Do you need your English document to be accepted by Spanish authorities, courts, universities, or official bodies? Then, a plain bilingual translation is not going to make that happen – you need something more. A certified sworn translation helps add that legal value, tying a translator’s declaration to the converted text. This, in turn, allows the authority to rely on its accuracy. In the following blog, we will be covering sworn certified Spanish translations. We will discuss how the process works, along with some practical tips to get it done correctly. Read on to learn more!
Which Documents Require a Sworn Certified Spanish Translation?
Common documents that require sworn certified Spanish translation include:
- Civil status records for Italian bureaucracy (or family reunification)
- Birth, marriage and death certificates
- Academic documents (degree certificates, admission papers, etc.)and job-related transcripts for professional recognition
- Criminal record checks and police certificates
- Visa or residential purposes
- Court documents, affidavits, business contracts, powers of attorney and notarial acts (involved in legal proceedings)
- Immigration applications.
- Company registration documents and cross-border transactions
Who is Eligible to Perform a Sworn Translation?
- Court-sworn translators based in Italy: In Spain, all courts maintain a curated list of sworn translators (known as ‘traductor jurado’). They can generate sworn translations and file them with a court. The translator conducts the translation and attests the document; which is finally submitted to a court registry or a notary for formalization.
- Notarized translator statements: A professional translator signs a declaration and gets it notarized before a public notary. This can be accepted by several official authorities.
- Consular/legalization route: If you are translating outside Spain, some clients may obtain sworn translations before a Spanish consulate or embassy. He can have the translator’s signature legalized or apostilled.
- Apostille/legalization: Some receiving official parties may ask for the translator’s or the notary’s signature to be apostilled. This can encompass all countries (whether under the Hague Convention or not). This step is all about certifying the authenticity of the signature of the affidavit – and not the translation.
Working Procedure of Sworn Translation
- Get your translational requirements clear: Always ask the receiving authority properly regarding what form they accept. For example, sworn by an Italian court translator, notarized, apostilled, or consularized.
- Choose a translator having several years of expertise: You must have a professional translator who is experienced in converting legal documents and sworn translations into Italian.
- A good knowledge of terminologies: This forms the base of the translation process and promises accuracy. Also, such faithful rendering of terminology keeps the originality of the documents, making it acceptable everywhere.
- Affidavit or attestation: The translator signs a sworn statement that declares the translation is complete and accurate.
- Formalization: Once the attestation is done, a declaration is notarized and filed with a court for legalization.
- Final delivery: Provided the sworn translation is complete and the documents are formalized, they are handed over to the respective authorities. This often taken place in paper, however, some may also accept certified PDF formats. So, it is better you check with the availability beforehand.
Typically, you can expect the turnaround time to be ranging within a day or two. Some lengthy and complex documents may take few weeks also. In such cases, either legalization or apostille is needed.
How much does a Spanish Sworn Translation Cost?
Costs can vary widely, depending on the language pair, document complexity, and other associated formalities. Expect:
- A per-word or per-page translation fee (for all kinds of basic translation)
- Additional fees for services like sworn translation, attestation, notary services, court filing, and apostille/legalization procedures.
For small and simple documents, such as, a one-page personal certificate, you may avail it at a cheaper price. However, for legal contracts that require specialist terminology, the price will obviously be high. Therefore, you must always ask translators for a full quote that itemizes translation, sworn attestation, notary, and legalization fees.
How to Choose the Right Partner for Getting Spanish sworn Translations?
- Check out for those translators who have several years of experience in handling legal and Spanish administrative documents.
- Always get the credentials checked. Ensure your translator holds a premium, professional membership in translating client testimonials. Last but not least, ask for samples that show they are experts at sworn translations.
- Ask whether they handle apostille/legalization and consular filings — providers who manage the entire process reduce the chance of mistakes.
- Get an idea of the turnaround time for delivery and the total fees in translating.
Some Common mistakes made During Sworn Translation
- Skipping apostille or legalization when required. This is often the step which causes unwanted rejections.
- Using machine translation for sworn documents. Automatic output is strictly not acceptable for sworn translations.
- Not preserving official stamps or seals. This may cause potential problems when authorities expect the original seal to be shown on the translated document.
(Note: You must give special attention to the terminology and not assume that ‘certified’ means the best. Always check the exact formal requirements)
Practical Tips for a Smooth Process
- Contact the receiving authority (e.g., university, comune, consulate) and get written confirmation of acceptable translation formats.
- Provide good-quality scans or originals to the translator to avoid errors.
- If urgency is an issue, ask whether the authority accepts electronically certified copies before going through longer legalization routes.
Conclusion
Searching for a reliable sworn translator who converts from English to Spanish? Join us at DigiiTechh Serviices India. We are a certified legal translation firm handling Spanish documents and legal translations for over eight years. Mail us your requirements to info@digiitechhserviices.com; and leave the rest to us!
