Question
I’ve submitted my Spain non lucrative visa application to Chicago, and I’m being asked to resubmit the medical certificate with a translation and to get an apostille.
Does anyone know how to get it? I’ve only done the apostille process for official documents such as university diplomas or birth certificates. Thank you!
Answers
These are the answers of Spainguru’s Spanish Non Lucrative Visa group members:
“If I’m not mistaken only government issued documents can be apostilled. I’ve never heard of a consulate requiring one for a medical certificate. But translation, yes sometimes. Which consulate is this?”
(Lawyer) “Very recently I was requested for an Apostille for the medical certificate for an NLV for the Houston consulate.”
(Question’s author) “For Chicago. But it’s actually the ‘Oficina de Extranjería’ in Spain who is asking for this. My file is already being reviewed and they just sent this request to the consulate.”
“That didn’t sound right. Every US consulate accepts the official medical certificate if filled out properly, not apostilled and it comes translated already.”
“Never heard of this either.”
“So I’ve found that the medical certificate needs to be notarized first, then you can submit to the state for the apostille, and THEN have it translated. Honestly it’s my first time hearing of this as it is also not specified as a requirement on the consulate’s website but well.”
“That honestly sounds like total nonsense. I’m really sorry if they actually make you do that. The medical certificate is such a joke of a document in general honestly, the consulates don’t even care about what the doctors do in order to sign it or whether you’re actually healthy, they just care about the piece of paper. So ridiculous to make the process even more difficult than it already is over something so trivial.”
(Question’s author) “I know. I have an immigration lawyer in Spain who has been guiding me through the process, I’ll talk to her tomorrow. They also only gave me a 10-day window, and it’s already been 4 days by the time the consulate notified me.”
“This is what’s on the Chicago page. It’s all that’s needed.”
“The medical certificate comes already translated, in both English and Spanish. It doesn’t need an apostille, just has to be printed on doctor letterhead, doc has to sign and stamp it.”
“Yes, that’s what is stated on the consulate’s website and those are the exact instructions I followed. Submitted my file to the consulate 3 weeks ago and they received a request from the office in Spain, rejecting the medical certificate because it lacks the apostille 🫠🫠. I just wish everyone would be on the same page (consulates, extranjería, etc).”
“This is the first time in 7 years I have ever seen this request! It’s crazy! Spain has always accepted the bilingual one supplied by all the consulates. Never an apostille needed. I’m flabbergasted.”
“Me too! I’ve helped other people with their paperwork before and this has never been an issue before! Hopefully my lawyer can help me with this. I will keep everyone posted!”
“The only documents that need apostille are the FBI background check done by the State Department in DC and your marriage certificate which needs to be apostilled by the State Department of the state you got married in. The medical certificate does need to be translated, not apostilled, since it is not a government document.”
“Unfortunately this is coming directly from the Extranjería office handling my case in Spain, through the consulate in the US. I agree with you but I wonder if this can be appealed or just get an extension before they file away my file.”
Conclusion
Applicants submitting their Spain non lucrative visa application through the Chicago consulate are encountering unexpected requirements regarding the medical certificate.
While the consulate’s website clearly states that a bilingual medical certificate signed and stamped by a doctor is sufficient, one applicant was told by the Oficina de Extranjería in Spain that the certificate must also be apostilled and translated—an unprecedented and confusing development.
Most community members express surprise, with some citing years of experience without having ever needed an apostille for this document. Others suggest using a notarization and apostille service or reaching out to an immigration lawyer for assistance.
One key takeaway is that visa processing involves both the consulate and Spanish authorities, and when discrepancies occur between them, applicants may be caught in the middle.
Ultimately, it’s clear that rules can change or be inconsistently enforced, and even experienced applicants can encounter new bureaucratic hurdles.
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