We are not affiliated with any Oficina de Extranjería, police station or ministry. We are not a gestoría or law firm.
We translate criminal records, birth and marriage certificates and the apostilles on them. You receive a digitally signed PDF, legally valid in Spain since March 2025, with paper by courier if needed.
What translation does Extranjería accept?
In Spanish, the question is "¿qué traducción acepta Extranjería?". Extranjería accepts three kinds of translation, according to its Hoja informativa 61 (May 2025). The simplest is a translation by a MAEC-appointed sworn translator (traductor jurado). The other two go through a consulate and then need a further legalisation or apostille step.
| Route in Hoja 61 | Who translates | Extra step afterwards |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Sworn translation | A sworn translator appointed by MAEC | None: valid in Spain as it is |
| 2. Spanish consulate abroad | The consulate makes or reviews the translation | Legalised by MAEC in Spain |
| 3. Your country's consulate in Spain | The consulate makes the translation | Apostilled or legalised |
Individual procedure sheets (Hojas) usually say "por un traductor jurado". The sheet for family members of Spanish nationals (EX-24, Hoja 18) says "traductor oficial". In both cases, a MAEC sworn translation meets the wording.
- Digital or paper. Since 8 March 2025, a digitally signed sworn translation is legally valid (Orden AUC/213/2025); paper remains valid too. Detail: digital sworn translation in Spain.
- Passports. Extranjería normally asks for a copy of the full passport, which is not translated.
Sources: Hoja informativa 61, Ministerio de Inclusión · Ley 39/2015, BOE. Last checked: 1 October 2026.
Which Extranjería procedures need foreign documents?
Most Extranjería procedures (trámites con documentos extranjeros) that rely on facts from abroad need foreign documents translated into Spanish. The main ones are the five types of arraigo, family reunification and the EU family member card. Others include EX-24 for family of Spanish nationals, long-term residence and some renewals of your residence card (TIE).
| Procedure (trámite) | Rule / information sheet | Foreign documents often translated | Our page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arraigo (social, sociolaboral, socioformativo, familiar, segunda oportunidad) | RD 1155/2024 (arraigo familiar: Hoja 31) | Criminal records from each country lived in, birth certificates | Arraigo sworn translation |
| Family reunification (reagrupación familiar) | Hoja 8 | Birth and marriage certificates, criminal records | Family reunification translations |
| EU family member card (tarjeta de familiar de ciudadano de la UE) | Hoja 62 | Marriage or birth certificate proving the link | Marriage certificate · birth certificate |
| Family of a Spanish national (EX-24) | Hoja 18 ("traductor oficial") | Marriage or birth certificate | Spanish nationality sworn translation for later nationality files |
| 2026 regularisation and its renewals | Hoja 28 ter (RD 316/2026) | Criminal records, apostilled or legalised | Regularisation and renewal translations |
| Long-term residence and renewals (renovaciones) | Hojas 49 and 13 | Documents issued abroad, where requested | Ask us with your Hoja |
The new arraigo rules (RD 1155/2024) have been in force since 20 May 2025. Always read the current Hoja for your own procedure. Looking for a different office? See all sworn translation services by procedure.
Extranjería documents to translate: your tick-list
Each document has its own page with local names and scan tips.
- Criminal record certificate: see police clearance certificate sworn translation
- Birth certificate: see birth certificate sworn translation into Spanish
- Marriage certificate: see marriage certificate sworn translation into Spanish
- Degree or training certificates: see degree certificate sworn translation
- Apostille or legalisation on each document: see apostille and sworn translation
Common source languages are English, French and Arabic. See English to Spanish sworn translation, French to Spanish sworn translation or Arabic to Spanish sworn translation.
Why does Extranjería turn down a translation?
Extranjería usually turns down a translation for formal reasons, not language. It flags the problem in a correction notice (requerimiento de subsanación). Under Ley 39/2015, article 68, you then have 10 working days (días hábiles) to fix it, or the application is treated as withdrawn.
Common causes:
- Not a sworn translation. A certified or agency translation without a MAEC seal.
- Apostille not translated. The document was translated, but the apostille or legalisation on it was not.
- Wrong order. The translation was made before the apostille was added. Apostille or legalise first, then translate both together.
- Missing pages. A back page, stamp or annex was left out.
- Name mismatch. A name differs from the passport or NIE, with no explanation.
- Expired original. The criminal record was older than the office accepts.
Already received a notice? Our requerimiento Extranjería translation page explains the deadline and how we fit inside it.
What we check before your Extranjería file goes in
- The apostille or legalisation is present and translated with the document.
- Every name and spelling matches your passport. Where it differs, the translator adds a note.
- Every page, including backs and stamps, is translated and sealed.
- You approve a draft of names, dates and places before the seal is applied.
Get a fixed price for your Extranjería file
Free quote within 1 hour · files deleted 7 days after delivery
Do I need a criminal record from every country I lived in? (antecedentes penales)
For arraigo, yes: one from each country you lived in during the last 5 years, apostilled or legalised, then sworn-translated. Other procedures set their own rule, so read your Hoja. Detail by arraigo type and by country is on our arraigo sworn translation page.
Validity is set by each office, commonly 3 to 6 months. Order criminal records early enough to arrive, but late enough to stay valid.
Ordering documents from home while living in Spain
For residents of Spain, the slow step is usually getting documents from home. There are usually four ways to do it. Check the current rules with the issuing authority before you pay anyone.
- Your country's consulate in Spain. Some issue or relay criminal records, so check your embassy's current consular page.
- Official online ordering. Some countries issue certificates online. Check your country's official portal.
- A relative or power of attorney at home. They request the document and the apostille or legalisation for you.
- Scans to us. Once the apostille is on, send a scan or photo. Originals are never needed.
Country detail: Indian documents for Spain, Pakistani documents for Spain and Moroccan documents for Spain. Apostille first, then translate: see why the apostille goes on before the translation.
Package price for an Extranjería file
You pay one fixed total, shown before payment. 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.
| Package | What it covers | Price | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single certificate | One criminal record, birth or marriage certificate with apostille | From €29 | 24–48 hours |
| Arraigo file | Two criminal records and a birth certificate | From €87 (€29 per certificate) | 2–3 working days |
| Correction notice | Documents named in your notice | From €29, plus the urgent surcharge | Same day by 20:00 if paid by 12:00 (CET/CEST) |
| Power of attorney | If your file uses one | From €39 | 24–48 hours |
See our price list for every document, or get a fixed quote for your Extranjería documents.
Prices above are for common languages (English, French, Italian, Portuguese, German). Arabic, Russian, Ukrainian and Romanian start from €39 per certificate. Chinese, Urdu, Hindi, Bengali and other rare languages start from €49.
Turnaround in common languages: 1 page in 24–48 hours, 2–5 pages in 2–3 working days, 6–10 pages in 3–5 working days. Rare languages take 3–4 working days for 1–2 pages.
Need it sooner? 24-hour delivery adds 30% to the order price. Same-day delivery adds 60%, minimum €25 extra. It covers 1–2 page documents in common languages. Order and pay by 12:00 Spanish time (CET/CEST) on a working day, and we deliver by 20:00.
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.
Questions residents ask before ordering an Extranjería translation
Your criminal record took weeks to arrive from home, so the translation must be right first time. Before you order:
- Is the translator real? Yes. Each translator we work with is a Traductor-Intérprete Jurado appointed by the MAEC, with their own official seal. You can check the seal on any page in the official MAEC search (Buscador-STIJ), or follow our guide on how to verify a Spanish sworn translator.
- What if Extranjería rejects it? Free, prioritised re-issue if rejected on formal grounds, for example an apostille left untranslated. See what happens if a translation is rejected.
- Is my data safe? Files are deleted within 7 days of delivery, as set out in our privacy policy.
- Appointment or deadline soon? Use our urgent sworn translation service.
For immigration lawyers and gestorías: we deliver straight to your office and work to your clients' deadlines. See sworn translation for immigration lawyers and our service for law firms and gestorías.
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.”
“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.”
“Good service and clear communication. I needed my police clearance certificate translated for a residence application. They explained what they needed from me and answered my questions promptly.”
“I contacted them for documents needed for my long-term residence application. There were several things to organise, and I didn't want to leave the translation until the last minute. The replies were clear, and I appreciated knowing the process before confirming the order.”
“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.”
Related guides
- Do I need a sworn translation in Spain?
- Sworn vs certified translation
- Spanish consulate visa sworn translation if you are still abroad
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to translate my passport for Extranjería?
Usually not. Extranjería normally asks for a copy of the full passport, which is not translated. Check the Hoja informativa for your procedure. We use your passport as the reference to check every spelling in your other translations.
What if my name is spelled differently on my documents?
A sworn translator must reproduce exactly what the document says. We check every name against your passport. Where spellings differ, the translator adds a note, so the officer can see the documents refer to the same person. Read our guide to the single-name passport in Spain.
Should I pay someone for an Extranjería appointment?
No. Appointments (citas) are booked through the official channel. Our part is the translation only. If you work with a lawyer or gestoría, we can deliver directly to them.
Get your Extranjería documents translated
Send a scan or photo of every page, including the apostille. Originals are never needed. You see a fixed total price and a delivery date before you pay.
Upload your documents for your Extranjería file
Free quote within 1 hour · fixed price before you pay · official in Spain
What happens next
- 1We match your documents to your Hoja and list the pages to translate, with a fixed price.
- 2You pay the fixed total and check a draft of names, dates and places.
- 3The digitally signed PDF arrives, ready to upload to the electronic filing portal, with paper by courier if an office insists.
We only translate. We never sell appointments.