How it works in four steps
- 1Send a scan
- 2Fixed quote and delivery date
- 3Approve a draft
- 4Signed PDF, or paper by courier
Uploading your scans takes a few minutes, and quotes arrive within 1 hour during office hours. Prefer to chat? Message us on WhatsApp at +44 7482 545337, use the form, or see all options on our contact page.
We work with MAEC-appointed sworn translators. We are not affiliated with any Spanish authority. We only translate. We never sell appointments.
How do I get a sworn translation for Spain, step by step?
You get a sworn translation for Spain in four steps. Upload a scan of every page, including the apostille. Receive a fixed price and delivery date. Approve a draft of names and dates. Then receive the translation, signed and sealed by a MAEC-appointed sworn translator.
- You send a scan or photo. Every page counts, including the back, stamps and the apostille. Tell us your procedure and your deadline.
- We send a fixed total. It shows the delivery date and everything included. You pay only after seeing this.
- You check a draft. You confirm the spelling of names, dates and places. The seal goes on only after you confirm.
- You receive the sworn translation. It arrives as a digitally signed PDF. If an office insists on paper, we send a signed copy by courier.
You can get a fixed quote for your documents now and decide later. Nothing is translated until you approve the price.
What does a typical order timeline look like?
A typical two-document order runs from upload to signed PDF in one to two working days. The example below is illustrative, not a client record. It shows a police certificate and a degree certificate sent for an arraigo file.
| Step | Example time (Spanish time, CET/CEST) |
|---|---|
| Scans uploaded (police certificate + degree) | Monday 10:00 |
| Fixed quote with total and delivery date | Monday, within 1 hour (office hours) |
| Quote accepted and paid | Monday, when you confirm |
| Draft sent for approval | Monday afternoon |
| Police certificate PDF delivered | Tuesday (within 24–48 hours) |
| Degree certificate PDF delivered | Tuesday or Wednesday (within 24–48 hours) |
Can the translator work from a scan of my document?
Yes. A MAEC-appointed sworn translator can work from a clear scan or phone photo, as long as every edge, stamp and signature shows. Originals never travel to us. You keep the original and submit it to the Spanish office with the sworn translation.
What do I need to send for an official sworn translation?
- A scan of every page, front and back.
- The apostille or legalisation, if your country issues one.
- Your passport photo page, so we can check every name against it.
- Your procedure, your office and any appointment or deadline date.
- Your Extranjería, Registro Civil or consulate checklist, if you have one.
Get the apostille first; read why the apostille comes before the sworn translation. Living in Spain already? Each country page explains how to get home-country documents apostilled from here. Indian documents need an MEA apostille after state attestation; see Indian documents for Spain. Philippine documents need a DFA apostille; see Philippine documents for Spain. Nigerian documents need two-step legalisation; see Nigerian documents for Spain.
Indian, Philippine and Nigerian documents are usually in English; see English to Spanish sworn translation.
Will I receive a PDF or a paper copy?
You usually receive a PDF signed with a qualified electronic certificate. Since 8 March 2025, Orden AUC/213/2025 makes this digital sworn translation legally valid in Spain. A paper copy with a handwritten signature remains valid too, and we post one when an office asks.
A sworn translation delivered by email is the fastest option. The legal basis is Orden AUC/213/2025. More detail is in digital sworn translation in Spain.
How long does a sworn translation take for each document?
A one-page certificate, such as a birth, police or degree certificate, takes 24–48 hours. Documents of 2–5 pages take 2–3 working days, and 6–10 pages take 3–5. Over 10 pages, such as a full syllabus, gets a custom deadline with the quote. The clock starts once you approve the quote and pay.
| What you send | Delivery time | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Birth certificate sworn translation into Spanish | 24–48 hours | Registro Civil, nationality, family files |
| Police clearance certificate sworn translation | 24–48 hours | Arraigo, nationality, visas |
| Degree certificate sworn translation or good standing certificate | 24–48 hours | Homologation, work and student files |
| Academic transcript (2–5 pages) | 2–3 working days | Homologation, university admission |
| Full syllabus (over 10 pages) | Custom deadline confirmed with the quote | Homologation when the Ministry asks |
| Documents for a correction notice | Same day by 20:00 for 1–2 page certificates received and paid by 12:00 noon Spanish time (CET/CEST) on a working day | Extranjería requerimientos |
Rare languages such as Chinese, Russian, Ukrainian or Arabic take 3–4 working days for 1–2 pages. Standard orders sent at the weekend start on the next working day.
For a tight date, see our urgent sworn translation service. Same-day costs +60% (minimum €25 extra), and 24-hour delivery +30%. Prices start from €29 per certificate; this page shows how much a sworn translation costs 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.
Which Spanish procedures use this sworn translation process?
Every procedure uses the same four steps. Residence files go to Extranjería, citizenship files to the Ministry of Justice, and marriages and births to the Registro Civil. Visa files go to the consulate or BLS abroad. Each procedure page lists the documents to translate.
- Extranjería sworn translation — residence and TIE files inside Spain.
- Arraigo document translations — criminal records and family documents.
- Spanish nationality sworn translation — birth certificate and criminal record.
- Registro Civil sworn translation — marriage in Spain and registrations.
- Sworn translation for a Spain visa — consulate and BLS files.
- Spain student visa sworn translation — records and funds.
- Apostille and sworn translation service — when the apostille is missing.
What happens if an office questions the translation?
If an office rejects our translation on formal grounds, the translator redoes it free and with priority. Questions often concern a missing apostille, an expired certificate or a name that differs from the passport. Those are checked before delivery.
Extranjería raises questions through a correction notice (requerimiento de subsanación). Under Ley 39/2015, article 68, you have 10 working days (días hábiles) to fix the file. Otherwise the application is treated as withdrawn. See correction notice sworn translation.
Can I trust a translator I never meet in person?
Yes, because their credentials are official and checkable. Say you are sending a Nigerian police certificate for an arraigo file from Valencia. Here is what you can confirm first.
- Is the translator real? Every translator we work with is a Traductor-Intérprete Jurado appointed by the MAEC. Your translation carries their official seal and signature on every page. Check the seal in the official MAEC search (Buscador-STIJ), using our guide on how to verify a sworn translator in Spain.
- 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, as our privacy policy explains.
- Is your appointment close? If your Extranjería cita is on Friday, tell us on upload; our 24-hour and same-day option explains what fits.
Last checked: 1 October 2026.
Send your documents for a fixed quote and delivery date
Free quote within 1 hour · files deleted 7 days after delivery
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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“We needed a police certificate translated and had some doubts about the paperwork. The team replied patiently and explained the process. It was helpful to get a clear answer instead of trying to work everything out ourselves.”
Frequently asked questions
Should I courier my original certificates to the translator?
No. The translator works from a scan or photo, so your originals stay with you.
Can I track my order?
Yes. Ask for an update by email or WhatsApp at any time. We also email you at the draft and delivery stages.
Is a certified translation the same as a sworn translation in Spain?
In Spain, yes: 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. See sworn vs certified translation.
Can I get a sworn translation delivered by email?
Yes. The digitally signed PDF arrives by email and is legally valid in Spain. You only need paper if an office insists, or if the translation will be used abroad.
Do I need paper if the translation is used outside Spain?
Yes, choose paper. MAEC legalisation does not accept electronic signatures, so a digital copy cannot be legalised for use abroad.
How do I find a sworn translator for Spain?
Search the official MAEC Buscador-STIJ by language. Or upload here, and we assign a sworn translator for your language pair. Every translator we work with is on that register and holds every authorisation Spain requires.
More is in our answers to common questions and on who we are.
How do I start my sworn translation for Spain today?
You start by uploading a scan of every page, including the apostille. Within 1 hour during office hours, you receive a fixed total and a delivery date. You pay only after seeing them.
Start your order with a scan of your document
Free quote within 1 hour · fixed price before you pay · official in Spain
Or message us on WhatsApp at +44 7482 545337.
What happens next
- 1Your scans are checked for missing pages or a missing apostille, then you get one fixed price and a delivery date.
- 2After payment, you approve a draft so every name matches your passport.
- 3The digitally signed PDF reaches you by email; paper follows by courier only if your office asks.