Many first-time applicants are surprised by what an apostille looks like in practice. A clear understanding of the physical format helps you verify that what you received is correct before you submit it to Spain.

The physical format

In the United States, an apostille is a separate white or colored certificate, A4 or letter size, that is attached to the back of your original document with a rivet, staple through a seal, or adhesive. Some states use a stamp-style apostille on the document. The apostille certificate contains the 10 standard Hague Convention fields, including a unique apostille number that can be verified online through many states' Secretary of State websites.

One apostille per document

Each document in your package needs its own separate apostille. If you submit a birth certificate, a marriage certificate, and an FBI background check, that's three separate apostilles, one on each document. There is no single apostille that covers a bundle of documents.

Multi-page documents

If your document is multiple pages, the apostille covers the entire document as a unit and attaches to the final page. All pages of a multi-page document must be connected (stapled or bound through the apostille rivet) before submission. Loose pages are not accepted.