What we deliver: a sworn translation into Spanish (traducción jurada) by a MAEC-appointed translator, accepted by Spanish offices. 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 photos to get a fixed quote for your sworn translation.
In this guide
- What is the difference between sworn and certified translation?
- What does "certified translation" mean in the UK and the US?
- Is a notarised translation valid in Spain?
- Which translations count as official in Spain?
- Do Spanish consulates accept a certified translation for a visa?
- Can I use a Spanish sworn translation in the UK or the US?
- Which costs more, a sworn or a certified translation?
- Which translation should I order for my documents?
Filing English documents in Spain? Each translation is signed and sealed by a MAEC-appointed sworn translator, so it has official character before Spanish authorities. A standard certificate takes 24–48 hours. See our English to Spanish sworn translation service.
What is the difference between sworn and certified translation?
The difference is where the authority comes from. A sworn translation gets it from the State: MAEC appoints the translator, and Spanish law gives the work official character. A certified translation gets it from the translator's own signed statement of accuracy. No appointment is needed.
In Spain, when an office asks for an official or "certified" translation, it means a sworn translation (traducción jurada) by a MAEC-appointed translator. A certified translation made outside Spain, for example by a UK or US translator, is not a sworn translation. Most Spanish offices won't accept it, because abroad "certified" means something weaker: a translator's own statement.
Here is how the three common types compare:
| Spanish sworn translation | UK or US certified translation | Notarised translation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who signs | A translator appointed by MAEC | Any translator or translation company | The translator, before a notary |
| What makes it valid | The appointment; RD 724/2020 art. 17 | The translator's statement of accuracy | The notary confirms the signature |
| Seal or number | Seal or text box with name, language and registration number | No official number needed | Notary's seal, not a translator number |
| Can you check it? | Yes, on the official MAEC list | Check the translator's own credentials | Check the notary |
| Usual use in Spain | Accepted by Spanish authorities | Often refused for official files | Not a Spanish route on its own |
The Spanish rule comes from Real Decreto 724/2020. Article 17 gives official character to translations by holders of the title of Traductor Jurado.
Example: Sarah, an American living in Málaga, needs her US birth certificate for a marriage file at the Registro Civil. A local US translator signs a statement on a translation: that is certified. A MAEC-appointed translator seals it: that is sworn, and that is what the registry expects. See birth certificate sworn translation into Spanish.
What does "certified translation" mean in the UK and the US?
In the UK and the US, a certified translation carries the translator's signed statement that it is accurate and complete. Neither country appoints sworn translators. The UK asks for the date and the translator's name and contact details. US immigration also wants a statement of competence.
United Kingdom. The gov.uk guidance says the translator must confirm it is a "true and accurate translation of the original document". It must show the date and the translator's full name and contact details. For UK immigration, the Immigration Rules (paragraph 39B(f)) also ask for the translator's signature.
The Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI) is clear. "In the UK, as a common law country, there is no such thing as a sworn translator."
United States. The American Translators Association (ATA) describes a certified translation as three parts. They are the source text, the translation and a signed statement of accuracy. ATA also notes: "in the United States there is no federal or state licensing or certification for translators." See what is a certified translation (ATA).
USCIS, the US immigration agency, follows 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3). The translator certifies the translation as complete and accurate, and certifies that they are competent to translate.
Tip: A "certified translation for USCIS" is built for US immigration, not Spain. See US documents sworn translation for Spain.
Is a notarised translation valid in Spain?
Usually not on its own. A notary who stamps a translation confirms the translator's signature, not the accuracy of the translation. Spanish offices such as Extranjería list other routes. Inside Spain, Spanish notaries and registrars decide which translations they accept, and a sworn translation is the safe route.
In the US this is called a notarized translation. The ATA puts it plainly: "The Notary Public is not attesting to the accuracy of the translation." The notary only checks who signed. The ITI says a UK notarised translation usually carries a translator's declaration signed by the notary.
So what is a notarial translation in Spain (¿qué es una traducción notarial?)? Spanish rules let a Spanish notary who knows a language translate documents. For the Property Registry, a notary can translate and answers for its accuracy (Reglamento Hipotecario art. 37). The registrar may still ask for an official translation.
Common mistake: Paying a notary abroad to stamp a translation, then filing it with Extranjería. That is not one of the routes it lists; see Extranjería sworn translation.
Which translations count as official in Spain?
For immigration (Extranjería), Hoja informativa 61 lists three routes. A translation by a MAEC sworn translator. A translation by a Spanish embassy or consulate abroad. Or one by your country's embassy or consulate in Spain. The consular routes also need legalisation or an apostille. Other offices set their own lists.
Hoja informativa 61 sets the Extranjería routes. A local certified translation is not one of them.
Is an official translation the same as a sworn one (¿es lo mismo traducción oficial que jurada?)? In Spain, mostly yes. The sworn translation is Spain's official form of certified translation. A few offices accept other official routes:
| Spanish office | What it accepts as a translation |
|---|---|
| Extranjería (residence, arraigo, family) | MAEC sworn translator, or the two consular routes in Hoja 61 |
| Ministry of Science (degree homologation) | MAEC sworn translator; an official translator in an EU country; a non-EU official translator with a legalised signature |
| Ministry of Justice (nationality) | Documents "debidamente traducidos y legalizados"; a sworn translation is the safe choice |
| Civil courts (LEC art. 144) | Private translations are allowed; another party may challenge them |
| Notaries and registries | Each decides; a sworn translation has official status |
For homologation, see degree homologation Spain translation. For courts, a private translation can be challenged within 5 days. Many firms therefore file a sworn translation to reduce that risk.
Tip: Bilingual documents save money for homologation. If a document is written entirely in two languages, only one needs translating, per the Ministry of Science translations page.
Do Spanish consulates accept a certified translation for a visa?
Rules differ by consulate, and any flexibility applies to the visa stage only. A sworn translation is accepted by Spanish offices that require an official translation, and you need one once you file in Spain. Other consulates name a sworn translator (traductor jurado) on their checklists, so always check your own consulate's list.
Examples from official checklists:
- USA: the Miami consulate's student visa checklist asks for a traducción jurada for the FBI report and medical certificate. Other US consulates word this differently, so check your own consulate's checklist.
- India: The New Delhi embassy states that "Official Sworn Translations cannot be done in India." Its visa section can seal an unofficial English–Spanish translation, by appointment, for visa files only. See Indian documents sworn translation for Spain.
The trap is the second step. Back in Spain, offices use the Hoja 61 routes, so a visa-stage translation may not work there.
A Spain visa sworn translation avoids translating twice. A police clearance certificate sworn translation is a common case, because the certificate is checked at both stages.
Not sure your consulate takes a certified translation? A sworn translation works at the visa stage and later in Spain. Your quote shows the fixed price and delivery date.
Can I use a Spanish sworn translation in the UK or the US?
Sometimes, but check first. UK and US bodies set their own rules for certified translations. The UK gov.uk guidance asks for the translator's contact details, which a Spanish sworn seal may not show. We translate into Spanish only. We do not offer Spanish-to-English translation.
For UK use, ask the translator to add a signed note with their contact details. Some UK bodies may set their own rules. The full answer is in does the UK accept a Spanish sworn translation.
British readers moving to Spain need the opposite direction. See UK documents sworn translation for Spain.
Which costs more, a sworn or a certified translation?
A sworn translation usually costs more per page than a simple translation, because the translator signs and seals it under an official title. As an indicative market range, sworn translations in Spain cost about €30–120 a page. That is roughly €30–80 for the first page and €15–40 for later pages (Cronoshare, January 2026). This is a market range, not our price. The real cost question is different: a refused certified translation means paying twice.
Sworn translators set their fees freely; there is no official tariff. Prices for a short certificate vary by translator; ours start from €29 per certificate. See the sworn translation price page for each document. 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.
Ordering for clients? Lawyers and gestorías can use our sworn translation service for law firms and gestorías.
Common mistake: Choosing the cheaper certified translation for a marriage certificate sworn translation case, then needing a sworn one for family reunification. You then pay twice and lose days before your appointment.
Which translation should I order for my documents?
Order a sworn translation for anything filed with a Spanish office: Extranjería, the Registro Civil, the nationality office or the Ministry of Science. Choose a certified one only when a UK or US body asks for it. Where a consulate allows both, sworn also works later in Spain.
Quick checklist before you order:
- Will the document be filed in Spain? Then choose sworn.
- Does your consulate's checklist say "traductor jurado"? Then choose sworn.
- Is the apostille already on the original? It comes first; see apostille before or after translation.
- Is the translator on the MAEC list? See how to verify a sworn translator in Spain.
- Do names match your passport exactly?
- Do you need a PDF or paper? Paper is safer for use outside Spain.
If the apostille is still missing, we can help with apostille and sworn translation together.
Frequently asked questions
Can I do my own sworn translation?
No, unless you hold a MAEC appointment. For Extranjería, visas and nationality, your own translation is not one of the accepted routes. Civil courts allow a private translation, but another party can challenge it.
Does a consulate translation count as official?
Yes, for Extranjería. Hoja 61 accepts translations by a Spanish embassy or consulate abroad, and by your country's consulate in Spain, with legalisation or an apostille. The New Delhi visa seal covers visa files only.
Does the UK have sworn translators?
No. The ITI says that in the UK "there is no such thing as a sworn translator". UK translations are certified by the translator's own statement of accuracy.
Is a certified translation accepted in Spain?
It depends on the office. Extranjería lists sworn and consular routes only. Homologation also accepts EU official translators. For the visa stage, check your consulate's current checklist before relying on a certified translation.
Is an ATA-certified translator the same as a Spanish sworn translator?
No. ATA certification comes from a professional association in the US. Only a MAEC appointment makes someone a sworn translator for Spain.
Can a sworn translator certify someone else's translation?
In practice, no. A sworn translator certifies the faithfulness of their own work with their signature and seal, under RD 724/2020 art. 18. Expect them to check or redo the text.
Sources: RD 724/2020 · Hoja 61 · Ministry of Science · gov.uk · ITI · ATA. Last checked: 1 October 2026.
Where do I order a sworn translation that Spanish offices accept?
Upload clear photos of each page and any apostille. Your quote fixes the total and the delivery date. Most certificates take 24–48 hours.
Doubts before you switch from a certified to a sworn translation
- 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 with our guide to verifying the translator yourself.
- What if the office rejects it? Free, prioritised re-issue if rejected on formal grounds. Read our re-issue terms.
- Is my data safe? Files are deleted within 7 days of delivery; see our privacy policy.
- Cita or deadline close? 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.”
What happens next
- 1We read your pages and reply with a fixed total and delivery date.
- 2After payment, you approve a draft of the names, dates and places.
- 3Delivery is a digitally signed PDF; we courier paper when an office requires 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. Read our editorial policy and more guides on sworn translation in Spain.