Sworn Spanish translation of Chinese documents for Spain

Your route in three steps: 1. Notarial certificate from a Chinese notary office → 2. Apostille from the MFA or an authorised foreign affairs office → 3. Sworn translation into Spanish

We are not affiliated with any Chinese notary office, foreign affairs office or Spanish embassy or consulate.

Spain had 255,517 Chinese nationals with residence documents on 30 September 2025 (OPI). Most people who need these translations already live in Spain.

How do I apostille Chinese documents for Spain?

Since 7 November 2023, mainland China uses the apostille instead of consular legalisation. First a Chinese notary office issues a notarial certificate. Then China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or an authorised provincial or city foreign affairs office, adds the apostille. A MAEC sworn translator then translates everything into Spanish.

China's MFA is the competent authority. Authorised foreign affairs offices issue apostilles only for documents issued in their own area (MFA notice). Spanish missions do not issue apostilles. Spain is also a party, so no embassy stamp follows the China apostille (HCCH status table).

The one fact that matters: Hoja 61 accepts three translation routes: a MAEC sworn translator, a Spanish consulate abroad, or China's consulate in Spain. A translation by a Chinese notary office is not one of them. A MAEC sworn translation removes that risk.

In Spain, when an office asks for an official or "certified" translation, it means a sworn translation (traducción jurada) by a MAEC-appointed translator. It is valid in Spain without legalisation. The order of the steps is explained in apostille before or after translation.

How do Chinese residents of Spain get documents from China?

If you live in Spain, a relative in China can usually get these documents for you. The relative applies at the notary office, then the foreign affairs office adds the apostille. Ask the notary office what authorisation a representative needs. Once the apostille is on, the relative scans every page and you send us the files.

You need these documents when you renew a residence card, apply for arraigo or Spanish nationality, or register a marriage or birth. Practical routes:

When the scans are ready, get a fixed quote for your Chinese certificates. Your filing steps are on our Extranjería sworn translation and Registro Civil sworn translation pages.

Do Chinese notarial certificates already include Spanish?

Sometimes, but that translation is made by the notary office. Spain's Hoja 61 accepts translations by a MAEC sworn translator, by a Spanish consulate abroad, or by China's consulate in Spain. A notary-office translation is not on that list, so it may not be accepted in Spain.

The safe choice is a MAEC sworn translation of the Chinese text and the apostille. Hoja 61 also asks for the apostille, because China is a party.

China notarial certificate apostille for Spain

A Chinese notarial certificate for Spain usually combines a copy of your document, the notary's statement and often a translation. The apostille is added to it. For a Chinese notarial certificate translation, our translator works from the Chinese text and translates the apostille as well, as Spanish offices expect.

Which Chinese documents still need a sworn translation?

Every Chinese document filed in Spain needs a Spanish translation from an accepted route, even if the notary office added English or Spanish. A MAEC sworn translation is the safe choice. The usual set is birth, marriage and kinship certificates, the no-criminal-record certificate and degrees.

For characters, pinyin and name order, see our Chinese to Spanish sworn translation page. It covers Chinese-language documents from any place, including Hong Kong and Taiwan.

China criminal record apostille for Spain

Ministry of Public Security rules in force since 31 December 2021 set who applies. Chinese citizens apply at the police station for their hukou or where they live. In practice, the certificate is then notarised and apostilled.

Validity is set by each office, commonly 3 to 6 months. For nationality, the Ministry of Justice FAQ says a certificate with no stated validity counts for 6 months from issue.

What changes for documents issued in Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan?

Hong Kong and Macao have had their own apostille for decades. A Hong Kong apostille for Spain comes from the High Court Registrar. Taiwan is not a party to the Apostille Convention. Documents issued in Taiwan are notarised, then legalised by Spain's Consular Section, under the Consulate General in Manila.

Last checked: 1 October 2026.

Where do Chinese files for Spain get delayed?

Check these points before you order:

• Relying on the notary office's translation. It is not a Hoja 61 route; use a MAEC sworn translation.
• Expired criminal record. Order it last.
• Wrong office. A foreign affairs office apostilles only documents issued in its own area.
• Records from elsewhere. Lived in Singapore before Spain? See Singapore documents for Spain. Worked in India? See Indian documents for Spain.
• Late replies to a requerimiento. You have 10 working days (días hábiles) to answer; see correction notice sworn translation.

How much is a sworn Spanish translation of Chinese documents in CNY?

Your quote shows one total in euros, apostille pages included, before paying. Chinese is a scarce pair on the official MAEC list. Each quote therefore gives its own firm delivery date. More document types are in our sworn translation price list. Prices are in euros; your card or bank converts from yuan at its own rate.

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. Urgent delivery is available on request, subject to translator availability.

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.

Payment methods: cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), PayPal, bank transfer (SEPA and international), Apple Pay and Google Pay. Prices include VAT where it applies. We offer Chinese-speaking support by WhatsApp and email; WeChat is available on request.

How do we protect Chinese families who order from Spain?

Chinese is a scarce language pair, so we work only with Chinese–Spanish translators appointed by the MAEC. Each holds every registration Spain requires and seals every page. You can check that seal on the official MAEC list. If the Registro Civil rejects a notarial certificate translation on formal grounds, we redo it free and first.

• Is the translator real? Check the seal on your translation in the official MAEC search (Buscador-STIJ); our guide shows how to check a sworn translator.
• What if the office rejects it? Free, prioritised re-issue if rejected on formal grounds, under our re-issue terms.
• Is my data safe? Files are deleted within 7 days of delivery; see our privacy policy.
• Criminal record certificate about to expire? Read about urgent sworn translation.

Which Spanish procedure are you preparing with Chinese documents?

Chinese residents in Spain often file for residence renewals, family reunification, arraigo or Spanish nationality. Applicants in China often need student or family visas from the Spanish Embassy in Beijing or the consulates general in Shanghai, Guangzhou or Hong Kong. Each file uses apostilled Chinese documents with a sworn Spanish translation.

• Arraigo: a criminal record certificate from each country you lived in during the last 5 years. Arraigo sworn translation
• Spanish nationality: birth certificate and criminal record, apostilled and translated, plus DELE A2 and CCSE. Spanish nationality sworn translation
• Family reunification: spouse, children under 18 and dependent parents over 65. Family reunification sworn translation
• Student visa: funds of €600 a month. Spain student visa sworn translation
• Chinese companies in Spain: a foreign company's NIF needs translated, apostilled documents. Corporate documents sworn translation

Need help with the apostille step? See apostille and sworn translation. Other origins: documents from every country we cover.

Frequently asked questions

How do I send my Chinese documents for a sworn translation quote?

Send a scan or photo of each page, the notarial certificate and apostille included; originals stay with you. Before paying, you see one total in CNY or euros and a confirmed date. A family set gets one quote and one spelling per name.

WhatsApp: +44 7482 545337. We only translate. We never sell appointments.