Need a Golden Visa apostille? SF Notary + Apostille explains the process.

What is a Golden Visa?

A Golden Visa is a residency or citizenship program offered by several countries to attract foreign investment. By making a significant economic contribution—such as purchasing real estate, investing in a business, or providing a financial donation—applicants gain the legal right to live, work, and, in some cases, eventually obtain full citizenship in that country.

Two of the most popular Golden Visa programs in Europe are in Spain and Portugal, countries recognized for their streamlined application processes, attractive investment opportunities, and access to the broader European Union.

What is a Golden Visa apostille?

In brief, a Golden Visa apostille is a certification process that validates your documents for use in Spain or Portugal. Both countries require official documents to be apostilled in order to meet international legal standards. The apostille process ensures that your documents are recognized as legally valid in foreign jurisdictions under the Hague Apostille Convention.

Documents must either be notarized or certified by a county, state, or federal government agency to be eligible for apostille certification. Apostilles are issued by the California Secretary of State, the Secretary of State of other states (for documents issued in those states), and the United States Secretary of State (for federal documents like FBI background checks).

When applying for a Golden Visa, presenting the correct and authenticated documentation is essential. SF Notary + Apostille specializes in assisting Golden Visa applicants with fast and professional apostille services. With extensive experience working with applicants for the Spanish, Portuguese, and even Greek Golden Visa programs, we ensure your documents meet every requirement—quickly and efficiently.

How do I get my Golden Visa documents apostilled?

Step 1: Get a list of documents that need to be apostilled

Firstly, your lawyer will provide a list of the apostilled documents needed to ensure your Golden Visa application moves forward smoothly and without delays. Golden Visa applications typically require the apostille certification of the following documents:

• FBI Background Checks
• California State Background Checks (or equivalent state background checks)
• Police Clearance Letters
• Birth Certificates
• Marriage Certificates
• Divorce Decrees
• Certificates of No Public Record (Negative County Marriage Search)
• Single Status Affidavits 
• Photocopies of passports, bank statements, Social Security Cards…*

*Please note that photocopies of documents must be self-attested and notarized to be apostille eligible—contact us to discuss how that works.

Importantly, each document must be certified by a government official or a notary public to qualify for apostille certification. We’ll work closely with you to develop a plan that ensures the process is as efficient and seamless as possible.

Step 2: Email us for a price quote

Once you have the list, get in touch with us to start the apostille process. Our pricing varies depending on which documents are needed, whether you already have them or need to obtain them, where they’re coming from, your location, the turnaround time needed, and the shipping destination. In order to get a quick price quote, send an email to [email protected] with the following information:

• The list of documents required by the lawyer in Spain or Portugal
• A statement about which documents you already have and which ones you need to obtain
• Your name, address, and phone number
• The name, address, phone number, and email address of the recipient (if you’d like us to ship it to a third party)
• The destination country

We will respond without delay with a price quote and payment instructions. Then will start the apostille/authentication process.

Step 3: We will create a custom Golden Visa apostille plan for you

Gathering the documents needed for the Golden Visa application apostille process may require a variety of steps including:

• In-person notarization
• Remote online notarization
• Retrieving documents from courts or county clerks
• Requesting background checks from local, state, and federal agencies

Having successfully assisted hundreds of Golden Visa applicants in obtaining apostille certification for their essential documents, we know how to get each document certified and ready for apostille as quickly as possible.

We know time is critical when applying for a Golden Visa, and we prioritize swift and accurate processing of your documents. From document preparation to final apostille certification, we guide you every step of the way.

Step 4: We handle the rest

As we obtain each notarized or certified document, we will get it apostilled by the Secretary of State in California, other states (if needed), and the United States (for federal documents). Then, once we have all of the apostilled documents, we’ll ship them via FedEx Priority Overnight Service (USA destinations) or FedEx International Priority Service (overseas destinations).

Contact Us

In order to obtain more information or to place your order, please email [email protected] or call +1 (415) 655-9455.

Disclaimer: Information on this website is for informational purposes only. These instructions are based on our knowledge and experience and are meant to be helpful; however, they might contain errors. Please let us know if you encounter mistakes so that we can promptly correct them. SF Notary + Apostille is not a law firm, and its agents are not attorneys. Please contact a licensed attorney or your local bar association for counsel on legal matters.