Need Spanish → English for a UK office? We only translate into Spanish, but here is what to ask any translator for:
- a dated, signed certification statement in English;
- the translator's full name and contact details;
- credentials, such as a MAEC number, for leave to remain or ILR;
- every page translated, including stamps and marginal notes.
More in who can translate a Spanish document into English.
We translate into Spanish only. We do not offer Spanish-to-English translation, and we do not refer you to a partner.
In this guide
- Does the UK accept a Spanish sworn translation?
- I live in Spain. Which UK documents need a Spanish translation?
- How do I get a UK document apostilled from Spain?
- Which Spanish offices ask for my UK documents?
- What does the Home Office want on a translation?
- Does HM Passport Office need a sworn translation?
- Who can translate my Spanish document into English?
- Do my Spanish documents need an apostille for the UK?
- My checklist for UK documents in Spain
Living in Spain with UK certificates? A MAEC-appointed sworn translator translates your apostilled UK documents into Spanish. A standard certificate takes 24–48 hours. See our UK documents sworn translation for Spain service.
Does the UK accept a Spanish sworn translation?
Yes, when it is into English and meets UK certification rules. The UK uses certified, not sworn, translations. A Spanish sworn translation into English already has an accuracy statement, date, name, signature and seal. It usually lacks the contact details UK rules ask for, so attach them.
In Spain, a sworn translator (traductor jurado) holds an appointment from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAEC), under Real Decreto 724/2020. Their seal shows only name, language and number, "sin adición de ninguna otra mención o símbolo" (Orden AEC/2125/2014). That is why a signed cover note with contact details helps for UK use.
| What the UK asks for | What a Spanish sworn translation has | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Statement that it is a true and accurate translation | "traducción fiel y completa" formula; art. 8.4 allows an English version | Ask for the statement in English too |
| Date, full name, signature | Place, date, name, MAEC appointment, signature | Nothing |
| Contact details | Not on the seal | Attach the translator's contact details |
| Credentials (leave to remain, ILR) | MAEC appointment number | Include the number and register link |
So, is a traducción jurada válida en Reino Unido? Into English, usually yes. Into Spanish, no: UK offices read English. The receiving UK office has the final say. See sworn vs certified translation for the wider difference.
Which UK documents do Britons in Spain need in Spanish?
The usual set is a UK birth certificate, marriage certificate, divorce final order and ACRO police certificate. Each needs an FCDO apostille first, then a sworn translation into Spanish by a MAEC-appointed translator. Spanish offices then accept it for residence, marriage, nationality and inheritance files.
| UK document | Apostille route | Our page |
|---|---|---|
| GRO or register office birth certificate | FCDO paper apostille only (no e-Apostille) | Birth certificate sworn translation into Spanish |
| Marriage or civil partnership certificate | FCDO paper apostille only | Marriage certificate sworn translation into Spanish |
| ACRO police certificate | Paper apostille (no electronic version) | Police clearance certificate sworn translation |
| Divorce final order (decree absolute for older cases) | FCDO apostille | Divorce decree sworn translation into Spanish |
| Death certificate (inheritance) | FCDO paper apostille only | Death certificate sworn translation into Spanish |
| Degree certificate and transcript | FCDO apostille, whatever the date | Degree homologation sworn translation |
In England and Wales, a divorce ends with a final order, or a decree absolute in older cases (gov.uk). For ACRO checks, see police clearance certificate sworn translation.
UK certificates are in English, so we handle them as an English to Spanish sworn translation.
Common mistake: translating first and apostilling later. The apostille must be on the document before translation, so the translator includes it. See apostille before or after translation.
How do I get UK documents apostilled while living in Spain?
Send the original UK document to the FCDO legalisation office by post. A paper apostille costs £45 and usually takes up to 25 working days, plus postage. The £35 e-Apostille takes up to 2 working days. It is not available for GRO certificates, ACRO, DBS, Disclosure or fingerprint certificates.
Source: gov.uk, get a document legalised, checked 12 October 2026.
Your options from Spain:
- Order a fresh certificate. Request a new copy from the issuing UK office, and check gov.uk for the current route. Spanish offices often want recent documents.
- Apostille by post. Post the original to the FCDO and allow for international postage both ways.
- Ask a relative at home. A family member in the UK can collect the certificate and send it for the apostille.
- Send us scans once the apostille is on. We work from clear photos or scans. Your originals stay with you.
Can you use your UK consulate in Spain instead? The FCDO is the UK's apostille authority; check with the British consulate whether it can help.
Tip: if the document is a GRO certificate or an ACRO certificate, budget for the paper route. Waiting for an e-Apostille that cannot be issued only loses time.
Where do UK nationals in Spain file translated documents?
Mostly at Extranjería, the Registro Civil, the Ministry of Justice for nationality, notaries and the Ministry of Science for degrees. 382,474 UK nationals held a Spanish residence document on 31 December 2025 (Ministry of Inclusion / OPI). From July 2020 to December 2025, 250,713 Withdrawal Agreement applications were granted. Of these, 26% were in Alicante, 18% in Málaga and 7% in the Balearic Islands.
Source: La Moncloa, foreign residents note.
- Residence and family. Bringing a non-EU spouse or child? See Extranjería sworn translation and family reunification sworn translation.
- Marrying in Spain. The Registro Civil usually wants a recent birth certificate and proof of marital status. See Registro Civil sworn translation.
- Spanish nationality. Documents count as valid for 6 months unless stated; only the birth certificate may be older. See Spanish nationality sworn translation.
- Property and inheritance. Inheritance tax self-assessment is due within 6 months of death. An extension can be requested within the first 5 months. See property and inheritance sworn translation.
- Degrees. UK and US documents must be apostilled whatever their date, and translations do not expire.
Example: Sarah has lived in Málaga since 2019. She wants to marry her Spanish partner at the Registro Civil. She orders a new GRO birth certificate, sends it for a paper apostille, then uploads a scan. Her sworn translation arrives as a signed PDF the next working day.
Example: Tom and his family lived in the US before moving to Valencia. For his nationality file he needs criminal records from both countries. See US documents sworn translation for Spain for the FBI route.
Still in the UK and planning the move? The London consulate's non-lucrative checklist asks for a criminal record covering the last 5 years, apostilled and sworn-translated. See non lucrative visa Spain sworn translation.
Got your UK certificates apostilled? The quote fixes the total and the delivery date before payment. Starting prices are on our sworn translation price page; your written quotation confirms the final price.
What does the Home Office require for a certified translation?
Immigration Rules paragraph 39B(f) asks for the original document plus a full, dated translation that can be independently verified. It must confirm accuracy and give the translator's full name, signature and contact details. For leave to remain and ILR, it also needs the translator's credentials.
The four points in paragraph 39B(f):
- Confirmation that it is an accurate translation of the original.
- The "full name and signature of the translator or an authorised official of the translation company".
- The translator's or company's "contact details".
- For leave to remain or ILR: "certification by a qualified translator and details of the translator or translation company's credentials".
A Spanish sworn translation into English covers points 1 and 2. Points 3 and 4 need a short note. A MAEC number can be checked in the official MAEC search (Buscador-STIJ). For a certified translation for the Home Office from Spanish, use a Spanish→English translator.
Common mistake: sending the translation without the original. Paragraph 39B(f) asks for both.
What translation does HM Passport Office need?
A certified translation into English, not a sworn one. Its guidance says you "need to send a certified translation" if your documents are not in English or Welsh. A Spanish sworn translation into English fits, with the translator's contact details attached.
Example: a British child born in Spain applies for a first UK passport. The family sends the Spanish birth certificate with a certified English translation. That is the Spanish birth certificate translation a UK passport needs.
The passport guidance does not mention an apostille.
Who can translate my Spanish document into English for a UK office?
A translator who works from Spanish into English and signs a statement meeting UK rules. A Spanish sworn translator of English can also do it. We translate into Spanish only, so we do not offer Spanish to English sworn translation for the UK.
When you order elsewhere, ask for:
- a certification statement in English, dated and signed;
- the translator's full name and contact details;
- credentials, such as a MAEC number, for leave to remain or ILR;
- every page translated, including stamps and marginal notes.
Can you send the e-signed PDF? Ask the UK office. Abroad, paper is safer: MAEC legalisation does not accept electronic signatures. Detail is in can a sworn translation be digital.
Do I need an apostille on Spanish documents for the UK? (¿Necesito apostilla para usar un documento español en Reino Unido?)
Ask the UK body that will receive them; requirements vary. Gov.uk says the UK does not legalise foreign documents. You "get them legalised in the country they were issued", which here means Spain. The passport guidance does not mention an apostille.
If an apostille is needed, it is issued in Spain. Depending on the document, it comes from the Ministry of the Presidency and Justice, a notarial college or a regional high court. See the MAEC legalisation page.
What should a Briton in Spain check before ordering a translation?
Check that each UK document is recent enough for your office, carries an FCDO apostille, and matches your passport name. Then confirm whether your office takes a signed PDF or wants paper. Plan the paper apostille time into your cita date.
- I know which Spanish office receives the file.
- The certificate is recent enough for that office.
- The FCDO apostille is on the original (paper route for GRO and ACRO).
- My name matches my passport, including middle names.
- I have scans of every page, apostille included.
- I know whether the office wants the PDF or paper.
Browse more guides on sworn translation in Spain. Solicitors and gestorías handling British clients can use our sworn translation service for law firms and gestorías.
Can a Briton in Spain trust an online sworn translation?
Yes, because you can check every key point before paying. Four checks before you order:
- 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. You can verify a Spanish sworn translator on the official MAEC list.
- What if the office rejects it? Free, prioritised re-issue if rejected on formal grounds. Read our re-issue policy.
- Is my data safe? Files are deleted within 7 days of delivery. See our privacy policy.
- Is your cita soon? Use our urgent sworn translation service.
What clients say
4.9/5.0 from 18,000+ reviews
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
Frequently asked questions
Do UK visa applications accept Spanish sworn translations?
Yes, if the translation is into English and meets paragraph 39B(f). Add the translator's contact details, plus credentials for leave to remain or ILR.
Are there sworn translators in the UK like in Spain?
No. The UK uses certified translations, where the translator signs an accuracy statement. The Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI) says there is "no such thing as a sworn translator" in the UK.
Can I reuse my Spanish sworn translation for both Spain and the UK?
No, usually not. A translation into Spanish serves Spanish offices. UK offices need English.
Do UK documents need an apostille for Spain?
Yes. The UK is not an EU country, so Spanish offices expect an FCDO apostille. GRO birth, marriage and death certificates and ACRO certificates get a paper apostille only.
Can I get my UK birth certificate translated into Spanish from scans?
Yes. A MAEC-appointed sworn translator works from a clear scan of every page, apostille included. You receive a signed PDF, or paper by courier if your office insists.
Does a certified translation for the UK need to be notarised?
It depends on the receiving body. gov.uk guidance does not mention a notary.
Is a Spanish certificado plurilingüe accepted in the UK?
It depends on the office. gov.uk gives no specific guidance on it. Inside the EU, see the EU multilingual standard form.
UK sources: certifying a document · Immigration Rules, para 39B · passport documents · get a document legalised. Spanish sources: Orden AEC/2125/2014 · RD 724/2020 · MAEC legalisation. Last checked: 1 October 2026.
How do I start a sworn Spanish translation of my UK documents?
Scan every page of your UK certificate, the FCDO apostille included, and get a fixed quote for your UK certificates. Before you pay, the quote gives the total and the delivery date. Standard certificates are usually ready in 24–48 hours.
What happens next
- 1We confirm each apostille is in place and quote a fixed price.
- 2You pay, then approve a draft of your names, dates and places.
- 3The signed PDF arrives by email; a paper version travels by courier if a Spanish office asks.
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 how a rejected translation is re-issued.