Certified translations are official translations with legal validity in Spain and abroad, carried out by certified translators accredited by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. At Accurate Translations, we specialise in the translation of official documents, certificates, contracts and academic records, ensuring accuracy, confidentiality and full regulatory compliance.
Our certified and sworn translators guarantee that every translated document faithfully reflects the original, including the required signature, stamp and recognised certification. All translations are delivered either digitally or in hard copy with an official stamp, depending on the requirements of the requesting institution or authority.
We work with language combinations in English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and other languages, always backed by the assurance of a professional translation company with international experience.
A certified translation is an official translation of a document that includes the signature, stamp and certification of an authorised sworn translator. This type of translation has legal validity before public authorities, universities, notaries and courts.
Every certified translation produced by Accurate Translations guarantees complete fidelity to the original document and full compliance with the requirements established by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation (MAEC).
Certified translations carried out by official translators are required for submitting documents in administrative, judicial or academic procedures. Accurate Translations provides official document translations both from Spanish into other languages and from other languages into Spanish, ensuring terminological accuracy and formatting in compliance with current regulations.
Among the most frequently requested documents are:
Our team is made up of official sworn translators recognised by the MAEC. Each professional is authorised to issue translations bearing an official signature and stamp, valid throughout Spain and accepted internationally.
1. Receipt of the document. The original document is reviewed to confirm its legibility and format.
2. Assignment of the sworn translator. A sworn translator specialised in the required language combination is selected.
3. Translation and certification. The translator produces a faithful translation of the original text and affixes their official stamp, signature and certification.
4. Delivery. The client receives the translation as a PDF with electronic signature or in hard copy with an official stamp and handwritten signature, depending on the requirements of the receiving authority.
Certified translations of official documents are essential for a wide range of procedures:
Accurate Translations translates personal, academic, corporate and legal documents with the highest level of confidentiality and terminological rigour.
The cost of a certified translation depends on factors such as the language combination, the length of the document and the level of urgency. If you need a certified translation of any document and would like to know the price, simply send us your document and indicate the target language. We will provide you with a personalised, no-obligation quote.
All official certified translations provided by Accurate Translations can be delivered in certified digital format (PDF with electronic signature) or in hard copy with the sworn translator’s stamp and signature.
Our certified translation services guarantee legal validity in Spain and abroad, complying with the standards required for any official document translation and certified translation.
Delivery times are tailored to the type and volume of the document, offering the accuracy and reliability that define a professional translation company specialising in certified translations.
The Sworn Translator and Interpreter confers legal validity on a translation by means of their signature, stamp and a certification attesting to the accuracy of the translation.
Pursuant to Article 13 of Royal Decree 79/1996 of 26 January, if the translation has been carried out by a Sworn Translator and Interpreter appointed by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, no further legalisation is required for the translation to have legal effect in Spain.
However, there are other cases in which a certified translation may need to be legalised. For example, when a certified translation must be submitted to an authority or institution in another country, additional guarantees are often required. One option is to submit the translation, together with the original document, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. In the MAEC legalisation section, the translation will be stamped in order to legalise the sworn translator’s signature. Another option is legalisation through a notary. In this case, the translator’s signature must be notarised and subsequently submitted to the Notaries’ Association for authentication.
The Hague Apostille is a certification that verifies the authenticity of the signature on certain documents and is used to ensure that a document issued in one country has legal effect in another. Once apostilled, the document is authenticated and recognised in any state that is a signatory to the 12th Hague Convention of 5 October 1961. The apostille may take the form of a document or an official government stamp for international use, certifying that the official or authorised person who signs the original document is a real, duly authorised and qualified individual to sign or seal the document in question.
To obtain the apostille, you may apply to the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation or to a Spanish embassy or consulate abroad. Before requesting the apostille of a document, however, it is important to check whether the destination country of the certified translation is a signatory state to the Hague Convention. If it is not, the specific legalisation procedure established by that country will need to be followed.
In Spain, both terms refer to the same type of translation, issued with the stamp, signature and certification of a sworn translator.
Only sworn translators recognised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are authorised to issue translations with legal validity.
Both formats are valid, depending on the requirements of the authority concerned. Some administrations accept a signed PDF, while others require a paper copy.
Yes, although the Hague Apostille or additional legalisation may be required, depending on the destination country.
Certificates, degrees, contracts, court rulings, powers of attorney, criminal record certificates and medical documents.
