French to Spanish sworn translation for residents and lawyers in Spain

Or message us on WhatsApp at +44 7482 545337, as a second channel.

We work with MAEC-appointed sworn translators. We are not affiliated with any Spanish authority.

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 official without further legalisation, under Real Decreto 724/2020. Originals are never needed, and Spanish consulates that require an official translation accept it too.

Which French-language documents need translating for Spain?

Most French-language public documents filed in Spain need a sworn translation into Spanish. That covers birth, marriage and criminal record certificates from Morocco, Senegal, Algeria, Tunisia, Cameroon and Quebec. Residents file them for a TIE renewal, arraigo, family reunification, nationality or a Registro Civil marriage.

Documents from France and Belgium are different. Under EU Regulation 2016/1191, they need no apostille. With a multilingual standard form attached, a translation is normally not needed. See our guide to the EU multilingual standard form.

French-language documents most often go into arraigo sworn translation, family reunification sworn translation and Spanish nationality sworn translation. Each one draws on the three certificates below. Lawyers and gestorías filing for French-speaking clients can use our service for law firms and gestorías.

French birth certificate translation to Spanish

Many French-speaking countries issue both a full copy (copie intégrale) and a shorter extract (extrait). For a Moroccan birth certificate translation into Spanish, offices generally ask for the full copy. Before ordering a Spanish translation of a Senegal extrait de naissance, check whether your office accepts the extract. Details: birth certificate sworn translation into Spanish.

French criminal record translation to Spanish

This may be a casier judiciaire extract or, in Morocco, the fiche anthropométrique. Validity is set by each office, commonly 3 to 6 months. Apostille or legalise it soon after issue. Details: police clearance sworn translation into Spanish.

French marriage certificate translation to Spanish

Reunification and Registro Civil files usually need the marriage certificate, apostilled or legalised first. If you were married before, add the divorce ruling: divorce decree sworn translation into Spanish. Details: marriage certificate sworn translation into Spanish.

How are French-style names written in a Spanish sworn translation?

The sworn translator reproduces each name exactly as the French text shows it, accents included. We then compare every name with your passport. Where the spelling differs, for example a French-style transliteration of an Arabic name, the translator adds a note instead of changing the original.

French spelling of Arabic names often uses Ou-, -ch or Kh-, while passports may differ. Send your passport photo page with your documents so we can check.

What makes French documents tricky to translate into Spanish?

French-language documents rarely cause trouble because of the language itself. Problems come from the document version, the legalisation chain and text added later. Typical examples are an extract instead of a full copy, or handwritten marginal notes. Arabic text printed beside the French is another.

• Acte or extrait. Order the version your office names before paying for an apostille.
• Marginal notes (mentions marginales). A later marriage or divorce noted in the margin is translated where it appears.
• Legalisation chains. Countries outside the Apostille Convention need two steps before translation.
• The apostille. We translate the apostille together with the document, as Spanish offices expect. See apostille before sworn translation.
• Arabic text. Bilingual documents are covered in the FAQ below and on our Arabic to Spanish sworn translation page.

Can you translate documents from Morocco, Senegal and Quebec?

Yes. We translate French-language documents from any country, once the apostille or legalisation is on. Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia, Algeria and Canada use the apostille. Cameroon and Côte d'Ivoire still need legalisation. The table shows each route before translation, from the HCCH status table.

The HCCH table lists Algeria's entry into force on 9 July 2026. Algeria's own announcement names the Ministries of Interior, Justice, Higher Education, National Education and Vocational Training, plus tax offices and Algérie Poste branches (Radio Algérie). In Cameroon, the Spanish Embassy has a lawyer from its list verify each document. The fee is 5,000 CFA per document, and it takes about 3–4 weeks.

Need both steps in one order? See apostille and sworn translation.

Last checked: 1 October 2026.

How much is a French to Spanish sworn translation, and how long does it take?

A standard French certificate, such as a birth, marriage or criminal record certificate, takes 24–48 hours. 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. You receive our fixed price and delivery date before you pay.

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.

There are about 1,289 French sworn translators (official register, August 2026), so availability is wide. Every document type is listed under sworn translation prices, our price page. You can get a fixed quote for your French certificates in one upload.

What we check on French documents before the seal goes on

Before the translator seals anything, we check four points that cause returned files. You then approve a draft of names, dates and places.

1. The version. Full copy (copie intégrale) or extract, as your office asks.
2. The apostille or legalisation. It is on the document and included in the scan.
3. Names. Each spelling is compared with your passport; differences get a translator's note.
4. Every page. Marginal notes, reverse sides and stamps are all included.

French-document clients ask us before paying

Filing a Moroccan fiche anthropométrique or a Senegalese birth extract? Here are four plain answers before you commit.

• Is the translator real? Every traductor jurado de francés we work with is appointed by Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAEC), is on its official register and works with their own official seal. Check the seal on your translation against the MAEC list; see how to verify a Spanish sworn translator.
• What if the Registro Civil returns it over a missing marginal note? Free, prioritised re-issue if rejected on formal grounds, under our re-issue policy.
• Is my data safe? Files are deleted within 7 days of delivery; see our privacy policy.
• Deadline this week? Our urgent sworn translation service can help.

What does a traducción jurada from French look like?

It follows the order of your original, line by line, with each stamp and signature described where it appears. The translator's certification, signature and seal close it. A copy of your original is attached, sealed and dated on every page. The apostille is translated too.

The seal shows the translator's name, language and number. The official Spanish title is traductor jurado de francés. You can check the translator who seals your translation in the MAEC Buscador-STIJ.

Frequently asked questions

How do I order a sworn translation of my French documents?

You upload a scan or photo of every page, including the apostille or legalisation stamps. Originals are never needed. You receive a fixed total and a delivery date before you pay. Nothing is translated until you accept.

Documents in other languages: sworn translation into Spanish from any language, or see all languages we translate into Spanish.

We only translate. We never sell appointments. English documents: English to Spanish sworn translation.