Submit a Sworn Translation or a Foreign Document: Is a Copy Worth It?

Surely on more than one occasion you have had the question of whether you need to submit an original sworn translation or if you are worth a copy. Well, We explain in this article the documents that are accepted in the consular offices and in the Spanish State Administration.

Document characteristics

The characteristics that must be met by the documents presented at these offices are specifically the following:

1.1 They must be original documents or copies certified by the same body that issued the original document.
1.2 Except in cases where there is an Agreement that allows the documents in question not to be legalized, all foreign public documents must be  previously legalized . Legalization will be done through diplomatic channels or, if the State is a party to the Hague Convention of 1961, they must be signed with the Hague Apostille .
1.3 They must be translated into Spanish based on article 36.1 of Law 30/1992 , of November 26, on the Legal Regime of Public Administrations and Common Procedure.

Who can carry out the translations so that the document is valid?

In Spain, for a translation to be considered official, and thus valid to be presented at any official body of the Spanish Administration, it must be done by one of the following figures:

1. A sworn translator-interpreter appointed by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation .
2. A Spanish diplomatic or consular representation abroad (and must be subsequently legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation to appear before the Administration in Spain).
3. A diplomatic or consular representation in Spain of the country that has issued the document (which must be later legalized or apostilled within the meaning of section 1.2).

It should also be borne in mind that some States that are part of the Hague Convention of 1961 do not apostille translations by sworn translators (including Spain) as they are considered official documents but not of a public but private nature . However, sworn translations made by local translators abroad, even if they are legalized, may be rejected by some bodies of the Spanish Administration, since they may require an official translation in accordance with sections 1.1 – 1.3.

Thus, we recommend that you consult beforehand with the body or institution in which you must present the sworn translation if it accepts the way in which the translation has been legalized.