Apostille and sworn translation of US documents for Spain

What you need: apostille first, sworn translation second

A US document isn't valid in Spain just as it arrives. It takes two steps, in this order. First comes the Hague apostille, which certifies that the document is genuine. The United States and Spain both signed the 1961 convention, so an apostilled document is recognised without going through a consulate. Then comes the Spanish sworn translation, because the Spanish authorities won't accept documents in English, not even the apostille itself.

We don't issue apostilles; that's the US authority's job. What we do is the sworn translation, the piece that turns your apostilled document into something a Civil Registry, an Immigration Office or a Spanish notary will accept at the counter.

One note: this page doesn't replace the judgement of the authority handling your case. For exact requirements and timelines, always confirm with the official source.

Where each US document gets apostilled

The US runs two parallel apostille systems, and picking the wrong one costs weeks. The rule is simple: it depends on who issued the document.

• Federal documents → U.S. Department of State (Washington DC). The classic case is the FBI background check (FBI Identity History Summary). The same goes for USCIS naturalisation certificates, IRS transcripts and military records. The FBI is federal: don't send it to the state where you live, it'll come back without an apostille.
• State or county documents → Secretary of State of the issuing state. This covers your birth certificate, marriage certificate, divorce decrees, death certificates and documents signed before a notary public. Each state sets its own fee and timeline.

Not sure where your particular document goes? Message us before you mail it. We recognise an FBI summary, a Vital Records birth certificate or a County Clerk's record at a glance, and we'll save you a wasted trip.

Which US documents we usually translate

The most common ones in Spain-bound files:

• FBI background check, apostilled at federal level. Essential for visas, residence and nationality.
• Birth certificate, for the Civil Registry, marriage, nationality or family reunification.
• Marriage certificate, to register a marriage or for partner-related procedures.
• Divorce decrees, death certificates and powers of attorney.
• Degrees and academic transcripts, for recognition or professional registration.
• Medical certificates and whatever else your procedure calls for.

In every case, the apostille is translated alongside the document, in a single sworn translation. Apostilling the certificate, translating only the content and leaving the apostille in English is one of the most common reasons files get rejected.

How we do it at Textualia

Everything online, no office visits. Upload your already-apostilled document (a legible scan or a sharp photo works fine), pick the English→Spanish pair and see the price right away. A translator accredited by Spain's MAEC does the work, then signs, stamps and certifies that the translation matches the original.

By default you get a digitally signed PDF, handy for online submissions and fully valid in Spain. If your procedure asks for a physical copy, we issue it on official Spanish stamped paper and post it to you. The format is your call: one, the other, or both.

We reproduce names, dates, stamps and the apostille precisely, because a single mistranscribed detail on an FBI check can hold up the whole file. And if you have a consular appointment or a tight deadline, we offer 24h and 12h rush options.

Why Textualia

Because this is all we do, and we know US documents inside out. We know what a Civil Registry or Immigration Office expects to see, what gets translated and what doesn't, and why the apostille is included. An American certified translation or notarized translation won't work before the Spanish administration: only the MAEC sworn translation does, and it's valid in Spain, which is where you file your case.

Fixed price by word count, VAT included, no fine print, and a real person on the other end when a question comes up. Gather your documents, check they carry the apostille, and order the sworn translation: we'll send them back in Spanish, ready to submit.