Guide to official translation in Spain

One of the inevitable things that expats will come across is dealing with official documents issued in a language different from Spanish or other official dialects of the region. However, usually, the government does not accept documents issued in other languages. In this case, expats need to get the documents officially translated to Spanish.

1. How can I get my documents officially translated to Spain?

According to Legislation 2/2014(Ley 2/2014), translations and interpretations can only be considered official if they were carried out by official translators or interpreters (traductor-intérprete Jurado). You can find the full list here, taken from the official website.

If an official translation is required in your case, but you submit a non-official translation, your documents might not be perceived as valid, and your applications/petitions might be rejected.

If you are in an autonomous region, there are chances that you need an official translator that knows the local language. Here are also some useful lists:

• If Catalan is the co-official language in your region
• If Basque is the co-official language in your region
• If Gallego is the co-official language in your region

2. What documents can be officially translated?

Most people need official translations of official documents for legal reasons or bureaucratic processes. Here is a list of common documents that expats tend to translate:

• Criminal record
• Birth certificate
• Marriage certificate
• University certificates

And the list goes on and on. You can also translate important proofs like emails or simple notes. Don't forget that you can always talk to a certified translator to confirm if the documents can be translated.

3. How long does it take to get my documents translated?

This depends on the translator, the workload, and the difficulty of the documents. Usually, the translator would evaluate the translation task and give you an estimation of the time needed.

• Small and easy translation tasks for common documents can take around 3 working days
• While difficult translation tasks will take much longer.

4. How much will an official translation cost?

This also depends on the translator and the work.

• Some translators charge for word count while others charge for word count as well as the complexity of the work. In the latter case, you might need to send your documents for the price evaluation before getting a quote.
• If you want to search for the best price, you can contact different capable translators mentioned in the list and compare their prices.

5. How should authenticate the translated documents?

In some cases, you might need to authenticate the translated documents using an apostille. An apostille is a special stamp that certifies the validity of a document within countries that participate in The Hague Convention. Here is the list of the countries participating. You will find also in the list the competent authorities to carry out the apostille.

6. With us, you don't need to worry about excessive translations!

Our expat insurance is also a perfect fit for a Spanish visa/NIE/TIE application, as it fulfills all the requirements. With our automatic purchasing services, you don't need to submit translations of any official documents in most cases. You will have a smooth buying experience with only a few clicks. If you need to apply for a Spanish student visa, Spanish non-lucrative visa, Spanish investor visa, or other longer-term visa types, come and talk to us!

Reference:

[1] BOE.es - BOE-A-2014-3248 Ley 2/2014, de 25 de marzo, de la Acción y del Servicio Exterior del Estado. (2021). Retrieved 28 October 2021, from https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2014-3248

[2] Traductores/as - Intérpretes Jurados/as . (2021). Retrieved 28 October 2021, from http://www.exteriores.gob.es/Portal/es/ServiciosAlCiudadano/Paginas/Traductoresas.aspx

Our contents will be updated according to the most recent legislation. Last update: 28/10/2021