Libbie Stevens, Spanish Visa Advisor @ Wilmer Health | 20th April 2025 | hello@wilmerhealth.com
Planning to move to Spain for work, study, or retirement? If you’re applying for a long-term visa, you’ll need a medical certificate — and that certificate must go through an official legalisation process called an apostille.
At first, this might sound like complicated legal language. It’s normal to feel unsure about what it means or how it works. But don’t worry — once you understand the basics, you’ll see that an apostille is simply a way to prove your Spanish visa documents are genuine.
In this short guide, we’ll explain everything you need to know about an apostille for a Spanish visa medical certificate: what it is, why it’s required, and how to get your certificate stamped and ready for your visa application.
An apostille is an official stamp or certificate that proves a document is genuine and can be legally recognised and used in another country — in this case, Spain.
For your Spanish visa, this means the apostille confirms that your UK-issued medical certificate is:
In the UK, apostilles are issued by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Once the FCDO adds the apostille, your medical certificate is accepted as valid for official use in Spain.
Yes — if you’re applying for a long-stay visa (such as a non-lucrative, student, or work visa), an apostille is always required for your medical certificate. The Spanish consulate in the UK will not accept the certificate on its own. It must be legalised with an apostille to confirm that it’s genuine and issued by a registered UK doctor.
To get an apostille for your Spanish visa medical certificate in the UK, you have 3 main options:
No, a separate translation is not required. The apostille issued by the FCDO includes a Spanish translation as part of the official document.
Yes, the doctor who signs your medical certificate must be registered with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). This is because the apostille process involves verifying the doctor’s signature, which is only possible if they are on the FCDO’s register of recognised signatories.
This is also why many NHS GPs cannot provide a certificate that meets the Spanish consulate’s requirements—most are not registered with the FCDO.
To avoid delays or rejection, you should either:
It might be tempting to skip the apostille step, especially if your medical certificate looks official enough. But if it’s not apostilled, it could cause big problems with your visa application. Here’s what could go wrong
Unfortunately, some people only find out there’s a problem on the day of their visa appointment, which can be really stressful!
No, only original hard copies with a wet ink signature can be apostilled. Scanned or emailed copies are not accepted by the FCDO.
Your medical certificate must usually be issued within the last 3 months to be accepted by the Spanish consulate, even though the apostille itself does not expire.
Yes, the doctor who signs your medical certificate must be registered with the FCDO. If they are not, the apostille application will be rejected.
Yes, the Spanish consulate requires an official Spanish sworn translation of your medical certificate. At Wilmer Health, we issue a certified Spanish translation completely free of cost along with your medical certificate – meaning you do not need to arrange a separate translation.
At Wilmer Health, we’ve made it easy for UK residents to get a Medical Certificate for a Spanish Visa, along with the required translation and apostille. Our certificates are all issued by FCDO-registered doctors, and everything is handled online — with no clinic visits needed.
Start by filling out a quick and easy form with your personal details and basic health information — it only takes a couple of minutes.
Your information is reviewed by one of our FCDO-recognised doctors, who will issue a certificate that follows the exact wording and format required by the Spanish consulate.
We’ll send you a digital and physical copy with a wet-ink signature and official stamp.
If you want to avoid the hassle of arrange an apostille, just select this option when ordering, and we’ll take care of the entire legalisation process for you. Your document will arrive ready to submit — no extra steps needed.
When applying for a Spanish long-stay visa from the UK, getting an apostille for your medical certificate is an important step you can’t skip. To avoid delays, choose a provider that is an expert in the visa process, uses the right wording, and makes it simple to get everything sorted without stress.
At Wilmer Health, we make the process easy for you with our 3-in-1 package that includes the medical certificate, Spanish translation and Apostille. Ready to get started? Get your Spanish Visa Medical Certificate with Apostille today.
Same-day medical certificates and doctor’s letters, all from the comfort of your home — quick, easy, and hassle-free.
hello@wilmerhealth.com
All certificate requests submitted before 9pm (BST) are issued the same day.
