We are not affiliated with any Registro Civil, the Ministry of Justice or any Spanish consulate.
What documents do foreigners need to marry in Spain?
To marry in Spain, a foreign partner opens a marriage file (expediente matrimonial) at the Registro Civil. Foreign documents usually include a literal birth certificate, a certificate of marital status or capacity, and proof that any earlier marriage ended. Each is legalised or apostilled first, then sworn-translated into Spanish.
Spanish documents, such as your certificate of registration (empadronamiento) and passport copy, need no translation. The foreign ones usually do:
- Literal birth certificate: birth certificate sworn translation for Registro Civil
- Certificate of marital status or capacity (certificado de soltería or de capacidad matrimonial): see the next section
- Divorce decree, if you were married before: divorce decree sworn translation
- Former spouse's death certificate, if widowed: death certificate sworn translation
- The apostille on each: apostille and sworn translation
We translate each document and its apostille together, as Spanish offices expect. Your registry may ask for more.
Does my certificate of no impediment need a sworn translation?
Yes, if it is not in Spanish. The Registro Civil asks a foreign partner for a certificate of marital status or capacity (certificado de soltería or de capacidad matrimonial). English speakers call it a "certificate of no impediment" or a single status certificate. It is apostilled or legalised, then sworn-translated.
The certificate is translated in full, stamps and apostille included. The certificado de capacidad matrimonial is valid for 6 months, so request it close to your file date.
Where to request it is explained in our guide to the certificate of no impediment to marriage in Spain.
How do I register a foreign marriage in Spain?
You can register a marriage celebrated abroad only if at least one spouse is Spanish. You file at the Registro Civil of your domicile, or at the Registro Civil Central. The foreign marriage certificate and both birth certificates must be legalised or apostilled, then translated into Spanish.
One translator handles the full set wherever the languages allow, so every name is spelled the same way. See marriage certificate translation for the Registro Civil.
Which Registro Civil procedures need a sworn translation?
Four Registro Civil procedures commonly involve foreign documents. They are the marriage file, registering a marriage celebrated abroad, registering a birth abroad for a Spanish national, and recording nationality after a grant. EU documents with a multilingual standard form are the main exception to translation.
| Registro Civil procedure | Foreign documents usually translated | See |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage file (expediente matrimonial) | Birth certificate, marital status certificate, divorce or death certificate | Sections above |
| Registering a marriage celebrated abroad (one spouse Spanish) | Marriage certificate, both birth certificates | Section above |
| Registering a birth abroad (inscripción de nacimiento, Spanish parent) | Birth certificate, "legalizado y traducido" | FAQ below |
| Nationality entries after a nationality grant | Birth certificate from your nationality file | Spanish nationality sworn translation |
| EU documents with multilingual forms | Usually none with the form attached (Regulation (EU) 2016/1191) | EU multilingual standard form |
Your marriage or child's birth certificate may later support a residence file too. See Extranjería sworn translation or, for parents of EU children already living here, arraigo familiar translations.
Wedding and birth certificates from your home country
The apostille or legalisation always comes first; the sworn translation follows.
| Country | Route before translation | Country or language page |
|---|---|---|
| India | State attestation, then MEA apostille | Indian documents for Spain |
| Pakistan (NADRA records, nikah nama) | MOFA apostille | Pakistani documents for Spain |
| Philippines (PSA certificates) | DFA apostille | Philippine documents for Spain |
| UK (GRO certificates) | FCDO paper apostille (no e-Apostille for these) | UK documents for Spain |
| USA (state vital records) | State Secretary of State apostille | US documents for Spain |
| Russia (ZAGS birth, marriage, divorce) | No apostille needed under the 1984 Spain–USSR exchange of notes; translation still needed | Russian to Spanish sworn translation |
Indian, Pakistani, Philippine, UK and US certificates are usually in English: see English to Spanish sworn translation. Why order matters: apostille before or after translation.
How recent must documents be for a Registro Civil marriage file?
The certificado de capacidad matrimonial is valid for 6 months. For other certificates, registries usually want ones issued in the last 3–6 months; check yours before you order certificates from home.
Work back from your appointment: certificates first, then the apostille, then our translation: 24–48 hours for a one-page certificate. Short on time? Our urgent sworn translation service handles tight deadlines.
What official translation does the Registro Civil accept?
Ley 20/2011, article 95, says documents not in an official Spanish language must come with a translation. The Ministry of Justice asks for foreign birth certificates "legalizado y traducido". A sworn translation by a MAEC-appointed translator is official in Spain without further legalisation, so it is the safe route.
Each traducción jurada for the Registro Civil carries the translator's name, number and seal. Since 8 March 2025, a digitally signed sworn translation is legally valid, and paper remains valid too.
Sources: Ley 20/2011, BOE · Marriage in Spain, administracion.gob.es · Civil marriage requirements, Junta de Andalucía · Registering a marriage abroad, Ministry of Justice · Registering a birth abroad, Ministry of Justice. Last checked: 1 October 2026.
Do I need an interpreter at the Registro Civil?
The Registro Civil may ask for an interpreter if either partner does not speak Spanish. Practice differs between registries, so ask yours when you book. Our work is the written side of the file: sworn translations of your foreign certificates, delivered before your date.
We do not provide sworn interpreters. If your registry asks for one, look on the official MAEC list. Sworn translators are formally "traductores-intérpretes jurados", so that list also names interpreters by language.
What do we check before your Registro Civil certificates are sealed?
Before the seal is applied, we check that each apostille is present and translated, and that every name matches your passport. Parents' names must agree across certificates. Any earlier marriage needs its divorce decree or death certificate. You approve a draft of names, dates and places first.
- Where a spelling differs from your passport, the translator adds a note.
- Every page, back page and stamp is translated and sealed.
Questions couples ask before ordering wedding translations
Your wedding date depends on the registry approving the expediente, so each certificate has to pass first time. The short answers:
- Is the translator real? We work only with sworn translators appointed by the MAEC and entered on its official register. Their seal is on every page, so you can check it: see how to verify a Spanish sworn translator.
- What if the registry rejects it? Free, prioritised re-issue if rejected on formal grounds, such as an untranslated stamp on the back of a single-status certificate. Read how a free re-issue works.
- Is my data safe? Your files are deleted within 7 days of delivery, as set out in our privacy policy.
- Is your date close? See our same-day and 24h options.
Send your certificado de soltería and birth certificate for a price
Free quote within 1 hour · files deleted 7 days after delivery
How much does a Registro Civil sworn translation cost?
A Registro Civil sworn translation is priced per certificate, with the apostille included. Our standard certificate price is from €29, ready in 24–48 hours. Sworn translators in Spain set their own fees. 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 certificate with apostille | From €29 | 24–48 hours |
| Marriage file set | Birth and marital status certificates | From €58 (€29 per certificate) | 2–3 working days |
| Divorce decree | Proof that a previous marriage ended | From €59 | Confirmed in your quote |
| Birth abroad | Child's birth certificate with apostille | From €29 | 24–48 hours |
See the full price table, or get a fixed quote for your wedding certificates now.
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.
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.”
“I needed a divorce decree translated for a legal procedure here in Spain. The team was professional and easy to communicate with. They explained the steps and kept things straightforward, which I appreciated because I was already dealing with quite a lot of paperwork.”
“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.”
“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.”
“Hi, thanks for helping with my birth certificate translation. I was a little lost with all the documents for my nationality application, but your team explained things clearly. Really appreciate it!”
More services: browse all sworn translation services by procedure.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a single status certificate valid in Spain?
The certificado de capacidad matrimonial is valid for 6 months. For other certificates, registries usually want ones issued in the last 3–6 months; check yours.
Can I register my child's foreign birth in Spain?
Yes, if your child is a Spanish national, for example the child of a Spanish parent. The foreign birth certificate must be legalised or apostilled and translated, and is filed with your registry or the Registro Civil Central.
Can you get married in Spain as a foreigner?
Yes. You open a marriage file (expediente matrimonial) at the Registro Civil. Your foreign birth certificate and marital status certificate need an apostille or legalisation, then a sworn translation.
Can you translate my certificates before the registry gives me a date?
Yes. We translate as soon as your apostilled scans are ready. Watch the issue dates, though, as registries prefer recent documents.
How do I send my certificates for a Registro Civil translation?
Send a scan or photo of every page, including the apostille or legalisation. Originals are never needed. Tell us your procedure and appointment date. You then see a fixed total price and delivery date before you pay anything.
Upload your Registro Civil certificates for a fixed quote
Free quote within 1 hour · fixed price before you pay · official in Spain
What happens next
- 1We check your certificates against your registry's list and quote a fixed total.
- 2You pay, then check the spelling of both partners' and parents' names in a draft.
- 3The signed PDF reaches you before your registry date, or paper by courier if the registry prefers it.
We only translate. We never sell appointments.