Since Brexit, more and more British companies are setting up structure in Spain: a subsidiary to invoice local clients, a branch, or a company joining a Spanish venture as a shareholder. Nearly all of them hit the same wall — the notary or the Commercial Registry wants the British company's articles in Spanish, as a sworn translation.
This guide explains which UK corporate documents need translating, in what order, and why the terminology matters so much.
When you're asked for translated UK statutes
A sworn translation comes into play whenever a British company acts before a notary, a registry or a bank in Spain:
- Setting up a Spanish subsidiary (an S.L. or S.A.) with the Ltd or PLC as shareholder.
- Opening a branch of the British company in Spain.
- Having your UK company join a Spanish company as a partner or in a joint venture.
- Buying or managing property in Spain in the company's name.
- Opening a corporate bank account, signing contracts or bidding for tenders.
In every case the other side needs to confirm that the company exists, how it's governed and who can sign. That lives in the Articles of Association and the Companies House certificate.
Which documents need translating
It's rarely a single file. The usual set when incorporating from the UK:
- Articles of Association: the document governing how the company runs. The centrepiece.
- Certificate of Incorporation: issued by Companies House, with the company number. It proves the company exists and is usually required alongside the articles.
- Often: the Memorandum of Association, a certificate of good standing, the board resolution authorising the deal, and a power of attorney.
All of them apostilled in the UK, then sworn-translated into Spanish.
Apostille and sworn translation: the right order
- The Hague apostille first. The UK and Spain are both party to the 1961 Convention, so an apostilled document is recognised without a consulate. In the UK it's issued by the FCDO (the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Legalisation Office). Companies House documents are usually apostilled as a certified copy.
- Then the sworn translation into Spanish, signed by a translator accredited by Spain's MAEC. A detail that causes rejections: the apostille is translated together with the document, in the same sworn translation. Apostilling the articles but translating only the body, leaving the apostille in English, sends the file back incomplete.
One key point: a MAEC sworn translation is valid in Spain, where you file the transaction. The apostille is what crosses the border.
Why it matters who translates your Articles of Association
UK and Spanish company law don't map word for word. Ltd, PLC, LLP, director, shareholder, shares, registered office, company secretary, memorandum — each has its correct Spanish equivalent: shares are acciones or participaciones depending on the company type, the registered office is the domicilio social, the director is the administrador. A literal translation confuses the notary and the registrar. Using the terminology the Commercial Registry expects is what gets the document accepted first time.
How we do it at Textualia
Everything online, no office visits. Upload the Articles of Association and the Certificate of Incorporation (already apostilled), see the fixed price on the spot and, once you pay, receive the sworn translation from English into Spanish as an electronically signed PDF, fully valid before notaries and the Commercial Registry. If the notary needs a paper original, we issue it on official State-stamped paper and send it to you. And if the signing is tight, there's 24 h or 12 h urgency.
We know these documents: what a Spanish notary expects, what gets translated and what doesn't, and why the apostille is included. Price by words, VAT included, known before you order.
Gather your apostilled Articles of Association and Certificate of Incorporation and order the Spanish sworn translation. You can start from our sworn translation of company articles page or upload them into the calculator.