Your route in three steps: 1. HEC (degrees) or IBCC (board certificates), education only → 2. MOFA apostille → 3. Sworn translation into Spanish
Does Pakistan use the apostille for Spain now?
Yes. Pakistan has used the apostille since 9 March 2023, issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). A MOFA apostille replaces the older chain of embassy legalisation. Some BLS checklists still say "legalised", so follow the checklist you were given. Then the document needs a sworn translation into Spanish.
The one fact that matters: apostille first, translation second. Pakistan is listed as an apostille country on the HCCH status table.
A sworn translation is made by a translator appointed by Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAEC). Under Real Decreto 724/2020 it is official and valid in Spain without further legalisation. We work with MAEC-appointed sworn translators. You send scans online from Spain or from Pakistan.
A word on agents. Book appointments only through the official channel on your checklist; paying an agent does not make a file stronger. We have no role in bookings, and we are not affiliated with MOFA, BLS or any Spanish authority.
Living in Spain? How to get Pakistani documents apostilled from here
Many Pakistani nationals who need these documents already live in Spain. You can usually get your documents ready without travelling. The police character certificate can be requested through the Embassy of Pakistan in Madrid (see its consular services page). Other documents are normally handled in Pakistan by a relative, then apostilled by MOFA.
| Document | Route while you live in Spain | Check first |
|---|---|---|
| Police character certificate | Request it through the Embassy of Pakistan in Madrid; it then needs the MOFA apostille | Processing time with the embassy, so it is still valid on your filing date |
| NADRA FRC, MRC, B-form | A relative in Pakistan, or NADRA's services for overseas Pakistanis | The current options on NADRA's official site |
| Nikah nama, degrees | A relative or an authorised person takes them to HEC, IBCC or MOFA | Whether an authority letter is accepted; ask the office first |
| Any apostilled document | Scan it and send it to us from Spain | Every page, including the apostille and the back |
Pakistani residents in Spain most often need these for:
- Arraigo: a criminal record certificate from each country you lived in during the last 5 years, apostilled and sworn-translated. See arraigo sworn translation.
- Renewals after the 2026 regularisation: permits last one year, so renewals fall due from 2027. See the 2026 regularisation and its renewals.
- Bringing your family: see family reunification Spain sworn translation.
- Marriage or a child's birth in Spain: see Registro Civil sworn translation.
We do not advise on immigration law; your lawyer or gestoría confirms which documents your file needs. Then get a fixed quote for your Pakistani documents with the delivery date before you pay.
How do I apostille Pakistani documents with MOFA?
You apostille Pakistani documents for Spain at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). Civil documents such as NADRA certificates usually go to MOFA directly. Education documents need a prior attestation: IBCC for board certificates and, usually, HEC for university degrees. When the MOFA apostille is on, send us the document and apostille together.
Order the translation only once MOFA's apostille is on the document. A translation made earlier leaves that apostille untranslated, and you would need a second one. Background: why the apostille comes before the sworn translation.
| Step | Where | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Pre-attestation (education only) | IBCC for board certificates; HEC for university degrees | Check the current HEC process on hec.gov.pk. |
| 2. Apostille | MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) | Check the name on every document matches your passport. |
| 3. Sworn translation | Online, with us | Certificates and degrees 24–48 hours; transcripts 2–3 working days. |
| 4. Delivery | Digitally signed PDF; paper by courier if an office insists | We translate the document and its apostille together. |
For one order covering both steps, see apostille and sworn translation. Last checked: 1 October 2026.
How do I attest a Pakistani degree for Spain?
University degrees are usually attested by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) before MOFA apostilles them. Board certificates such as Matric and Intermediate go to IBCC instead. Check the current HEC attestation route on its official site, then apostille the degree and transcript together. For recognition in Spain, see degree homologation sworn translation.
Documents from Pakistan we translate
Most Pakistani civil and academic documents are issued in English, or in Urdu and English. Very few sworn translators work from Urdu on the official register as of August 2026, so we usually work from the English version. Where an entry is only in Urdu, your quote confirms an Urdu sworn translator and a date before you pay. For Urdu-only documents, see sworn translation into Spanish from other languages.
| Pakistani document | Issued by | Translation page |
|---|---|---|
| Police character certificate | Pakistani police; from Spain via the Embassy of Pakistan in Madrid | Police clearance certificate sworn translation |
| Family Registration Certificate (FRC) | NADRA | Birth certificate sworn translation |
| Birth certificate / B-form | NADRA | Birth certificate sworn translation |
| Marriage Registration Certificate (MRC), nikah nama | NADRA; union council | Marriage certificate sworn translation |
| Degree certificate, transcript | University (HEC) or board (IBCC) | Degree certificate sworn translation |
| Bank statements | Your bank | Bank statement sworn translation |
Which NADRA documents does Spain ask for?
Spain usually asks for NADRA documents that prove family links. These are the Family Registration Certificate (FRC), the Marriage Registration Certificate (MRC) and the B-form or NADRA birth certificate. They are common in family reunification and arraigo familiar files. Each needs a MOFA apostille, then a sworn translation into Spanish.
- FRC: shows the family unit. One FRC often supports a whole family's file, so names must match every passport.
- MRC: the computerised marriage record. Often requested alongside the nikah nama.
- B-form: the child registration record. Used for children in family files.
We check every name against the passport before translating. Where a spelling differs, the translator adds a translator's note.
How is a nikah nama translated for Spain?
A nikah nama is translated for Spain after a MOFA apostille, exactly as written. Many nikah namas have Urdu and English columns, and the two can disagree, for example on the dower (haq mehr). The sworn translator reproduces exactly what is written and does not correct either column.
Does the nikah nama need its own apostille?
Yes, it is apostilled by MOFA like other civil documents, usually together with the MRC. Send every page, including handwritten entries and stamps. More on our marriage certificate sworn translation page.
Send your NADRA documents and nikah nama for one family price
Free quote within 1 hour · files deleted 7 days after delivery
Common mistakes in Pakistani family files
Check these five points first:
- Following an old checklist. Some BLS checklists still ask for legalisation. Follow the checklist you were given, and ask if it is unclear.
- Skipping HEC or IBCC. Education documents without the prior attestation can be refused at MOFA.
- Name mismatches. "Muhammad" and "Mohammad" on different documents cause questions. We flag these before the seal is applied.
- Paying an agent for an appointment. Paying does not make a file stronger. Use the official booking channel only.
- Missing a correction notice. If a requerimiento asks for a MOFA apostille or a new translation, you have 10 working days (días hábiles) under Ley 39/2015, article 68. Otherwise the file is treated as withdrawn. See correction notice sworn translation.
How much does it cost to translate a nikah nama into Spanish?
A nikah nama is usually 2–4 pages and often in Urdu, so it costs more than a one-page English certificate. Your quote shows one total in euros, apostille page included. 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. Family packages are quoted together. See sworn translation price.
| Item | Starting price |
|---|---|
| Short certificate in English (FRC, MRC, B-form, police certificate) | from €29 |
| Nikah nama or other Urdu document | from €49 |
| Degree certificate | from €29 |
| Family package (several NADRA documents) | from €29 per certificate, quoted together |
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. Prices are in euros; your card or bank converts from Pakistani rupees at its own rate.
| Document | Standard turnaround |
|---|---|
| NADRA certificates, police certificate (English, 1 page) | 24–48 hours |
| Degree certificate | 24–48 hours |
| Academic transcript (2–5 pages) | 2–3 working days |
| Nikah nama or other Urdu document | 3–4 working days for 1–2 pages; 5–7 working days for 3–10 pages |
Need it faster? 24-hour delivery adds 30% to the order price. Same-day delivery adds 60%, minimum €25, for 1–2 page documents in common languages paid by 12:00 noon Spanish time.
Payment methods: cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), PayPal, bank transfer (SEPA and international), Apple Pay and Google Pay. Prices include VAT where it applies.
Questions Pakistani families ask before ordering
A family file can hold five or six NADRA papers, so one rejection delays everyone. Check these points first.
- Is the translator real? Each translator in our network is MAEC-appointed and listed on the official register. Their seal on your translation can be checked in the official MAEC search (Buscador-STIJ). Guide: how to verify a Spanish sworn translator.
- What if the office rejects it? Free, prioritised re-issue if rejected on formal grounds. See our re-issue policy.
- Is my family's data safe? Scans are deleted within 7 days of delivery; see the privacy policy.
- Reagrupación deadline or BLS slot soon? Use our urgent sworn translation service.
What clients say
4.9/5.0 from 18,000+ reviews
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
Which procedure are you applying for from Pakistan?
- Any Extranjería procedure: Extranjería sworn translation
- Consulate or BLS visa: sworn translation for a Spain visa
- Student visa: Spain student visa sworn translation
- Medical certificate for a visa: medical certificate translation for a Spain visa
- Visa requirements in full: our Spain visa checklist for Pakistani applicants lists them.
Other South Asian routes: Indian documents for Spain and Bangladeshi documents for Spain. Or browse documents from every country we cover.
Frequently asked questions
Why do some BLS checklists still say legalised?
The apostille has applied in Pakistan since 9 March 2023, and some checklists have not been updated. Follow the checklist you were given. If it is unclear, ask the office before you start.
Can you translate a whole family's NADRA documents together?
Yes. Send the FRC, MRC, nikah nama and every B-form in one order. We use one translator per language pair and coordinate them into one delivery, so names are spelled the same across every document. We quote the whole family file as one fixed total.
Can I get my Pakistani police certificate while living in Spain?
Yes. You request it through the Embassy of Pakistan in Madrid. It still needs a MOFA apostille and then a sworn translation, so allow time for both before your deadline.
Send your family's documents today
Scan every page, including the apostille and the back of each certificate. Originals are never needed.
Get one fixed quote for your family's Pakistani documents
Free quote within 1 hour · fixed price before you pay · official in Spain
What happens next
- 1We reply with one family total and the delivery date.
- 2You check every name on the draft against each passport, so "Muhammad" is spelled the same throughout.
- 3The translator signs and seals; you get the PDF by email and paper by courier only if an office insists.
WhatsApp: +44 7482 545337. We only translate. We never sell appointments.