Sworn translation from English into Spanish
Sworn translations of documents in English carried out by translators accredited by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation (MAEC). Accepted by public administrations, courts, universities, notaries and registries throughout Spain.
From €20 / page · No agency fees
- Sworn translations with full legal validity before administrations, courts, universities and notaries
- Specialists in documents from the UK, United States, Ireland and other English-speaking countries
- Standard delivery in 72 h · Urgent in 24 h · Express in 12 h
- Official electronic signature with full legal validity · Hard copy available on request
- Confidential handling · Files deleted after delivery
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Confidential handling. Your documents are used only to prepare the sworn translation and are deleted after delivery.
1 page = 250 words maximum
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IN DETAIL
Sworn translation English to Spanish: what it is and when you need it
A sworn translation is the official Spanish version of a document originally issued in English. The signature and seal of a translator accredited by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation (MAEC) grant the translation full legal validity before any public administration, court, university, notary or registry in Spain.
This is not a regular translation. It is the only form admitted in official procedures when the original document is written in a language other than Spanish. A professional translation without MAEC accreditation, however technically accurate, is not valid for administrative procedures.
When you need a sworn translation from English
The most common procedures that require a sworn translation of English-language documents are:
- NIE and residency applications for British, American, Irish, Canadian and other English-speaking citizens settling in Spain
- Spanish citizenship applications by residence, which require sworn translations of the Criminal Record Certificate, birth certificate and, where applicable, marriage certificate
- Recognition of university degrees obtained from universities in the United Kingdom, the United States, Ireland, Australia and other English-speaking countries, before the Spanish Ministry of Universities
- Registration of foreign marriages at the Spanish Civil Registry
- Recognition of foreign divorce judgments (including the British Decree Absolute) to update marital status in Spain
- International inheritance proceedings, where there are assets or heirs in both Spain and an English-speaking country
- International adoptions, where all documentation from the country of origin requires sworn translation
- Contracts and commercial documents between Spanish and English-speaking companies
If you are not sure whether your document requires a sworn translation, we can advise you before accepting the order. Each procedure has its own requirements and, in some cases, a regular translation is sufficient.
Documents we translate
We provide sworn translations from English into Spanish of all types of official documents:
Personal and civil documents Birth, marriage, death, single-status, divorce and criminal record certificates (Criminal Record Certificate, DBS Check, FBI Identity History Summary), family books, passports, driving licences.
Academic documents University degrees, academic transcripts, diplomas, certificates of studies, recommendation letters, English language certificates (Cambridge, TOEFL, IELTS) when required by administrations.
Judicial and notarial documents Divorce judgments (including the Decree Absolute), court rulings, Power of Attorney, deeds, Wills and Testaments, Apostilles of The Hague.
Commercial and corporate documents Contracts, articles of association, deeds of incorporation, annual accounts, Companies House certificates, non-disclosure agreements, sale and purchase agreements.
If your document is not on this list, we can most likely still translate it. Any document in English with legal effects in Spain can be the subject of a sworn translation.
Our process
We work 100 % online. There is no need to travel or hand over the original document.
- Request a quote by uploading your document or entering the page count in the calculator. You will receive the final price instantly, with no obligation.
- Confirm the order by selecting the delivery time (standard 72 h, urgent 24 h or express 12 h) and making the payment online securely.
- We carry out the translation, respecting the structure, format and graphic elements of the original document.
- You receive the sworn translation electronically signed within the agreed timeframe, with full legal validity in digital format. If your procedure requires a hard copy, we send it to you by courier.
The official electronic signature has the same legal validity as a handwritten signature under the European Union eIDAS Regulation and is accepted by virtually all Spanish administrations.
Why choose us
Direct contact with the sworn translator. We are not an agency that subcontracts. You work directly with professionals accredited by the MAEC, without intermediaries and without added commissions.
Exclusive specialisation in sworn translation. We do not offer general, advertising, technical or audiovisual translations. We dedicate all our work to a single task: producing legally valid translations of official documents. Specialisation is the guarantee of quality.
Realistic delivery times, not estimates. When we say delivery is in 24 hours, it is in 24 hours. Not "up to five working days", not open-ended timeframes subject to availability. Delivery times are part of the service commitment.
Knowledge of the Spanish administrative process. Every year we work with British, American, Irish and other English-speaking residents on their procedures in Spain. We know what each administration requires, which documents need a prior apostille, and the format expected by each public body.
Transparent pricing. €20 per page, minimum €35. No surcharges for specialty, no different rates depending on the type of document, no surprises. The quote you see in the calculator is the final price.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Answers to your questions about sworn translation from English
What is the difference between a sworn translation and a certified translation?
In Spain, the official term is sworn translation (traducción jurada). It is carried out exclusively by translators accredited by the MAEC and has full legal validity before all administrations.
The term certified translation is commonly used in English-speaking countries (United Kingdom, United States, Canada), where the system is different: a certified translation is usually a statement of accuracy signed by the translator, without official state accreditation. In Spain, a certified translation does not have the same legal effects as a sworn translation.
If a Spanish administration asks you for an "official translation", "sworn translation" or "translation certified by a sworn translator", they all refer to the same document: a sworn translation carried out by a translator accredited by the MAEC.
Does a sworn translation expire?
The sworn translation itself does not expire. What can expire is the original document that has been translated. For example, a Criminal Record Certificate issued by a British authority is usually valid for 3 months before the Spanish administration. When the original document is no longer valid, the translation that accompanies it also loses its usefulness, not because the translation has expired, but because the original document is no longer useful for the procedure.
To be safe, it is advisable to arrange the sworn translation once you have the recent original document and within its period of validity before the corresponding administration.
Can I use the translation for more than one procedure?
Yes. A sworn translation is valid for as many procedures as you need, as long as the original document remains valid. It is not "tied" to a single file. You can submit the same sworn translation of your birth certificate, for example, for the NIE, the civil marriage and the citizenship application, without having to order a new one each time.
It is worth keeping a digital original copy and, if hard copies were delivered, having additional ones to avoid running out of documentation during the procedure.
Is the digital version valid or do I have to provide a paper copy?
Since 2020, sworn translations can be electronically signed with full legal validity, under the European Union eIDAS Regulation. Virtually all Spanish public administrations accept the digital version signed electronically.
However, some administrations still require a hard copy in their in-person procedures or physical registries. To avoid any issues, we always offer the option of adding a printed copy delivered by courier at a small additional cost.
If you have any doubts about the format accepted by your specific procedure, we can advise you before accepting the order.
Do I need to apostille the document before or after translation?
Before. The Apostille of The Hague must be already stamped on the original document when the sworn translation is carried out. The translator translates the complete document, including the apostille, in a single act.
If the document comes from a country signatory to the Hague Convention (United Kingdom, United States, Ireland and most European countries), the apostille is requested directly from the issuing authority before the document is sent to Spain. In the United Kingdom, for example, it is requested before the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
If you send us a document without apostille by mistake and the Spanish administration requires it, the translation may have to be redone to include the apostille. Better to check with us in case of doubt.
What happens if an administration rejects the sworn translation?
Sworn translations accredited by the MAEC are accepted by all Spanish public administrations. If an administration ever requests clarifications, formal corrections or a specific format, we correct it at no additional cost. It is part of our service commitment.
In most cases the issues do not come from the sworn translation itself, but from the original document (pending apostille, expired document, plain copy when a certified one was required, etc.). When this happens, we guide you to resolve the problem quickly.
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