Sworn translation of a university degree for Spain

When you need a sworn translation of your foreign university degree

Sworn translation of the university degree appears in nearly every cross-border academic or professional procedure into Spain:

• Homologation for a regulated profession in Spain. Doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, lawyers, architects, engineers, clinical psychologists, veterinarians, teachers joining state schools: all go through the Subdirección General de Títulos of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities. Homologation qualifies you to practise.
• Equivalence declaration to Spanish Grado or Máster level with academic effect. Grants access to official Master's programmes, doctorates, civil-service exams and public-sector grading scales. The route when the profession isn't regulated in Spain.
• Access to Master's and doctoral programmes at Spanish universities. Some universities accept their own internal equivalence verification (without going through the Ministry), but still require the degree translated into Spanish.
• Automatic EU professional recognition under Directive 2005/36/EC for graduates from EEA countries in harmonised professions. The sworn translation accompanies the conformity certificate.
• Skilled-worker visa procedures at Spanish consulates abroad, particularly for healthcare professionals, engineers and university faculty.
• Competitive selection for research, teaching and administrative posts at Spanish public universities and research centres (CSIC, IMDEA, etc.).
• Professional registration with Spanish professional colleges (Colegio de Médicos, Colegio de Abogados, etc.) following homologation.
• Internal selection processes in Spanish companies that require official evidence of qualification.

What to translate and in what order

The Ministry doesn't accept the degree alone. The full file combines up to three pieces, all sworn-translated into Spanish by a MAEC translator:

1. The degree certificate (diploma): the main document showing the graduate's name, issuing university, official name of the degree and date of conferral.
2. The official academic transcript: the document listing subjects, credits, grades, total credit load and, where applicable, the grading system (US GPA, UK first/2:1/2:2 honours, European cum laude, Latin American mención honorífica).
3. The Diploma Supplement, if your university issues it. It's a standardised companion document that the Ministry appreciates because it saves them interpretation work.

Order of operations: apostille first, translation second. If you translate before apostilling, you'll need to retranslate when the apostille arrives because the apostille is itself translated.

Apostille rules and exceptions

• EU, EEA and Swiss countries: university degrees are exempt from apostille by EU regulation. The sworn translation alone suffices.
• Other Hague Convention signatories (United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Mexico, etc.): apostille required on both the degree certificate and the academic transcript.

For U.S. degrees specifically: U.S. university degrees are state-level documents (issued by the university as a private or public state entity), so the apostille comes from the Secretary of State of the issuing state, NOT the federal Department of State. Common confusion.

For U.K. degrees: the FCDO Legalisation Office in Milton Keynes issues the apostille. Universities sometimes provide a "verified" copy that streamlines the process.

For Canadian degrees: Global Affairs Canada (since Canada joined the Hague Convention in January 2024) or the provincial Authentication Services Section.

• Non-signatory countries: consular legalisation through diplomatic channels. Slower but fully valid.

For Latin American countries, beyond the general route there are bilateral conventions (Convenio de Estudios Hispanoamericano de Lima 1989 among others) that can streamline recognition of certain degrees. Sworn translation is still required; only the supporting documentation varies.

Our sworn translation

For degrees and academic transcripts, our sworn translation:

1. Reproduces the full content of the original: graduate's name (with discrepancies vs Spanish NIE/DNI covered by a translator's note), issuing university with its official name, exact degree denomination, conferral or defence date, visible signatures and seals, and any honours mentions (cum laude, honors, summa cum laude, distinctions).
2. Translates the degree title reflecting both traditions: we provide the original denomination in quotes followed by the closest Spanish equivalent in parentheses where it helps the administrative reader, but we do not judge equivalence or homologation — that is the Ministry's call. The translation is faithful to the original; the administrative decision belongs to the competent body.
3. Renders foreign grading systems with explanatory notes: U.S. GPA (out of 4.0), U.K. Pass / Merit / Distinction or First / Upper Second / Lower Second / Third Class Honours, European cum laude, Latin American honour mentions. For transcripts, we add a translator's note with the grading scale of the source country so the Ministry evaluator can interpret it without looking up references.
4. Includes the official sworn translator's certification: signed declaration, MAEC accreditation number and qualified digital signature compliant with the MAEC Resolution of 26 July 2020.

Delivery format and timing

We deliver the translation as a PDF signed electronically with the sworn translator's qualified digital signature, accepted by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, public and private universities, professional colleges, and regional administrations. If your specific university or professional college still requires a paper copy, we send it by registered mail after the digital delivery.

Standard turnaround for a degree + transcript dossier is calculated from the moment of payment and shown exactly in the quoter, using the Spanish working calendar. Urgent options are available with a specific tariff.

Common pitfalls to avoid

• Translating first, apostilling later. The degree and transcript need to be apostilled first; then the already-apostilled document — apostille included — is sworn-translated.
• Translating only the degree and forgetting the transcript. The Ministry rejects incomplete files. If your university issues the transcript separately, request it before you start.
• Confusing homologation with equivalence. If your profession isn't regulated in Spain, homologation isn't available; you need equivalence. Conversely, if you want to practise medicine or law, equivalence won't do — you need homologation.
• University-issued "official translations". Some foreign universities offer their own "official translations". They are NOT sworn translations for the Spanish Ministry: only MAEC-accredited translators serve.
• Name discrepancies between degree and NIE. We cover these with a translator's note — but tell us when you upload the document so the note reflects both forms exactly.

Spanish bodies that accept our translation

• Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities — Secretaría General de Universidades (homologation, equivalence)
• ENIC-NARIC Network Spain
• Public and private Spanish universities (admission to official Master's programmes and doctorates)
• Spanish professional colleges (professional registration)
• Regional autonomous governments (competitive selection for health, education and social services)
• General State Administration (civil-service exams)
• Public research centres (CSIC, IMDEA, FECYT)

Related pages

• Sworn translation of an academic transcript — the companion document required in the homologation file.
• Sworn translation of a criminal record certificate — required in regulated professions with background-check verification.
• Sworn translation of a birth certificate — basic identity document in many administrative files.