Divorce certificate for use in Spain
Quick answer
The divorce certificate is issued by District registrar, or the court where the divorce was by judgment. Where the divorce was by judgment, the judgment plus a certificate of finality is needed. It is then translated to the standard Spain accepts, legalised at Consular Affairs and attested at the destination mission where the receiving body requires it.
Step by step
- Obtain a certified divorce certificate
Request it from District registrar, or the court where the divorce was by judgment. Where the divorce was by judgment, the judgment plus a certificate of finality is needed.
- Translate to the accepted standard
Spanish translation by a sworn translator (traductor jurado)
- Consular legalisation
File the original with its translation at the Department of Consular Affairs, MFA.
- Destination mission attestation
Attest at the Spain mission in Thailand where the receiving authority requires it.
Cautions
- Civil-status documents used in Spain are often subject to a recency limit; check that condition before starting legalisation.
- Where the divorce was by judgment, the judgment plus a certificate of finality is needed
- Thailand acceded to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention on 30 June 2026 and it enters into force for Thailand on 28 February 2027, so no Thai Apostille is issued yet, so no Apostille is issued in Thailand. The working route is certified translation, legalisation by the Department of Consular Affairs (MFA), and then attestation at the destination country’s mission in Thailand where the receiving authority requires it.
Frequently asked questions
What are the steps to use a Thai divorce certificate in Spain?
Obtain the divorce certificate from District registrar, or the court where the divorce was by judgment, translate it to the accepted standard, have it legalised by the Department of Consular Affairs, then attested at the Spain mission in Thailand where the receiving body requires it.
Which version of the divorce certificate is needed?
Where the divorce was by judgment, the judgment plus a certificate of finality is needed
Does the divorce certificate need an Apostille before going to Spain?
Thailand acceded to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention on 30 June 2026 and it enters into force for Thailand on 28 February 2027, so no Thai Apostille is issued yet, so no Apostille is issued in Thailand. The working route is certified translation, legalisation by the Department of Consular Affairs (MFA), and then attestation at the destination country’s mission in Thailand where the receiving authority requires it.
What must the divorce certificate translation contain for Spain?
Spanish translation by a sworn translator (traductor jurado), and every part of the document must be translated, including stamps, signatures and marginal notes.
Who receives the legalised divorce certificate in Spain?
The Spanish Embassy in Thailand and the Oficina de Extranjería
Which Spain-specific caution affects the divorce certificate?
Civil-status documents used in Spain are often subject to a recency limit; check that condition before starting legalisation.
Is the divorce certificate a public or a private document?
It is a public record issued by a state authority, so it can enter consular legalisation directly once an accurate translation is attached.
What if the name on the divorce certificate does not match the passport?
Connect the names as a chain using change-of-name records or a spelling confirmation, then translate and legalise them together as one bundle.