Certificate of Life before a Notary Public
Table of Contents (11)
- The proof-of-life certificate before a Notary Public
- What is the notarial certificate of proof of life?
- What is a proof-of-life certificate used for?
- Who needs the proof-of-life certificate?
- Proof of life certificate in Barcelona
- How to obtain the proof-of-life certificate in Barcelona?
- Documentation required for the proof-of-life certificate at the notary
- How much does a life certificate before a notary cost?
- How long is a life certificate valid?
- Frequently asked questions at our notary's office regarding the proof of life certificate
- Obtain a life certificate in Barcelona
Having the proof of life certified by a Notary is the fastest and legally valid way to prove you are alive to pension authorities, banks and international organisations. If you need this document to continue receiving your pension, you have probably also wondered what the cost of a proof of life before a notary is and how to obtain it. In this guide we explain everything you need to know.
The proof-of-life certificate before a Notary Public
As we explained in a previous article, the articles 363 and 364 of the Civil Registry Regulations and the Circular of 24 June 2022 from the Dirección General de Seguridad Jurídica y Fe Pública establish that the proof of life is preferably evidenced by a declaration before a notary. No organisation (bank, Social Security or public administration) can reject the notarial act and require, instead, the certificate of the Civil Registry.
"For a person to be able to prove that they are alive, it is enough for them to appear before the relevant body, or by means of granting a notarial act of presence."
Find out more about this circular in our article:
What is the notarial certificate of proof of life?
The notarial certificate of proof of life before a Notary is an official document that certifies that a person is alive on a given date. The Notary attests to the identity of the person appearing and to their survival, granting the document full legal validity in Spain and international recognition.
Unlike a private declaration, the notarial intervention converts the document into proof of public faith: it cannot be questioned or rejected by any authority that requires proof of survival.
What is a proof-of-life certificate used for?
The most common uses are:
- Collection of national and international pensions: it is the document most requested by the INSS and by foreign Social Security organisations to confirm that the pensioner is still alive
- Banking procedures: financial institutions that require proof of survival to maintain accounts or periodic payments
- Social Security procedures: updating records and maintaining benefits
- Inheritance processes: proving the survival of an heir at the time of executing a deed of acceptance of inheritance
- Consular updates: for Spaniards resident abroad registered with the Consulate
- Maintenance of powers of attorney: some powers require periodic proof that the grantor is still alive
Who needs the proof-of-life certificate?
The most common profile is that of Spanish pensioners resident abroad whom Social Security or their bank requires to prove they are alive periodically. Others who also need to prove they are alive:
- People involved in an inheritance process who must prove they are alive at the time the inheritance is granted
- Foreign citizens resident in Spain who need to prove they are alive to authorities in their country of origin
- Holders of powers of attorney who need to renew their validity
Proof of life certificate in Barcelona
Arranging a proof of life before a Notary is very easy since you can choose the Notary.
To do so, contact your trusted notaries in Barcelona. Indicate which authority or procedure you need the document for and we will draw up the notarial record.
How to obtain the proof-of-life certificate in Barcelona?
At JLA Notarios you can arrange the notarial proof-of-life certificate in two ways:
| In person, at our notary's office at Av. Diagonal, 433, in the Eixample district of Barcelona. | Online, via a notarial video call |
| Book an appointment now | Find out about our online notary service |
This option is especially useful for pensioners and Spaniards resident abroad, thanks to the authorisation for telematic notarial services regulated by the Law 11/2023, of 8 May.
Once the act has been completed, whether in person or online, you will receive the signed and sealed proof-of-life deed with full legal validity.
Documentation required for the proof-of-life certificate at the notary
To obtain the proof of life statement you only need:
- Valid identity document: DNI for Spanish citizens, or residence card with the NIE for foreign residents in Spain, or the original document from the country of origin (cédula or passport) with NIE.
If you need an NIE because you don't have one we can obtain one digitally for you to carry out this specific procedure.
No witnesses or additional documentation are required. If the statement is intended for a procedure abroad and you need the Hague Apostille, tell us at the time of the request so we can arrange it simultaneously. Find out what it is:
How much does a life certificate before a notary cost?
Notary fees are regulated by a scale approved by the Government, so the price of the life certificate before a notary is similar in any notary's office. As it is a short document, the cost is low. Thus, we can tell you in advance that the notarial life certificate usually costs around €85–110.
How long is a life certificate valid?
The validity of the document is indefinite, but the authority before which proof of life must be provided usually requires that it be submitted between 30 and 90 days from the date of issue, depending on the body requesting it. If you have any doubts about the timeframe required in your particular case, consult us before processing it.
Frequently asked questions at our notary's office regarding the proof of life certificate
The Civil Registry certificate is an administrative document that records what is entered in the register. The notarial act is a public document: the notary certifies directly and at the time that the person is alive. The most relevant practical difference is:
- immediacy: the notarial act can be obtained quickly
- its international validity, which is stronger in the case of a notarial actl
Yes. Through the online notary service you can obtain the certificate by video call from anywhere in the world. You only need a valid Spanish identity document and an internet connection with a camera and microphone.
If necessary, we can also obtain an NIE digitally for this specific operation.
It depends on the country for which the document is intended. For countries that are signatories to the Hague Convention, the apostille guarantees international recognition. In some cases consular legalisation may also be required.
Yes. The INSS and Social Security accept a notarial life certificate as a valid document to prove survival for pension purposes. If you have any doubts about whether your particular organisation accepts it, consult us before arranging it.
Obtain a life certificate in Barcelona
The notarial statement of declaration of proof of life before a notary is the fastest and legally sound way to prove survival to pensions, banks and international bodies. It can be obtained in person in Barcelona or by notarial video call from anywhere in the world. It has full validity in Spain and international recognition.
If you need to prove that you are alive quickly and without travelling, at JLA Notarios we can help you issue a notarial statement of declaration thanks to our notarial deed services. Contact us.
