When the form does not cover a document, we arrange a sworn translation into Spanish (traducción jurada) by a MAEC-appointed translator. It is accepted by the Registro Civil, Extranjería and notaries. Most certificates take 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 photo of each page for a fixed quote.
In this guide
- What is the EU multilingual standard form?
- Which documents does the EU form cover?
- Can I use the EU form instead of a translation in Spain?
- How do I get a multilingual standard form for my birth certificate?
- Do I still need an apostille for an EU birth certificate?
- Is there a multilingual form for a divorce certificate?
- Does the multilingual form work for UK, Indian or other non-EU documents?
- What should I check before I hand in an EU document in Spain?
No form for your document, or the office still wants a translation? A MAEC-appointed sworn translator translates it into Spanish. A standard certificate takes 24–48 hours. See our birth certificate sworn translation into Spanish.
What is the EU multilingual standard form?
The EU multilingual standard form is an official translation aid created by Regulation (EU) 2016/1191, in force since 16 February 2019. The authority that issued your document attaches it. It repeats the key details under fixed headings in all EU languages, so a Spanish official can read them.
In Spanish, it is the formulario multilingüe or impreso estándar multilingüe: a cover sheet for your certificate.
The form is not a document on its own. The Spanish Ministry of Justice says it "NO tendrá valor jurídico autónomo": it has no legal value of its own. It must always be handed in with the public document it explains (Ministry of Justice leaflet).
Example: you file your Italian birth certificate and its form together. The form alone proves nothing.
Tip: the birth version's official name is the "multilingual standard form concerning birth". Use that phrase when you ask for a multilingual standard form with a birth certificate.
Which documents does the EU form cover?
There are 11 forms, in Annexes I to XI of the Regulation. Each covers one fact: birth, being alive, death, marriage, capacity to marry, marital status or residence. Three cover registered partnerships. The last one covers the absence of a criminal record in your country of nationality.
The 11 EU multilingual standard forms
| Annex | Form | Annex | Form |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | Birth | VII | Registered partnership |
| II | A person being alive | VIII | Capacity to enter a registered partnership |
| III | Death | IX | Registered partnership status |
| IV | Marriage | X | Domicile and/or residence |
| V | Capacity to marry | XI | Absence of a criminal record in the Member State of nationality |
| VI | Marital status |
Source: the EU's public documents forms page.
No form, or an office that still wants a translation? The usual candidates are a police clearance certificate sworn translation, a marriage certificate sworn translation into Spanish or a death certificate sworn translation into Spanish.
Common mistake: assuming every document the Regulation covers has a form. Name, divorce, parenthood, adoption and nationality documents skip the apostille, but have no form.
Can I use the EU form instead of a translation in Spain?
Usually, yes: in most cases the formulario multilingüe UE replaces the traducción jurada (sworn translation). Under Regulation 2016/1191, an office should not ask for a translation when the form is attached and it finds the form's information sufficient. It may still ask for one, but only exceptionally. If it does, a sworn translation into Spanish is the safe answer.
The EU's e-Justice portal says authorities "should only require a translation … in exceptional circumstances".
Civil registries also apply Ley 20/2011 art. 95: a translation is needed, unless the registrar knows the content.
If a translation is needed, the Ministry of Justice leaflet helps. A sworn translation made by a person qualified under the law of a Member State is accepted in all Member States. In Spain, the official form of certified translation is the sworn translation, by a translator appointed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAEC).
- Example: a French citizen marries in Spain. Her French birth certificate comes with the form. The Registro Civil normally needs no translation. A French document without a form goes to French to Spanish sworn translation.
- Example: a Portuguese heir deals with an estate in Spain. The Portuguese death certificate comes with the form, so no apostille and usually no translation. Without a form, see Portuguese to Spanish sworn translation.
How do I get a multilingual standard form for my birth certificate?
Ask the authority that issues your birth certificate, when you request the certificate. Only that authority can issue and sign the form. You cannot download a blank form and fill it in yourself. In Spain, the Registro Civil and notaries issue the formulario multilingüe, each in their own field.
Follow these steps:
- Find the issuing office in the EU country that holds your record.
- Request the certificate and the form together. Say it is for use in Spain.
- Check the signature. The form "must always be issued and signed by an authority of the EU country where the public document is issued".
- Keep both papers together. You file them as one set.
For Spanish certificates, the route is online: the Basque Government's justice FAQ says you request it through the Ministry of Justice online office. You choose "EU" as the recipient, then the language of the multilingual annex. Spain's online office lists "plurilingüe, en extracto, multilingüe" among its special certificates.
Common mistake: downloading a blank form. The EU's forms page says the forms are "not to be downloaded … and filled in by citizens".
Do I still need an apostille for an EU birth certificate?
No, not for use in Spain. Public documents covered by Regulation 2016/1191 must be accepted as authentic in another EU country without an apostille. That applies to EU birth certificates with or without the form. The exemption covers documents issued by EU authorities only, never non-EU ones.
What is an apostille? It is a certificate added to a public document. It confirms who signed it, in what capacity, and the seal used, but says nothing about the content. Spain's Ministry of Justice leaflet confirms that EU death certificates need no apostille.
EU or non-EU document: what Spain usually asks for
| Question | EU document (e.g. Italy, Romania) | Non-EU document (e.g. India, Morocco, UK) |
|---|---|---|
| Apostille or legalisation? | No | Yes, on the original first |
| Multilingual form? | Yes, for 11 types | No |
| Translation into Spanish? | Usually not, with the form | Yes, a sworn translation |
For non-EU documents, the order matters: apostille first, translation second. Our guide on apostille before or after translation explains why, and the apostille and sworn translation service handles both.
Is there a multilingual form for a divorce certificate?
No. There is no form for divorce, name, parenthood, adoption or nationality documents. An EU divorce decision still needs no apostille. But without a form, a Spanish office may ask for a Spanish translation. A sworn translation, by a MAEC-appointed translator, is the safe choice.
EU divorces also follow Regulation (EU) 2019/1111 (Brussels II ter). You file the decision with its art. 36 certificate. A translation of the certificate can be required, and of the decision only if the office cannot proceed without it. In practice, Spanish offices often ask for one.
Example: a German citizen, divorced in Germany, wants to remarry in Spain. His German birth certificate comes with a form. The divorce decision has no form, so it needs a divorce decree sworn translation into Spanish.
Name and nationality papers work the same way. Applying for Spanish nationality? See Spanish nationality sworn translation.
Marrying in Spain with one EU and one non-EU partner? The EU certificate may need nothing. The non-EU partner's documents, and any divorce decision, need an apostille and a sworn translation. Your quote shows one fixed total before any payment. Starting prices are on our price list; your written quotation confirms the final price.
Does the multilingual form work for UK, Indian or other non-EU documents?
No. Regulation 2016/1191 does not apply to public documents issued by a non-EU country. It also excludes certified copies of them made in an EU country. Indian, Moroccan, Canadian or US certificates still need an apostille or legalisation, then a sworn translation into Spanish.
- UK, after Brexit. The UK is no longer an EU country, so the Regulation does not cover UK documents. They need an FCDO apostille: paper £45, usually up to 25 working days, plus postage (gov.uk). UK birth, marriage and death certificates get a paper apostille only. See UK documents sworn translation for Spain.
- Morocco. Spanish offices generally ask for the full birth certificate, apostilled, then translated. See Moroccan documents sworn translation for Spain.
- Canada. Canada has used the apostille since 11 January 2024. See Canadian documents sworn translation for Spain.
English documents go through our English to Spanish sworn translation service.
Example: an Italian citizen marries a Moroccan partner in Spain. The Italian birth certificate can travel with a form. The Moroccan full birth certificate needs an apostille and a sworn translation.
The same applies when a non-EU resident brings family to Spain. See family reunification Spain sworn translation.
What should I check before I hand in an EU document in Spain?
Check that the document comes from an EU country and is one of the 11 form types. Check that the issuing authority signed the form, and that you file both together. Then ask whether your office accepts it. If any answer is no, plan a sworn translation.
- Issued by an authority in an EU country, not the UK or another non-EU country.
- One of the 11 form types.
- Form issued and signed by that authority, not filled in by you.
- Form and document filed together.
- Recent enough for your office; see does a sworn translation expire.
- Office asked whether it accepts the form without a translation.
- Divorce, name or nationality paper: sworn translation ordered.
Unsure whether you need a translation at all? Read do I need a sworn translation for Spain, or browse more guides on sworn translation in Spain. Lawyers and gestores filing for EU clients can use our sworn translation service for law firms and gestorías.
Can I rely on you when the EU form falls short?
Yes, and you can check each point before you pay. 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 registry rejects it? Free, prioritised re-issue if rejected on formal grounds. See how a free re-issue works.
- Is my data safe? Files are deleted within 7 days of delivery. Read our privacy policy.
- Is your Registro Civil date close? Use our urgent sworn translation service.
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.”
“I needed a divorce decree translated for a legal procedure here in Spain. The team was professional and easy to communicate with. They explained the steps and kept things straightforward, which I appreciated because I was already dealing with quite a lot of paperwork.”
“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.”
“Hi, thanks for helping with my birth certificate translation. I was a little lost with all the documents for my nationality application, but your team explained things clearly. Really appreciate it!”
“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.”
Frequently asked questions
Where do I request the multilingual form?
It depends on the country that issued your document. Ask the authority that issues the certificate, at the same time. For Spanish certificates, use the Ministry of Justice online office.
You cannot download and fill in the form yourself. An authority of the issuing country must issue and sign it.
Is the multilingual standard form free?
It depends on the country. Ireland's official guidance says its form is free of charge. Fees vary by country, so ask the issuing authority.
How long is a multilingual standard form valid?
It depends on the receiving office. No official validity period is set for the form itself. Ask the office how recent your document must be.
Is the certificado plurilingüe the same as the EU form?
No. The certificado plurilingüe is a different document: it comes from the Vienna Convention of 8 September 1976. Only the countries that ratified it use it. The EU form comes from Regulation 2016/1191.
Do I need a sworn translation if my marriage file has EU forms?
It depends on the registry. With the multilingual standard form attached, the registry can ask for a translation of EU birth or capacity-to-marry documents only exceptionally. Any non-EU document in the file still needs an apostille and a sworn translation.
Sources: e-Justice: public documents · EU multilingual standard forms · Ministry of Justice leaflet · Ley 20/2011 · Ministry of Justice online office. Last checked: 1 October 2026.
Who makes a sworn translation when the EU form isn't enough?
A MAEC-appointed sworn translator does, and we coordinate it. Upload photos of every page and any apostille, and get a fixed quote for your certificate. Before payment, we reply with a fixed total and a delivery date. Most certificates take 24–48 hours.
What happens next
- 1We look at your pages and tell you whether the EU form already covers them.
- 2If not, you pay the quote and approve a draft of the names, dates and places.
- 3You get the signed PDF by email, or a paper original by courier for offices that insist.
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 our re-issue policy.