The Hague Apostille

[ianpants69]

I am hoping that you might be able to provide me with some

information. I am a British citizen, I am currently working in Spain

where I am registered as a foreign worker. My wife who is an Indonesia

citizen is currently staying in the UK (on a 6 month tourist visa

issued in Bangkok), our two year old daughter, who is a British

citizen, is with my wife in the UK. My wife and I have been married

for three years, we were married whilst living in Thailand and have a

Thai marriage certificate.

My problem is this: My wife is currently applying for A Family

Reunification for Dependents of EU Nationals visa to join me in Spain

and has been granted an appointment at the Spanish Embassy in London

at the end of the month. She has been told that she must, amongst

other documents, take with her our marriage certificate which has been

apostilled under the Hague Apostille convention, can you tell me if it

is possible to have documents issued in countries which are not

members of the Hague Apostille Convention apostilled for use in

countries which are members of the convention? I am inclined to think

that this is impossible, in which case can you offer any possible

solution?

Many thanks

Ian Clarke

[GuestHouse]

As you correctly state Thailand is not a signatory of the Hague Apostille Convention, and since the purpose of the convention is formalize the acceptance of public documents between member states you will not be able to use the convention to certify your documents.

I suggest as a first step you contact the Spannish Embassy and explain the problem and ask if they will accept translations of your documents certified by the Thai embassy.

I would also ask them to confirm that they are accepting your wife's application in London. It is extremely unusual for embassies to accept applotions in their overseas embassies from people who are in that country on tourist visas.

That they have missed the fact that Thailand has not signed the Hague Apostille Convention suggests they may have given your wife's application a cursory glance, rather than having looked in to any depth.

Also be very careful, if the basis for your wife's UK Visitor visa was to visit with you in the UK, but you are now in Spain, you may run into problems with that part of the UK Visa rules.

Best of luck anyway

Edited October 29, 2006 by GuestHouse