Question 1

What is a sworn translation in Spain?

Accepted Answer

A sworn translation (traducción jurada) is an official translation certified by a translator appointed by Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAEC). The translator's certification gives the translation legal standing for official use before Spanish authorities, courts, registries, and universities.

Question 2

Who can issue a sworn translation in Spain?

Accepted Answer

Only translators with a current appointment from Spain's Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores, Unión Europea y Cooperación (MAEC) can issue sworn translations valid for official use in Spain. A translation degree or association membership alone is not sufficient.

Question 3

Is a digitally signed sworn translation legally valid in Spain?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Since Orden AUC/213/2025 (BOE, 7 March 2025), sworn translations certified with a qualified electronic signature under eIDAS Regulation (EU) 910/2014 carry the same legal weight as a physical stamp.

Question 4

Can I receive a sworn translation as a digitally signed PDF?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We deliver a digitally signed PDF in PAdES format containing both the original document and the certified translation, inseparably joined — the format described in Orden AUC/213/2025. No postal delivery is required.

Question 5

What is a MAEC-appointed sworn translator?

Accepted Answer

A traductor-intérprete jurado nombrado por el MAEC is a translator officially authorised by Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to certify translations for official use in Spain. Each holds an appointment number that appears on every translation and can be checked against the MAEC register.

Question 6

How can I verify the translator's MAEC appointment?

Accepted Answer

Every translation includes the translator's MAEC appointment number. You can verify it on the MAEC website using that number.

Question 7

Can Traducet guarantee acceptance by every authority?

Accepted Answer

Traducet connects clients with MAEC-appointed sworn translators, who certify each translation for official use in Spain. Sworn translations are commonly accepted for official procedures, but the final decision rests with the receiving authority and may depend on its specific requirements. If a translation is rejected on translation-quality or certification grounds, we review and correct it free of charge.

Question 8

How long does a sworn translation take?

Accepted Answer

Standard: 4 business days. Express: 24 hours. Priority (common documents only): 6–12 hours. The delivery option you choose is shown clearly before you pay.

Question 9

Can I upload my documents online?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The whole process is online: upload a clear photo or PDF, see an instant price, pay, and receive your signed translation by email. No trips to an office and no postal delivery required.

Question 10

Do you need my original document?

Accepted Answer

No. Upload a clear photo or PDF — the sworn translator works from your digital file. If the image quality is too low to translate accurately, we will ask you to re-upload before work starts, at no charge.

Question 11

Do I need an apostille before translating my document?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the document and the procedure. An apostille authenticates the original document; the sworn translation is a separate certification of the translation itself. When an apostille is needed, it is usually obtained on the original before translation. Check the requirements of the authority handling your case.

Question 12

What happens if a deadline is at risk?

Accepted Answer

We monitor deadlines closely and notify clients proactively if a request needs special handling. If a deadline is at risk, we reassign the job to another translator to keep delivery on track.

Question 13

How much does a sworn translation cost?

Accepted Answer

Standard documents have fixed base prices from 67.50 € + IVA (21%), shown instantly before you order. Non-standard or long documents are priced per word at 0.165 €/word + IVA (0.200 €/word incl. IVA), with a minimum order of 67.50 € + IVA. The final IVA-included price is shown before you pay.

Question 14

Are the prices shown IVA-inclusive?

Accepted Answer

Yes. All prices shown on the website and in your quote are all-in, with Spanish IVA (21%) included. There are no hidden fees.

Question 15

Why does my language pair cost more?

Accepted Answer

A small surcharge applies to languages where MAEC-appointed translators are scarcer — for example Chinese, Hindi, Tagalog, Persian, and Hungarian. This is shown transparently in your quote before you pay.

Question 16

Why is there a minimum order of 67.50 €?

Accepted Answer

A sworn translation requires the same certification process regardless of document length. The minimum reflects the cost of the translator's qualified electronic signature and review.

Question 17

What documents can you translate?

Accepted Answer

Birth, marriage, and death certificates; criminal records; academic transcripts and diplomas; driving licences; bank and employment certificates; notarial deeds and powers of attorney; and any other official document on a per-word basis.

Question 18

Which language pairs do you cover?

Accepted Answer

All pairs involve Spanish. We cover English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Arabic (Tier 1); Romanian, Russian, Polish, and Dutch (Tier 2); and Chinese, Hindi, Tagalog, and Persian (Tier 3).

Question 19

Can you translate from Spanish into another language?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We handle both directions: into Spanish and from Spanish.

Frequently asked questions

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