Sworn Translation into Spanish for French Nationals in Spain

Moving from France to Spain brings more paperwork than most people expect. To register your address (empadronamiento), apply for an NIE or residence permit, buy a home, get married or have a degree recognised, the Spanish authorities will want your French documents in Spanish, translated by a sworn translator. And, in most cases, apostilled in France first. At Textualia we handle that sworn translation and point you in the right direction on the apostille so it doesn't hold you up.

What you need: apostille first, sworn translation after

The apostille is a Hague Convention stamp confirming that a French public document is genuine for use abroad. France and Spain are both signatories, so the apostille takes the place of the old consular legalisation. France issues the apostille, not us. Since 1 May 2025 it's no longer handled by the courts of appeal but by the chambers of notaries (chambres des notaires). You'll find the procedure on service-public.fr, or you can ask for the document already apostilled when you request it.

The practical rule is simple. Get the document with its apostille first, then have everything translated together, stamp and all. Why that order? Because if you apostille after translating, the apostille stays untranslated and may be turned away. Better to have the complete document before you send it to us.

Once it's apostilled, the sworn translation into Spanish comes in. Our translators are authorised by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAEC), so their signature and stamp give the document official standing in Spain. One thing worth flagging: that validity is for procedures on Spanish soil. It is not the equivalent of a French sworn translation for use inside France.

Which documents we translate for French clients

The ones we see most often from people arriving from France:

• Acte de naissance (birth certificate), usually the multilingual version or a recent full copy.
• Casier judiciaire bulletin n°3 (B3): the French criminal record certificate, asked for in Spain for residence and some professional procedures.
• Diplomas and academic transcripts to have your studies recognised or validated.
• French driving licence, when you exchange it or need to prove it.
• Acte de mariage, livret de famille, certificat de PACS and other civil-status documents.
• Proof of income, employer letters or bank statements for renting, buying or banking.

Don't see your document on the list? Write to us. We work with French paperwork every day and will tell you, with no obligation, whether it needs an apostille and how to approach the translation.

How we do it: online, signed PDF and official stamped paper

No need to travel or to live in any particular city. The whole thing is online:

1. You send us the already-apostilled document, scanned or as a clear photo.
2. We confirm the price and turnaround before we start. You pay online.
3. A MAEC sworn translator translates the entire document, apostille and stamps included.
4. You receive the sworn translation as a PDF with a recognised electronic signature, valid for online submission and by post.
5. Need it in hand? We also send the version on official State stamped paper (papel timbrado) with original signature and seal.

Plenty of bodies now accept the signed PDF; others still ask for paper. That's why we give you both versions and tell you which one fits your procedure.

Why Textualia

Because we understand the whole procedure, not just the language. We know what the immigration office expects to see on a B3, and which birth-certificate format causes the fewest headaches, and we translate with the legal terminology of both countries in mind. We work with MAEC-authorised sworn translators, give clear turnaround times (with a rush option) and a fixed price from the start, no surprises. And if you're unsure whether your document needs an apostille, or which step comes first, we'll explain it before you pay anything.