Sworn Translation
Your official documents, translated by certified professionals you can trust. Precision and efficiency for all your legal paperwork.
What we do
A sworn translation is an official, certified translation of a document —legal or not— that carries full legal validity. It is performed by a translator who has been duly approved by the relevant authority in each country. In Spain, this authority is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Union and Cooperation (MAEUEC).
Sworn translators certify the accuracy of the content with their official stamp and signature, ensuring that your translation is legally binding and formally recognised by public bodies and authorities in Spain and abroad.
TYPES OF DOCUMENTS WE TRANSLATE
Languages & Rates
Single documents
We refer to texts of one page or fewer than 300 words as ‘single documents’, such as birth, marriage or death certificates, just to name a few.
- Translation of a single document from English to Spanish: €30
- Translation of a single document from Spanish to English: €30
- Got several single documents? We’ve got you covered! If you have five or more, we offer a special discounted package rate. Send us your documents and receive a no-obligation quote.
Current offers
- Get your ID card or driving licence translated for just €21.
- Are you a student? Get your university degree certificate + transcript (1-2 pages) translated from €80.
Per-word rates
- English to Spanish from €0.10 per word
- Spanish to English from €0.10 per word
- Discounts for repeated content.
- Plus, enjoy a 10% discount on orders over 3,000 words.
Fees for additional paper copies
If you request additional paper copies when placing your translation order:
- One additional paper copy of a single document: €5
- Additional paper copies of packages (six or more single documents) or longer documents: €25
If you request paper copies afterwards (at a later date):
- One additional paper copy of a single document: €10
- Additional paper copies of packages (six or more single documents) or longer documents: €50
Some helpful info
These fees cover updating the certification date to a future date. However, if you request major changes to the content, the cost may increase, as we would need to review the translation accordingly.
👉 Our tip: if you think you’ll need more than one paper copy, just let us know when you place your order. This will save you time, money and hassle! Copies requested at the time of ordering come at a better price.
Delivery of paper copies
- National courier service across Spain (including the Balearic and Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla): €12
- International courier inside Europe: €18
- International courier outside Europe: €25
The terminology used to describe official translations can be confusing, particularly as it varies depending on the country and its legal system.
In Spain (and many other civil law countries), sworn translations are official translations carried out by sworn translators (traductores jurados), who are appointed by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Union and Cooperation (MAEUEC). These translations include the translator’s official stamp and signature, as well as a formal certification, and are legally valid in Spain and widely accepted abroad.
In common law countries such as the UK and the US, there is no exact equivalent to a sworn translator. Instead, official translations are usually known as ‘certified translations’. These are typically signed by the translator or translation company and accompanied by a statement of accuracy.
Sworn and certified translations serve the same purpose — making your documents legally valid in another language — but the terminology used to describe them, and the procedures involved, vary from one country to another.
👉 In our case, we provide official sworn translations recognised in Spain and widely accepted internationally. If you’re unsure about which type of translation you need, feel free to ask — we’ll help you get it right.
It is an official certificate that verifies the authenticity of the signature, seal, or stamp on a public document, so that it can be recognised legally in other countries that are part of the Hague Convention. It does not certify the content of the document; it only certifies the authenticity of the signature.
The Apostille must be obtained in the country where the document was issued. If a translation is needed, both the document and the Apostille must be translated by a certified translator (known in Spain as a traductor jurado or sworn translator).
💡To keep things simple, it’s best to get the Apostille first – that way, we can translate everything together and include it all in a single signed and stamped document. This will save you time and unnecessary hassle!
The Hague Apostille is the most common form of legalisation, although not all countries are members of the Convention. For official information, check the relevant authority in your country. Here are a few examples:
👉 Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Union and Cooperation
Yes. If your document includes an Apostille, this must also be translated as it forms part of the original document. Otherwise, the sworn translation may be considered incomplete and rejected.
If your document hasn’t been apostilled yet and you’re not required to do so immediately (this depends on the country and the procedure), you can have the document translated first and the Apostille translated later. Neither translation needs to be signed and stamped on the same day. However, we recommend checking in advance whether the institution to which you’re submitting them will accept this.
👉 Our advice: If you already know the document will need an Apostille, it’s best to get it apostilled first. Once that’s done, we can translate the entire document, including the Apostille, in one go. This helps to avoid complications and ensures that the translation meets all the necessary requirements.
No. They vary from country to country. This is why it’s essential to check whether the translation will be accepted by the requesting authority, especially when dealing with international or non-Spanish institutions.
We are officially certified sworn translators, appointed by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Union and Cooperation (MAEC, now MAEUEC), and our licence numbers are 10,111 and 10,976. Our sworn translations are legally valid in Spain and widely accepted abroad.
By default, you’ll receive a digital version in PDF format by email. It will closely match the original layout and include our official certification, stamp, handwritten signature, and qualified electronic signature.
If you’d also like a paper copy, simply let us know in the ‘Comments’ section of the contact form or via your preferred method of contact — we’ll be happy to send one to your address.
We currently offer three express delivery options 💸:
– Same-day or next-day delivery after payment is received: 45% surcharge on the total price
– Delivery within 2 working days after payment is received: 35% surcharge
– Delivery within 3–4 working days after payment is received: 25% surcharge
Our express service is subject to availability. We’ll always inform you in advance whether we can meet your deadline.
Both formats are valid. While sworn translations used to be issued only on paper, most authorities now accept digital versions signed with a qualified electronic signature by a sworn (certified) translator — especially since the shift to digital processes in 2020 and the changes brought about by the pandemic.
Digital versions offer many advantages: they’re faster, more convenient, environmentally friendly, and save on postage. You can also reuse them for multiple procedures without the need for extra copies.
That said, some institutions still require a paper version, particularly for in-person appointments or more traditional processes. That’s why we always recommend checking with the receiving authority beforehand to confirm which format they accept.
Not exactly. A sworn translation doesn’t have an expiry date — but here’s the catch: if the original document becomes invalid (for example, if it expires or has been amended), the translation will no longer be valid either. In that case, you’ll need a new translation based on the updated version of the document.
👉 So, always make sure your original document is still valid before requesting a sworn translation.
Your sworn translation will include:
- The translated content
- Our official certification as sworn translators
- Our official stamp (with our full name and licence number)
- Our handwritten signature (required by Spanish regulations)
- A qualified electronic signature, if you request a digital version
Everything is delivered with a clear, professional layout that faithfully reflects the original — fully compliant with Spanish MAEUEC standards and ready for official use anywhere in the world.
Have you read our FAQs but still have questions? No worries!
Sworn translations can be quite complex.
Send us a message with your queries or comments, and we’ll respond as soon as possible.
