What we deliver: a sworn translation into Spanish (traducción jurada) by a MAEC-appointed translator, as an e-signed PDF or on paper. A standard certificate takes 24–48 hours, from €29 per certificate. These are starting prices. For your final price, send your details through the quote form. We email you a written quotation, and work starts only after you approve it. Send a scan to get a fixed quote for a signed PDF translation.
In this guide
- Is a digitally signed sworn translation valid in Spain?
- What does a digital sworn translation look like?
- When do I still need a paper sworn translation?
- How do I check the electronic signature on a sworn translation?
- Which format should I order for my documents?
Want your certificate translated as a signed PDF? A MAEC-appointed sworn translator signs it with a qualified electronic certificate. A standard certificate takes 24–48 hours. See how to get a sworn translation for Spain.
Is a digitally signed sworn translation valid in Spain?
Yes. In Spanish this is a traducción jurada electrónica (or digital). Orden AUC/213/2025, in force since 8 March 2025, allows sworn translators to sign with a qualified electronic certificate. Article 3.2 requires the certificate of a natural person: the translator. Electronic signature is allowed, not compulsory, so a paper translation with a handwritten signature remains equally valid.
The Orden was published in the BOE on 7 March 2025. It changes how sworn translators may sign, not who they are. Every translator is still appointed by Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAEC) under Real Decreto 724/2020. Their translations are official and valid in Spain without further legalisation. The e-signature changes the format, not the status: it is still a traducción jurada.
Spanish offices that accept electronic documents can verify it. That includes online filing through Mercurio, the online platform on the Administration's electronic office used for many Extranjería applications (see Extranjería sworn translation). Mercurio needs a digital certificate.
Example: Priya lives in Barcelona and is bringing her husband to Spain through family reunification. Her lawyer files online, so the e-signed sworn translation of their Indian marriage certificate is uploaded as it is. See family reunification sworn translation and Indian documents for Spain.
PDF or paper: the rules at a glance
| Feature | Digital (PDF) | Paper |
|---|---|---|
| Legal basis | Orden AUC/213/2025, since 8 March 2025 | Long-standing format, still valid |
| Signature | Translator's qualified electronic certificate | Handwritten signature |
| Seal | Text box with name, language(s) and number | Ink seal with name, "Traductor/a-Intérprete Jurado/a" and number |
| Copy of your original | Covered by the same electronic signature | Attached, sealed and dated on every page |
| How to check it | VALIDe or a PDF reader such as Adobe Reader | Match the seal in the MAEC search |
| Use inside Spain | Valid as the electronic file | Valid |
| Legalisation for use abroad | Not accepted by MAEC legalisation | The usual route |
| Delivery | By email | By courier |
What does a digital sworn translation look like?
A digital sworn translation is a PDF, preferably in PAdES format, signed with the translator's qualified electronic certificate. The ink seal is replaced by a text box with the translator's name, language or languages and MAEC number. The signature covers the whole document, including the source document.
That last point comes from article 3.5 of the Orden. Your original and its translation travel as one signed file. Text documents preferably use PAdES; other file types may use CAdES.
The certification wording stays the same as on paper, under Orden AEC/2125/2014. For an English original, the translator "certifica que la que antecede es traducción fiel y completa al español de un documento redactado en inglés". Then come the translator's name, title, place and date.
In practice, a birth certificate sworn translation into Spanish arrives as one PDF. It holds the Spanish text, the certification, the text box and the copy of your original with any apostille. In Spanish, this format is called a traducción jurada con firma electrónica: the firma electrónica of the traductor jurado replaces the ink seal.
When do I still need a paper sworn translation?
You need paper when the sworn translation must be legalised for use outside Spain, because MAEC legalisation does not accept electronic signatures. Paper also helps when an office only takes documents at a desk. Inside Spain, an e-signed file is valid wherever the office accepts electronic documents.
MAEC states it plainly: "A los efectos de legalización diplomática no se reconocen las firmas electrónicas". The usual path abroad has two steps. MAEC legalises the translator's signature, then the document receives a Spanish apostille. Why order matters is covered in apostille before or after translation.
Printing is the other trap. An electronically signed sworn translation is valid as the electronic file. A printout does not carry a verifiable signature. So submit the PDF electronically where accepted, or order a paper translation with a handwritten signature and seal.
Use this as a guide:
- Filed online in Spain: the signed PDF fits. Homologation requests can be filed online at the Ministry of Science's sede, so a degree homologation Spain translation usually works well as a PDF (see the Ministry's translations page).
- Handed in on paper at a consulate: ask first, or choose paper. Requirements differ for a sworn translation for a Spain visa.
- Used outside Spain: choose paper. For Britain, read does the UK accept a Spanish sworn translation.
How do I check the electronic signature on a sworn translation?
Open the PDF in VALIDe, the validation service named in Orden AUC/213/2025. A PDF reader that shows signatures, such as Adobe Reader, also works. Check that the signature is valid and the signer matches the name and number in the text box.
Four checks take a few minutes:
- Upload the PDF to VALIDe and run its signature check.
- Confirm the certificate belongs to a natural person, the translator, as article 3.2 requires.
- Match the name, language pair and number in the official MAEC search (Buscador-STIJ).
- Confirm the copy of your original sits inside the same signed file.
If an electronic sworn translation fails any of these checks, ask the translator before you file it. The full routine is in verify a Spanish sworn translator.
Which format should I order for my documents?
Order the signed PDF when your Spanish office accepts electronic documents. Order paper when the translation will be legalised for use abroad, or when your office takes paper files only. If you are unsure, ask the office first. Either way, the translation is certified by a MAEC-appointed sworn translator.
Before you order, check these points:
- Where will you file? Online, at a desk in Spain or at a consulate abroad.
- Will the translation leave Spain? Then choose paper.
- Is the apostille already on the original? The translation comes after it; see apostille and sworn translation.
- Do names match your passport? Spellings are checked at the draft stage.
- Is your deadline close? See urgent sworn translation.
Documents often sent as signed PDFs:
- Police clearance certificate sworn translation — watch the validity window, commonly 3 to 6 months.
- Academic transcript sworn translation — 2–4 working days.
- UK documents sworn translation for Spain and US documents sworn translation for Spain — translated from scans once the apostille is on.
Most of these are issued in English; see English to Spanish sworn translation. Tracked courier within Spain costs €9 and takes 24–48 hours. International courier starts from €29, and each extra hard copy costs €9. These are starting prices. For your final price, send your details through the quote form. We email you a written quotation, and work starts only after you approve it. See how much a sworn translation costs.
Ordering for clients who file online? Lawyers and gestorías can use our sworn translation service for law firms and gestorías.
Frequently asked questions
Can I check the signature on my phone?
Yes. Open the PDF in VALIDe in your phone's browser, or in Adobe Acrobat Reader, which shows signature details. If your viewer shows no signature information, check the file on another device.
Can I print a digital sworn translation?
You can print it to read, but the printout has no verifiable signature. For an office that wants paper, order a paper translation with a handwritten signature and seal.
Is a scanned stamp the same as a digital signature?
No. A scanned image of a stamp is not a qualified electronic signature. A valid digital sworn translation carries the translator's qualified electronic signature, which VALIDe can check.
¿Es válida una traducción jurada digital?
Sí. Since 8 March 2025, Orden AUC/213/2025 makes an e-signed sworn translation legally valid in Spain. Paper remains valid too.
Is my older paper sworn translation still usable?
Yes, as a format. Paper with a handwritten signature and seal remains valid. The 2025 Orden added an electronic option; it did not replace paper.
Sources: Orden AUC/213/2025 (traducción jurada electrónica), BOE 7 March 2025 · MAEC: legalisation and apostille · MAEC: sworn translators and interpreters · VALIDe. Last checked: 1 October 2026.
How do I get my sworn translation as a signed PDF?
Upload a scan of every page, including any apostille, and tell us where you will file. You see a fixed total and delivery date before you pay. If you need paper instead, the quote shows the courier as a separate line.
Before you choose a PDF: trust, rejections, data and deadlines
- Is the translator real? Every translator we work with is MAEC-appointed and listed on the official register. Each page carries their seal and signature. Check them on the official MAEC list; our guide on checking a sworn translator shows how.
- What if the office rejects the PDF? Free, prioritised re-issue if rejected on formal grounds. See our re-issue policy.
- Is my data safe? Files are deleted within 7 days of delivery; see our privacy policy.
- Deadline close? See urgent sworn translation.
What clients say
4.9/5.0 from 18,000+ reviews
“I needed my birth certificate translated for my Spanish nationality paperwork and wasn't really sure where to start. I sent an enquiry first, and the team explained the process without making it complicated. The communication was good, and I felt more confident about getting the documents ready.”
“We had to translate our marriage certificate for a family reunification procedure. I was worried about getting the paperwork wrong, so I had quite a few questions. The team was patient and explained the translation process clearly. That was genuinely helpful during an already stressful time.”
“My nationality application involved documents from my home country, and I wasn't sure how to arrange the translations. I reached out with my questions and received a clear explanation of the process. It saved me from spending more time guessing what to do next.”
“We needed corporate documents translated into Spanish for a business procedure. The terminology and consistency mattered to us, so we wanted a service that understood the formal nature of the documents. Communication was professional, and the process was well organised.”
“Muy buen servicio. I needed an English-to-Spanish sworn translation for official paperwork and had a few doubts before ordering. They answered my questions clearly, and the whole process was easier than I expected.”
“Muchas gracias por la ayuda 😊 I needed my marriage certificate translated for a family application here in Spain. Communication was good and the steps were easy to understand.”
“Hola, thank you for the translation. I needed a French document translated into Spanish for an administrative procedure. Everything was explained clearly, and communication was easy from the start.”
“Mere citizenship paperwork ke liye documents Spanish mein translate karwane the. I had a few questions before placing the order, and the team explained the process properly. Kaafi help mili, especially because I was already managing a lot of paperwork.”
Upload your scans for an e-signed sworn translation
Free quote within 1 hour · files deleted 7 days after delivery
What happens next
- 1We check your pages and filing route, then send a fixed quote.
- 2You pay and approve a draft of names, dates and places.
- 3You receive the signed PDF, or paper by courier if your office needs it.
About this guide: Written by our editorial team and checked against official sources. We coordinate translations by MAEC-appointed sworn translators and are not affiliated with any authority. We only translate. We never sell appointments. See our editorial policy and more guides on sworn translation in Spain.