Quick answer
In Spain, a notario identifies you from your original passport when you sign, so a certified copy is uncommon. One Florida apostille is all the U.S. side needs — $220, 5–7 business days.
- Issued by
- A Florida notary, either attesting a copy of the passport you present in person or notarizing your sworn statement that the attached copy is true.
- Florida state fee
- $10 — included in $220
- Route
- Apostille only — Hague member since 1978
- Online notarization
- Available as an add-on
- Consulate serving Florida
- Consulate General of Spain in Miami
- Translation
- Our general rule is a translation certified by the translator, notarized by a different notary and apostilled in Florida.
How a Florida passport copy is used in Spain
In Spain, a notario identifies you from your original passport when you sign, so a certified copy is uncommon. It's useful when you act from Florida: a Spanish bank opening a non-resident account remotely, a gestor applying for something on your behalf, or a Spanish lawyer filing a document that needs your identity proved. A Florida notary can attest a photocopy of a passport, since it isn't a public record, and the attested copy can be apostilled. Ask first whether the Spanish side accepts that, or wants a consular certification.
Getting a passport copy Florida will apostille
A clear copy of the photo page (and any other pages requested) with a complete Florida certificate in English: the attested-copy certificate, or a jurat on your sworn statement. A stamp and signature with no wording, or a copy notarized in another state, will not work.
Present your passport to a Florida notary for an attested copy (an individual notary may decline), or sign a sworn statement before any Florida notary or through our online notarization add-on: $40 for the first document ($10 notarization fee + $30 technology platform fee) and $20 for each additional document. Never mail your passport. Notarization is not included in our $220.
State fee for this document: $10 — included in our price. Full details on the passport copy apostille page.
Who receives it in Spain — and translation
The main receivers are the Registro Civil (in Spain, or the Registro Civil Central) for marriages, births and deaths; Spanish notarios for property, powers and inheritances; the Ministry of Justice for nationality files; universities and the education ministry for degree recognition; and Spanish consulates in the U.S. for visas and civil registrations. The Consulate General of Spain in Miami serves Florida.
Our general rule is a translation certified by the translator, notarized by a different notary and apostilled in Florida. Spain may instead require a traducción jurada by a sworn translator appointed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which publishes a searchable list. For nationality files, the Ministry of Justice also accepts translations done or checked at Spanish consulates abroad. Translate after the apostille and include the apostille page.
Spain has no single expiry for apostilled documents; each registry, notario and consulate sets its own, and many treat civil-status certificates and criminal records issued several months earlier as stale. Order fresh certified copies close to your filing date and ask the receiving office how recent they must be.
Consular office serving Florida: Consulate General of Spain in Miami.
Four steps, one week
Order online
Pick the document and destination country on the order form and pay by card. After we review your documents, FedEx emails you a prepaid label.
Send it — or sign online
Drop the envelope at any FedEx location. Not signed yet? Add online notarization and there is nothing to ship.
We file in person
We review it, then walk it to the Florida Department of State in Tallahassee for the apostille.
Returned to you
Back in 5–7 business days — anywhere in the U.S., or abroad for a flat $100.
Why passport copys get rejected
- Stamp and signature only, with no certificate wording
- Copy notarized in another state
- Incomplete certificate: missing county, date, ID type or presence box
- Illegible copy, including the machine-readable lines
What it costs for Spain
$220 per document, $380 for two and $160 each for three or more — the state fee, request form, in-person filing in Tallahassee and FedEx shipping inside the U.S. are included. Shipping the finished apostille to Spain is a flat $100 per order.
Not included: whatever the issuing office charges for the certified copy or certificate, and notarization (online notarization is $40 for the first document — $10 notarization fee + $30 technology platform fee — and $20 for each additional one).