Sworn translation vs certified translation: what's the difference

It is one of the most common sources of confusion when you need to submit a translated document to an administration: do I need a sworn translation or will a certified translation do? The short answer is that they are not the same, and in Spain they are not interchangeable. Here is the difference, in plain terms.

Sworn translation (Spanish traducción jurada)

A sworn translation is a legally regulated figure in Spain. It is produced by a Sworn Translator-Interpreter accredited by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation (MAEC). Their signature and stamp give the translation official standing before any Spanish public body: ministries, registries, courts, universities, notaries, town halls.

Its three key features:

• Nominal accreditation: the translator is listed on an official register published by the MAEC, with an accreditation number.
• Signature and stamp: each page bears the translator's signature and stamp, and the document ends with a certification of fidelity of the translated text.
• Universal validity within Spain: no Spanish civil servant will ask for a second translation once it bears the signature and stamp of a MAEC sworn translator.

Certified translation

The term certified translation is much broader and largely unregulated. In its loosest form it means that the agency or translator "certifies in writing" that the translation is faithful. There is no official appointment behind it, no public registry of who can issue a "certified translation". In many English-speaking countries — the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia — this is the standard figure, because their systems do not have an exact equivalent of the Spanish sworn translator. It usually consists of a signed statement from the agency, sometimes with their own stamp.

When to use each one

For Spanish administrations: they will require a sworn translation, no exceptions. A foreign certified translation is not enough, however nicely printed.

For foreign administrations: it depends on the country. In the UK or US a certified translation is often enough. France requires a translation by a traducteur assermenté (their equivalent figure, listed with a cour d'appel or a consulate). Germany requires a beeidigter Übersetzer. Each country has its own system and name.

The most common mistake

We very often see clients arrive with a certified translation done in their country of origin — by a US agency, for instance — assuming it will be accepted in Spain. The Spanish administration rejects it, and the translation has to be redone from scratch by a MAEC sworn translator. The cost doubles and the procedure is delayed by weeks.

If your document is destined for Spain, go straight to a sworn translation.

How to verify a MAEC sworn translator

The official list of active sworn translators-interpreters is published on the MAEC website, filterable by language and autonomous community. Any serious sworn translator will share their accreditation number with you so you can check it before commissioning anything. It is a simple control that saves trouble.

At Textualia we hold MAEC accreditation for the English-Spanish and French-Spanish pairs; the accreditation number is shared with the client to verify at the official source before starting.