Sworn Translation for Arraigo in Spain

Arraigo — social, laboral, or familiar — is one of the main routes to regularizing immigration status in Spain. The process involves presenting a set of documents to the Oficina de Extranjería, and some of those documents are issued by foreign authorities in a language other than Spanish. Those documents typically need a sworn translation before they can be submitted. This page explains which ones, and how the process works.

What arraigo is and why translation comes into it

Arraigo social, arraigo laboral, and arraigo familiar are residency regularization processes in Spain for people who have been living in Spain without legal status. Each type has its own requirements, but most involve submitting official documents — and documents issued outside Spain in another language need to be presented in Spanish through a sworn translation by an officially appointed translator. The most common foreign-language documents in arraigo files are criminal record certificates from the applicant's country of origin. These are almost always required, and they almost always need sworn translation.

Criminal record certificates: the most common translation need in arraigo

For arraigo social and arraigo laboral, a certificate of good conduct or criminal record clearance from your country of origin is usually required. If that certificate is issued in English — such as an FBI Identity History Summary for US nationals, an ACRO Police Certificate for UK nationals, an RCMP criminal record check for Canadian nationals, an NBI Clearance for Filipino nationals, or a similar certificate from another country — it needs to be sworn-translated into Spanish. The apostille is a separate matter. Whether the certificate also needs an apostille depends on your country and the specific requirements of your Oficina de Extranjería. This should be confirmed before preparing the translation.

Other documents that may need sworn translation in arraigo files

Depending on your specific situation and the type of arraigo, other documents may also need sworn translation. Birth certificates are commonly required, especially in arraigo familiar where family relationships must be documented. Marriage certificates may be needed in family-based arraigo cases. Divorce decrees may be relevant where civil status needs to be clarified. Academic certificates or professional qualifications may occasionally be requested in arraigo laboral cases. Any document issued in a foreign language that forms part of the official file is a candidate for sworn translation.

Documents issued in Spanish do not need translation

Documents that are already in Spanish — such as empadronamiento certificates, Spanish employment contracts, payslips from Spanish employers, or other Spanish-issued official documents — do not need to be translated. The translation requirement applies only to documents issued in a foreign language.

The order of steps for foreign criminal record certificates

The typical sequence for preparing a foreign criminal record certificate for arraigo is: first, obtain the official certificate from the issuing authority in your country; second, determine whether an apostille is required for your specific Oficina de Extranjería (this varies); third, once the final document is ready — with apostille if required — prepare the sworn translation. Translating before the apostille is added can mean redoing the translation if the apostille page is attached afterwards, because the apostille itself forms part of the official document.

What to send for sworn translation

Send a clear scan or PDF of the complete document — the certificate itself and the apostille if one has been attached. Include a note about which arraigo type the file is for and which Oficina de Extranjería is handling the case if known. This helps confirm whether anything additional needs to be included or whether there are specific format requirements for your area. Physical originals do not need to be mailed. Scanned copies are sufficient for sworn translation. The finished translation is delivered as a digitally signed and stamped PDF accepted for official use in Spain.

Timelines: allowing enough time for arraigo

Arraigo applications often have appointment-driven deadlines. Sworn translation typically takes 24 to 72 hours for standard service, or 12 hours for rush service. The more significant time constraints are usually on the document-gathering side — obtaining the criminal record certificate from a foreign authority can take weeks or months depending on the country. Planning the translation step well ahead of the appointment avoids last-minute pressure.

Common Questions