What is a sworn/certified translation (or traducción jurada)?
A sworn translation is an official translation, stamped and signed by a sworn translator- interpreter appointed and accredited by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Often public or private bodies, both Spanish and foreign, require this official translation where a document issued in another language needs to be legally valid for certain procedures.

Do I need to receive a printed copy of the sworn translation by post?
In 2020, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs approved the receipt of sworn translations in PDF format, as long as they were stamped with the official translator’s seal and contained an approved digital signature. I always advise my clients to print the electronic copy in colour and with good resolution. However, if you would still like a printed copy by post, I can do this for a fee.

How do I obtain an apostille/legalise a document?
The Hague Apostille is a process of certification or legalisation that verifies the signature or seal of the documents to which it is affixed. It is separate from the translation process. Apostilles are issued by the competent authority in each country, for example:

· In the UK, it is the Legalisation Office:
https://www.gov.uk/get-document-legalised

· In Spain, different bodies may be responsible for issuing an apostille. Often, the Ministry of Justice will be the issuing authority: https://www.mjusticia.gob.es/es/ciudadania/tramites/legalizacion-unica-apostilla

Does the document need to be apostilled before or after the sworn translation?
In theory, the document should be apostilled/legalised before it is translated, which means the apostille can also be translated. In practice, since most of the text of the apostille is in different languages, many institutions do not reject the document if the Hague apostille has not been translated. As this remains somewhat of a grey area, I generally recommend apostilling the document first and then providing a sworn translation of the apostille, unless the relevant authority explicitly states that the translation of the apostille is unnecessary. It’s worth noting that most apostilles tend to follow the same format and a sworn translation of an apostille is usually relatively inexpensive.

If I require a sworn translation, how do I send you the document?
Do I need to send the original document? No, you should never send me the original document. All I need is a clearly legible scanned copy of the documents you wish to translate, which are usually sent by email. This scanned copy of the original document will form part of the sworn translation and bear my stamp and signature. Because of this, a clear copy is required to ensure that it is not rejected by the receiving authority.

Do you translate only from English into Spanish or also from Spanish into English?
Although most of the translations I undertake (approximately 90%) are from English into Spanish, due to my extensive experience and over 30 years living in the UK, I also translate occasionally from Spanish into English. For instance, when dealing with complex or archaic legal texts in Spanish, a comprehensive knowledge of both legal systems can be highly beneficial. All of my translations into English are reviewed by a specialist, native English-speaking proofreader.

If you have any further questions not addressed in this section, please do not hesitate to contact me.