims ~10 working days; we typically scan and send within 1–3 working days of receipt. Express COGS follows the before-11am CH rule where offered. GOV.UK lists standard paper apostille usually up to 25 working days and e-Apostille up to 2 working days — quoted case by case, not guaranteed.
Ready for a Spain document route?
Order Companies House originals now. Request a quote for FCDO apostille — quote-only, no apostille buy button.