Official Document Translation & Legalisation Map

Interactive index of country-specific requirements for certified translations, sworn translations, apostilles, and consular legalization for official submissions worldwide.

Simple World Map Author: Al MacDonald Editor: Fritz Lekschas License: CC BY-SA 3.0 ID: ISO 3166-1 or "_[a-zA-Z]" if an ISO code is not available

Translation Standard

Sworn Translator
Certified Translation
Notarised Translation
Not mapped yet

Spain

Sworn translation standard

Requirements Summary

Apostille required
Often required for foreign documents, depending on country of origin
Who can translate
Sworn translator appointed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Accepted languages
Spanish
Legalization agency
Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation
Important: If an apostille is required, it must be obtained before the sworn translation.

Detailed Guidelines

Who can translate

In Spain, only officially appointed traductores/intérpretes jurados (sworn translators) recognised by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs can produce translations suitable for administrative, judicial, and official use. Sworn translators obtain their title either by passing a public state examination or by having recognised equivalent qualifications.

What makes a translation official

An official sworn translation must include the translator’s stamp and signature, certification of accuracy, and their official registration details. Spanish law also permits the use of a recognised qualified electronic signature for digitally issued sworn translations.

Documents from abroad

Foreign documents generally need to be apostilled or legalised in their country of origin before being translated by a sworn translator in Spain.

Legal basis

Sworn translators in Spain are regulated by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Their status and professional framework are governed by national administrative regulations concerning Traductores-Intérpretes Jurados.