Each one holds every registration, certification and authorisation Spain requires for sworn translation. Certificates take 24–48 hours, from €29. Upload a scan to order.
We work with MAEC-appointed sworn translators. This page sets out the credentials each one holds, how we select them and how you can verify any sworn translation yourself. To learn about the company itself, read who we are and how we work.
What is a sworn translator in Spain?
A sworn translator in Spain (traductor jurado) is appointed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAEC). The appointment runs through its Office of Language Interpretation (OIL), under Real Decreto 724/2020. Their signed, sealed translations are official and valid in Spain without further legalisation.
In practice, a sworn translator is an appointed professional with a personal number, a language pair and an official seal. Their official title is traductor-intérprete jurado. Their certification makes a foreign document usable in Spain.
In Spain, when an office asks for an official or "certified" translation, it means a sworn translation (traducción jurada) by a MAEC-appointed translator. Spain recognises no separate "official translator" title. 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.
What does a sworn translator do that others can't?
A sworn translator certifies that a translation is faithful and complete. They sign it with a seal, or a qualified electronic signature, carrying their MAEC number. That certification makes the translation official in Spain. No notary and no further legalisation are needed inside Spain.
In practice, the sworn translator:
- translates the whole document, including stamps, signatures and the apostille;
- attaches a copy of the original, sealed and dated on every page;
- adds the certification formula with their name, place and date;
- signs on paper, or electronically under Orden AUC/213/2025.
A sworn translator for a Spanish consulate file works the same way. When a consulate or BLS checklist says "traductor jurado", it means this appointment. See sworn translation for a Spain visa and Extranjería sworn translation.
How does someone become a MAEC sworn translator?
How to become a sworn translator in Spain is set by law. Someone becomes a MAEC sworn translator by passing an exam set by the Ministry's Office of Language Interpretation (OIL). The other route is recognition of qualifications from another EU or EEA state. Candidates must be of legal age, EU, EEA or Swiss nationals, and hold a university degree.
The appointment is regulated by Real Decreto 724/2020, summarised on the MAEC sworn translators page. The title does not make anyone a civil servant. It creates no employment link with the Administration.
How many sworn translators does Spain have for each language?
According to the official register as of August 2026, Spain has about 3,770 English sworn translators and about 1,289 French ones. Arabic has about 59 and Portuguese about 37. Several languages have none, including Hindi, Punjabi, Nepali, Tagalog, Tamil and Sinhala.
| Language into Spanish | Sworn translators (approx., August 2026) |
|---|---|
| English | about 3,770 |
| French | about 1,289 |
| Arabic | about 59 |
| Portuguese | about 37 |
| Russian | about 33 |
| Chinese | about 9 |
| Ukrainian | about 4 |
| Bengali | 2 |
| Urdu | 1 |
| Hindi, Punjabi, Nepali, Tagalog, Tamil, Sinhala | 0 |
Many documents from India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Philippines exist in English. An English sworn translator can translate that version; see English to Spanish sworn translation. Where a document exists only in a language with no sworn translator, we tell you before you pay: sworn translation into Spanish from any language.
What does every translator in our network hold?
Every translator we work with is a sworn translator-interpreter (Traductor-Intérprete Jurado) appointed by Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We do not assign work to anyone without these four credentials.
- MAEC appointment under RD 724/2020. Granted by the Office of Language Interpretation after the state exam or EU recognition, under Real Decreto 724/2020.
- Entry on the official MAEC register. Each one appears in Buscador-STIJ for the language pair they translate.
- Their own official seal. Its content and the certification formula follow Orden AUC/213/2025.
- A qualified electronic signature. Digital sworn translations are signed with it, so the PDF is valid in Spain.
In short, each translator holds every registration and authorisation Spain requires for sworn translation. We coordinate the order; the translator translates, certifies and signs.
Which languages does our network cover?
We coordinate sworn translations into Spanish from English, French, Italian, Portuguese and German. We also cover Arabic, Russian, Ukrainian, Romanian, Chinese and other languages that have a sworn translator. English is the most common pair, because many documents from India, Nigeria, the Philippines and Pakistan are issued in English. For other pairs, see the source languages we cover. Where Spain has no sworn translator for a language, we tell you before you pay. We translate into Spanish only. We do not offer Spanish-to-English translation, and we do not provide sworn interpreters.
How can you verify any sworn translation you receive?
Start from the seal. Every page of your translation carries the sworn translator's official seal and signature, or a signature box on a digital PDF. Any office, or you, can check it against the official MAEC search, Buscador-STIJ. Match the name, the language pair and the number on the seal. If any detail differs, ask us before you submit the translation.
Buscador-STIJ is Spain's official sworn translator register (the lista de traductores jurados), and no private directory replaces it. The full step-by-step guide is how to verify a sworn translator in Spain.
How do I find a MAEC sworn translator for my language?
You find a sworn translator in Spain through the MAEC Buscador-STIJ, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' official search. You can search by language or translator name. Contact details appear only where the translator has given them to the Office of Language Interpretation.
- Open the official MAEC search.
- Choose your document's language and, if you like, a name.
- Note the translator's number and compare it with the seal on any translation.
Or skip the search and get a fixed quote for your documents. Whoever signs your translation will be on that register.
What protects me when a translator in your network signs my document?
Say you order a sworn translation of your UK birth certificate for the Registro Civil. Here is what protects you, before and after delivery.
- Is the translator real? Read the name and number on the seal of your translation. Type them into Buscador-STIJ, filter by English, and check they match.
- What if the office rejects it? Free, prioritised re-issue if rejected on formal grounds. Read how a free re-issue works.
- Is my data safe? Files are deleted within 7 days of delivery, as set out in our privacy policy.
- Is your appointment or deadline close? See our urgent sworn translation options.
How do we select and check the translators we work with?
Every translator passes our checks before their first job. The register check is official; the rest are our own practices.
- Register check. Name, language pair and number must match Buscador-STIJ before any work is assigned. You can repeat the same check yourself at any time.
- Language pair. We assign only a translator appointed for your document's language into Spanish.
- Electronic signature. We confirm the qualified electronic certificate used for digitally signed translations.
- Quality checks. Each translation goes through a draft you approve, plus our check of names, dates and pages.
- Confidentiality. Each translator works under written terms that bind them to confidentiality and our deletion rules.
What does a sworn translator's seal look like?
A sworn translator's seal shows their name and surnames, the words "Traductor/a-Intérprete Jurado/a de [LENGUA]" and their number. Under the MAEC's seal rules, it sits beside a certification formula with name, place and date. A copy of the original is attached, sealed and dated on every page.
The formula reads: "certifica que la que antecede es traducción fiel y completa al [lengua] de un documento redactado en [lengua]". It also states the translator's name and "Traductor/a-Intérprete Jurado/a de [lengua] nombrado/a por el Ministerio…", followed by place and date.
What replaces the seal in an electronically signed sworn translation?
Under Orden AUC/213/2025, in force since 8 March 2025, a text box replaces the physical seal. It shows the translator's name, language or languages and number. The qualified electronic signature covers the whole document generated, including the source document.
More detail: digital sworn translation in Spain. Last checked: 1 October 2026.
Upload your document for a fixed price and delivery date
Free quote within 1 hour · files deleted 7 days after delivery
Which documents can our sworn translators handle?
The sworn translators we work with handle civil, police and academic documents for residence files, nationality, the Registro Civil, homologation and visas. Each document is translated together with its apostille. Each page below explains one document, procedure or country.
- Spanish nationality sworn translation
- Registro Civil sworn translation
- Birth certificate sworn translation into Spanish
- Police clearance certificate sworn translation
- Degree certificate sworn translation
- Indian documents sworn translation for Spain
- UK documents sworn translation for Spain
- Missing apostille: apostille and sworn translation
- Tight date: urgent sworn translation
Certificates start from €29, and prices for each document are in the full price table. These are starting prices; we email a written quotation, and work starts only after you approve it. The four steps are on how to get a sworn translation for Spain. If an office rejects a translation on formal grounds, our re-issue terms apply.
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.”
“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.”
“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.”
Frequently asked questions
Why don't you list your translators' names on this page?
We present credentials rather than individuals. Every translator we work with is MAEC-appointed and on the official register. The name and number you can check appear where they matter: on the seal of your translation.
Are sworn translators government employees?
No. The MAEC appoints them, but the title does not make them civil servants. It creates no employment link with the Administration.
Can a sworn translator work from outside Spain?
Yes. RD 724/2020 sets no residence requirement for sworn translators. With a qualified electronic signature, they can send you a valid digital sworn translation by email.
Does a translation by a MAEC sworn translator also need a notary?
No, not for use inside Spain. A MAEC sworn translation is valid in Spain by itself. If it will be used abroad, choose paper, because MAEC legalisation does not accept electronic signatures.
How do I order from a MAEC-appointed sworn translator?
You upload a scan of every page, including the apostille, and tell us your procedure and deadline. Within 1 hour during office hours, we email a written quotation with the total and delivery date. Work starts only after you approve it. One-page certificates are delivered in 24–48 hours.
Upload your scans for a fixed quote
Free quote within 1 hour · fixed price before you pay · official in Spain
What happens next
- 1A fixed price and delivery date come first, and a translator appointed for your language pair is assigned.
- 2After payment, you receive a draft and confirm names, dates and places before the seal goes on.
- 3The signed PDF arrives by email, with a seal box you can check against the MAEC register.
WhatsApp: +44 7482 545337. Arabic- and Chinese-speaking support by WhatsApp and email; WeChat available on request. We are not affiliated with the MAEC or any Spanish authority, and we are not a gestoría or law firm. We only translate. We never sell appointments.