Record of declarations of single status
Table of Contents (11)
- The certificate of civil status before a notary in Barcelona: what does the Circular of 24 June 2022 establish?
- What is the certificate of declaration of single status?
- What is a single status certificate used for?
- Who can apply for it?
- Which document do you need according to your marital status?
- Certificate of Single Civil Status
- How to obtain the certificate of single status in Barcelona
- Documentation required for the certificate of single status
- How much does a declaration of single status cost?
- Frequently asked questions at our notary's office about online and in-Barcelona certificates of single status.
- Obtain a certificate of single status in Barcelona
If you need to prove that you are single before a public or private body (whether to get married, to apply for a visa or to apply for Spanish nationality) it is likely that you will need a "certificate of marital status" or "certificate of singleness". What you may not know is that there is a quicker way, equally valid and legally preferable, to obtain it: making a notarial statement of singleness.
The certificate of civil status before a notary in Barcelona: what does the Circular of 24 June 2022 establish?
There is a widespread belief that to prove marital status the certificate from the Civil Registry is essential. However, the Ministry of Justice itself denies it.
The Circular of 24 June 2022 of the Directorate-General for Legal Security and Public Faith, signed by its Director General Sofía Puente Santiago, states this clearly: the certificate of proof of life and civil status from the Civil Registry is a supplementary and residual means, not the primary one.
The legal basis is old and solid. Articles 363 and 364 of the Regulations of the Civil Registry of 14 November 1958 provide that:
"Civil status is evidenced by a sworn declaration or solemn affirmation by the person concerned or by a certificate of notoriety, with official bodies unable to require different means of proof when presented with such evidence."
The Circular itself of 2022 goes further and concludes:
"No official body before whom singleness or widowhood (or the state of being divorced) is evidenced by a declaration (or solemn affirmation) by the person may require other means of proof."
In practice this means that if you submit a notarial statement of single status executed before a notary, no body —neither a court, nor a consulate, nor a public administration— can reject it and demand instead the certificate from the Civil Registry. This sworn declaration of single status before a notary is, by law, a preferred means.
What is the certificate of declaration of single status?
The certificate of single status is a notarial document in which a person declares, under their responsibility and before a notary, that they do not have any current marital ties and that their marital status is single.
The notary attests to the identity of the person appearing and to the sworn declaration of single status made, giving the document full legal validity. Unlike the procedure at the Civil Registry, which can take days or weeks, the notarial certificate can be obtained immediately after applying, even entirely online.
What is a single status certificate used for?
The most common uses of the notarial declaration of single status are as follows:
| Procedure | Is the notarial certificate usually accepted? | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Civil marriage in Spain | Yes | Usually as proof of marital status |
| Marriage abroad | Yes | May require a Hague Apostille or a sworn translation |
| Application for Spanish nationality | Yes | Depending on the case file and the competent authority |
| Visas or residence permits | Yes | Some countries may require legalisation or an apostille |
| Draw up a family reunification statement | Yes | It may form part of the required documentation |
| International notarial procedures | Yes | Especially when marital status must be proven |
| Judicial or administrative proceedings | It depends | It is advisable to check the requirements of the relevant authority |
Check other requirements for family reunification here:
If the procedure is abroad, we can also arrange the Hague Apostille so that the document is recognised in the countries that are signatories to the convention.
Who can apply for it?
The single status declaration is intended exclusively for single people who have never been married. If you are divorced or widowed, you will need different documentation.
Which document do you need according to your marital status?
| Your marital status | Usual document |
|---|---|
| Single | Declaration of single status |
| Divorced | Final divorce decree or corresponding registry certificate |
| Widowed | Spouse's death certificate and supporting documentation |
Certificate of Single Civil Status
Obtaining it is very easy since you can choose a notary for a certificate of single status. Whether as notarios en Barcelona or notarios online, you can contact us so that we can help you with this procedure.
We will prepare the minutes tailored to your situation and to the use you are going to make of them.
How to obtain the certificate of single status in Barcelona
At JLA Notarios you can process the single status declaration in two ways:
|
In person, at our office at Av. Diagonal, 433, in the Eixample of Barcelona. |
Online, by notarial video call. We can grant the single status deed online from anywhere in Spain and for Spaniards abroad with a valid identity document. |
| Book an appointment now | Find out about our online notary |
Then you have two options: attend our notarial office in Barcelona in person, or have the video call and sign the single status deed online. Afterwards you will receive the signed and sealed deed with full legal validity.
Documentation required for the certificate of single status
To obtain the declaration of single status you only need to provide:
- Valid identity document: DNI for Spanish citizens, or passport together with the NIE for foreign residents in Spain
No witnesses, nor a certificate of residence (certificado de empadronamiento), nor any other additional document are required. If the certificate is intended for a procedure abroad and you need the Hague Apostille, tell us at the time of application so we can arrange it simultaneously.
How much does a declaration of single status cost?
Notarial fees in Spain are regulated by a fee schedule approved by the Government, so the cost is similar at any notary's office. The price of the notarial statement of single status is low, since it is a document of limited length, and usually costs around €75–80, although it depends on the number of pages and whether any supporting documentation needs to be added.
Frequently asked questions at our notary's office about online and in-Barcelona certificates of single status.
The Civil Registry certificate is an administrative document that certifies what is recorded in the register. The notarial deed of declaration of single status is a solemn declaration by the person concerned before a notary, which attests to their identity and to the declaration made.
The most important practical difference is time: the Civil Registry may take days or weeks, whereas the notarial deed can be obtained the same day. In addition, as set out in the Circular of the Ministry of Justice of 24 June 2022, the notarial deed is a legally preferred means and no organisation may refuse it in order to require you to obtain the Civil Registry certificate instead.
In most cases, yes. The Circular of 24 June 2022 of the Ministry of Justice establishes that no authority can require you to provide the Civil Registry certificate if you present a notarial deed. In very specific cases, some authority may expressly request the registry certificate; if you have any doubts, consult us.
The document does not expire, but many authorities require that it be less than three months old at the time of submission. For procedures abroad, some countries may request more recent documents.
Yes, via the online notary service. You only need an internet connection and a valid identity document.
They are different terms for the same notarial document. The correct technical name is “deed of declaration of single status”, although in everyday language they are used interchangeably.
Obtain a certificate of single status in Barcelona
A declaration of single status before a notary is not an alternative to the Civil Registry certificate: it is, legally, the preferred means of proving marital status according to the Ministry of Justice itself.
If you need to prove your single status quickly (whether to get married in Spain, to apply for a visa or to carry out procedures abroad) at JLA Notarios we can help you execute a notarial declaration of single status thanks to our notarial deed services. Contact us.
