Sworn translation in Spain
ElbaTrad is a sworn translation agency whose translators are appointed by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAEC). We translate official documents into 39 languages, with full legal validity before Spanish authorities, notaries, registries, courts, consulates and universities. We confirm the delivery date in writing in the quote, and you receive it as a digitally signed PDF and on paper. We serve the whole of Spain remotely, with offices in Adeje, Seville and Malaga.
Sworn translators appointed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs · Last updated: August 2026
Request your free quote
Attach the document and tell us the target language. We reply with a fixed price and a deadline in writing, with no obligation.
"*" indicates required fields
- Translators appointed by the MAEC
- Delivery date in writing
- Over 400 Google reviews
- Digital and paper copies
What is a sworn translation?
It is the official translation of a document, signed and stamped by a translator appointed by the MAEC. That signature is what makes the document valid before the Spanish administration.
Sworn translation
- Signed by a MAEC-appointed translator, with their registration number
- Carries the translator’s stamp and certification at the end of the document
- Has legal value: accepted by authorities, notaries, registries and courts
- Reproduces the document in full, including stamps, notes and the apostille
- Valid as a digitally signed PDF and on paper
Standard translation
- Can be produced by any professional translator
- No official stamp or certification
- No legal value: the authority returns the file
- Useful to understand a text, not to submit it
- Fine for websites, catalogues or internal communication
If an authority asks for an “official translation”, a “certified translation” or a “translation by a sworn translator”, they all mean the same thing. The name changes depending on who is asking, which is worth knowing.
In Spain, the title of Sworn Translator-Interpreter is granted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after an official examination or on the basis of accredited training. Those who hold it appear on a public register, and each has a registration number tied to one specific language. That number appears on the stamp of every translation: it is what lets an official verify that the person signing is authorised.
A sworn translation is not a summary or an adaptation. It reproduces the document in full — including stamps, marginal notes, crossings-out and the apostille itself — and ends with a signed certification in which the translator declares the translation to be faithful and complete. That is why the text is translated as it stands, even if it contains errors: if the original says something wrong, the translation reflects it and, where appropriate, a translator’s note is added.
How much does a sworn translation cost?
We do not publish fixed rates because the real price depends on three things. This is how we work it out:
We do not charge by page but by the text a page contains. An ID card and a company’s articles of incorporation are two very different pages.
English, French and German have many appointed sworn translators in Spain. Other languages have very few, and that shows in both price and turnaround.
A certificate with fixed fields is not the same as a judgment, a notarial deed or an expert report, where every term carries legal effect.
A fixed quote before we start. Send us the document and we will tell you the exact price and the delivery date in writing, with no obligation. That price does not change afterwards: what we quote is what you pay. And if you need several documents for the same procedure, we group them into a single order at a better total price than ordering them separately.
How to get your sworn translation
The whole process is remote, with no need to travel: you keep the original document at all times and we work from the digitised copy.
From the moment you write to us until you receive the signed translation, it usually takes three to four working days. If you have a deadline, say so when requesting the quote: we confirm it in writing before starting.
Start now-
Digitise the document
A PDF scan or a sharp photo. Stamps, signatures and dates must be clearly legible and the full page visible, with no cropping or glare. If the document has a reverse side, send that too: it is part of the original and gets translated as well.
2 minutes -
Send it over with the destination
Through the quotation form, by email or on WhatsApp. Tell us the target language and what the document is for: that determines what the receiving body will require and whether an apostille is needed.
Same-day reply -
Receive a fixed quote
A fixed, free price with the deadline in writing. Before sending it we review the document: if a page is missing, something is illegible or it should be apostilled first, we tell you then and not when it is too late.
No obligation -
Confirm and we begin
Once you accept, we assign a sworn translator appointed by the MAEC who specialises in that language and that type of document. If your procedure has a signing date, a consular appointment or a court deadline, it goes into the schedule as a priority.
Translator assigned -
Receive your translation
As a digitally signed PDF, valid for filing with electronic government platforms, and on paper if you need it: by courier anywhere in Spain or for collection at our offices in Adeje, Seville and Malaga.
Confirmed date
Which documents are translated most often?
A single document rarely arrives on its own: what arrives is a procedure, and each procedure calls for a set of papers. These are the groups we see most.
Criminal record certificates, birth and marriage certificates, proof of address and tenancy agreements. Consulates usually also require the certificate to be recent and apostilled.
Full birth and marriage certificates, family record books and court rulings on divorce or adoption. Nationality files require the full certificate, not the extract — a very common reason for rejection.
Public deeds, powers of attorney, articles of association, annual accounts, registry certificates and contracts. Here consistent terminology across the whole file matters as much as the translation itself.
Degrees, academic transcripts, course syllabuses, medical certificates and employment records. Universities generally require the full transcript, not just the degree.
Claims, judgments, orders, letters rogatory and documentary evidence. Article 144 of the Spanish Civil Procedure Act requires a translation to accompany any document in a foreign language.
Beyond paperwork, we also provide interpreters at notaries, courts, registries and business meetings, in person or by video call.
Five reasons why files get sent back
Almost every rejection we see comes down to the same handful of mistakes. Checking these five points before filing saves weeks.
Mistakes that cost time
- Apostilling after translating. The apostille is part of the document: if it is added later it is not translated and the work has to be redone.
- Asking for an extract when the full certificate is required. This happens constantly in nationality and family reunification files.
- Submitting a translation without a sworn signature. However good it is, it has no official value and the file comes back.
- Sending an illegible scan. If the stamp or the date cannot be read, the translation cannot reproduce them faithfully.
- Using an expired certificate. Many authorities require it to have been issued within the last 3-6 months.
How we prevent them
- Before quoting we review the document and tell you if a page is missing or something is unreadable.
- We ask for the destination country and procedure, because that is what determines your exact requirements.
- If an apostille is needed, we handle it within the same order and in the right sequence.
- The translation reproduces the document in full: stamps, marginal notes, front and back.
- If an authority raises a formal objection to our translation, we revise it at no cost.
What it means for a translator to be appointed by the MAEC
In Spain, the title of Sworn Translator-Interpreter is granted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation after an official examination or on the basis of accredited training. Those who hold it are entered on a public register and receive a registration number tied to one specific language.
That number appears on the stamp of every translation and is what allows an official to verify that the person signing is authorised. Without it, the document has no official value in Spain, however good the translation may be.
What people who have been through it say
Over 400 reviews posted on Google by real clients of our three offices. Here are some of the most recent:
I was able to urgently get my visa documents translated, the translation was done quickly and professionally, for a price that I wouldn’t expect any other sworn translator to compete with.
I highly recommend using ElbaTrad Translations
And now, one week after, I still have nothing and they don't want to give any money back or give me the document.
The delivery company they selected is playing ping pong with that delivery, I can't even pick it up in Adeje.
So I payed for NOTHING and waited for NOTHING.
Can't recommend, if you need something important!
Where we are and how far we reach
We are available Monday to Friday, 8:00 to 19:00, with remote service across the whole of Spain.
38670 Adeje, Santa Cruz de Tenerife Sworn translator in Tenerife
41001 Seville Sworn translator in Seville
2nd floor, office 221 · 29006 Malaga Sworn translator in Malaga
Looking for a sworn translator near you? We work remotely across the whole country:
Does your document need an apostille?
The Hague apostille is the seal that legalises a public document so it can take effect in another country. It does not replace the translation: it accompanies it. And the order in which the two are done decides whether the procedure works first time.
Not every document needs one: between European Union countries, many civil certificates are exempt. Tell us the country of origin and the destination and we will confirm it before you spend time or money. Where needed, we handle apostille and translation in a single order.
See how the apostille worksFrequently asked questions about sworn translation
What is a sworn translation and when do I need one?
A sworn translation is the official translation of a document, signed and stamped by a translator appointed by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAEC). That signature certifies the text is faithful to the original and gives it legal validity in Spain. You need one whenever an authority — immigration, the Civil Registry, a university, a court or a bank — asks you for a document written in another language.
How is a sworn translation different from a standard one?
In legal value, not in quality. A standard translation helps you understand a text; a sworn one lets you submit it. The sworn version carries the translator’s signature, stamp and registration number, plus a certification at the end. Without those elements the authority returns the file, however flawless the translation.
How much does a sworn translation cost?
It depends on three things: the actual length of the document, the language and its complexity. An ID card and a set of articles of incorporation are not quoted the same way, and a language with few appointed translators in Spain costs more than English. That is why we do not publish fixed rates: send us the document and you will receive a fixed, free price before deciding.
How long does a sworn translation take?
It depends on the length of the document, the language and how busy we are at that moment, so we do not quote a blanket turnaround: we confirm the exact delivery date in writing in the quote, before you commit to anything. A one-page certificate is quick; a full file takes longer. If you have a signing date at a notary, a consular appointment or a court deadline, tell us when requesting the quote: we offer an urgent service and fit the schedule to your deadline.
Is a digitally signed PDF sworn translation valid?
Yes. The MAEC recognises the sworn translator’s qualified electronic signature, so the PDF carries the same legal weight as a stamped paper copy and can be filed with electronic government platforms. If the authority insists on a physical copy, we send it by courier or you collect it in Adeje, Seville or Malaga.
Can I send a scan, or does it have to be the original?
A scan or a sharp photo is enough: you keep the original at all times. The only essential thing is that stamps, signatures and dates are clearly legible and the page is fully visible, with no cropping or glare. Only in specific cases, where the authority requires the original to be checked, do we advise you how to proceed.
Do I need an apostille before translating?
If the document comes from another country or is going to be used outside Spain, probably yes — and the order matters: the document is apostilled first and translated afterwards, so the apostille is translated too. Doing it the other way round means repeating the whole procedure. Tell us the country and destination and we will confirm it.
How do I know a sworn translator is official?
Because they appear on the official register of sworn translator-interpreters published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and because their translation carries a signature, a stamp and a registration number. You can check that number against the Ministry’s register before submitting the document. Every translator we work with appears on it, each appointed for their own language.
Is a sworn translation done abroad valid in Spain?
As a general rule, no. The Spanish administration requires the translation to be signed by a translator appointed by the MAEC. A certified translation produced abroad may also need consular legalisation. If you already have one, send it to us and we will tell you frankly whether it will be accepted or whether it is better to have it redone here.
Do you cover the whole of Spain or only where you have offices?
The whole of Spain. The entire process — sending, quoting, translating and delivery — is handled remotely, which is why we work daily with clients in provinces where we have no premises. We are available Monday to Friday, 8:00 to 19:00, and we have offices in Adeje, Seville and Malaga for anyone who prefers to hand documents over or collect them in person.