Apostille Sworn Translation for Spain
Official sworn translation of apostilles and apostilled document sets for visas, residency, nationality, pareja de hecho, academic procedures, and other official uses in Spain. If your document already has an apostille attached, the apostille should usually be translated together with the main document as part of the same official package.
- €37 per page standard rate
- €55 per page 12-hour rush service
- Typical turnaround: 24–72 hours
- Pay after delivery
- Digitally signed and stamped PDF
- Personally handled by Alba Fernández Carrasco
What Is an Apostille?
An apostille is an official certificate used under the Hague Apostille Convention to authenticate a public document for use in another member country. It is not a translation of the document. Spain is a Contracting Party to the Apostille Convention, which currently has 129 Contracting Parties.
What matters in practice is that the apostille becomes part of the official document set being submitted. That is why, when a Spanish authority requires a sworn translation of an apostilled document, the apostille usually needs to be translated too rather than treated as something separate or optional.
Does the Apostille Itself Need To Be Translated?
In most cases, yes. When Spanish authorities require a sworn translation of an apostilled document, they expect the entire document to be translated, including the apostille page, because it contains issuing authority details, date of issue, and certification information that form part of the official record. Spanish visa guidance also commonly requires foreign documents to be legalised or apostilled and, where applicable, officially translated into Spanish.
Many people still assume the apostille is only an attachment or “administrative extra.” For Spain-facing submissions, it is safer to treat it as part of the complete official package.
Why the Apostille Page Cannot Be Left Out
The apostille certifies the authenticity of the signature, seal, or stamp on the underlying public document. If the main document is translated but the apostille is omitted, the Spanish authority reviewing the file may be left with an incomplete translated record of what was actually submitted.
That is exactly why omitting the apostille page can lead to delays or a request to redo the translation. Send the full official package together so nothing needs to be repeated.
What Types of Documents Commonly Come With an Apostille?
Apostilles commonly appear on document sets such as:
- FBI background checks and other police certificates
- Birth certificates
- Marriage certificates
- Death certificates
- Medical certificates
- Diplomas and academic records
- Powers of attorney and other legal documents
What To Send
Please send a clear PDF or scan of:
- The main document
- The apostille page or certificate
- Any attached official pages that form part of the same document set
Do not separate the apostille from the main document when sending for translation. If it is stapled or attached to the back, scan both together so the full official package can be translated properly.
Do You Need the Apostille Before Ordering the Translation?
For the final version you plan to submit in Spain, usually yes. Apostille and translation are separate steps and can technically be done in either order, but the apostille should already be attached for the final sworn translation that will be submitted to Spanish authorities. That way, the complete official package is translated in one go.
If your apostille is already in Spanish, the translation may focus on the main document — but the full package should still be reviewed together so it is clear what has been attached and what needs to be reflected in the sworn translation.
Apostille Routes by Country
United States
The U.S. Department of State’s Office of Authentications issues apostille certificates and authentication certificates. Apostilles are for documents used in Hague Convention countries, including Spain.
United Kingdom
GOV.UK explains that there are paper-based apostilles and e-Apostilles, but some document types are not eligible for e-Apostille. Notably, ACRO police certificates for England and Wales are not eligible for e-Apostille and must use the paper-based route. See GOV.UK legalisation guidance →
Canada
Since January 11, 2024, Canadian public documents can be authenticated with a single apostille certificate under the Apostille Convention, simplifying their use in more than 120 member countries including Spain.
Australia
Australia’s DFAT issues apostilles and authentications to certify that the signature, stamp, or seal on an official Australian public document is genuine.
Not in the apostille system?
Not every foreign document uses an apostille. If the country or document requires a different legalisation route, translate the full legalised package that will actually be submitted. The key rule is: translate what Spain will see.
You Have an Apostilled Document — Here’s What Happens Next
If you already have a document with an apostille attached and you need it translated for Spain, the process is straightforward. Here is the typical workflow from that point:
Step 1: Confirm the apostille is already attached
Check that the apostille is physically attached to or printed on the back of the main document. Do not separate them. If you received the document in separate files, keep both together for translation.
Step 2: Scan the full package as one file
Scan the main document and the apostille together as a single PDF. Do not send them as two separate files. The sworn translation needs to reflect the complete official package as it will be submitted.
Step 3: Send the scan to Alba
Upload through the request form. Alba will review the package, confirm the page count for pricing, and proceed with the sworn translation. No physical mail is required in most cases.
Step 4: Receive the sworn translation
You receive a digitally signed and stamped PDF of the sworn translation — covering both the main document and the apostille — prepared for official use in Spain. Typical turnaround is 24 to 72 hours.
Step 5: Pay after delivery
Payment is made once the translation has been delivered. The rate is fixed per page with no hidden fees.
Step 6: Submit to the Spanish authority
Present the sworn translation alongside the original apostilled document when submitting to the consulate, immigration office, civil registry, or other Spanish authority. In most cases, the digitally signed PDF is all you need.
How It Works
Send the full apostilled document set
Upload a clear PDF or scan of the main document and the apostille together. In most cases, no physical mail is required.
The package is reviewed as one Spain-facing submission
The goal is not just to translate isolated pages. It is to translate the complete official package you will actually submit in Spain.
Your sworn translation is prepared personally by Alba
You work directly with Alba and receive a sworn translation delivered as a digitally signed and stamped PDF accepted for official use in Spain.
Pay after delivery
Pricing is fixed per page and payment is made after delivery.
Fixed Pricing
Translation is charged at a fixed per-page rate. No quote required to understand the cost.
Standard
€37 per page
Typical turnaround: 24–72 hours
Rush
€55 per page
12-hour turnaround
In most cases, scanned files or digital PDFs are enough. No need to mail originals. You receive a digitally signed and stamped PDF prepared for official use in Spain. You pay after delivery.
See full pricing and process →FBI Background Check and Apostille for Spain
The FBI Identity History Summary — commonly called an FBI background check or FBI clearance letter — is one of the most common documents required for Spanish visa and residency applications, including the Digital Nomad Visa and Non-Lucrative Visa.
Before submitting the FBI background check to Spanish authorities, you will normally need to:
- Obtain the original FBI Identity History Summary from the FBI or through an authorized channeling agency
- Apostille the document — through the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Authentications or a designated state authority for state-level documents
- Have the complete apostilled package sworn-translated into Spanish by a MAEC-certified translator
The sworn translation covers both the FBI certificate and the apostille page together as one official package. Separating or omitting the apostille at the translation stage is a common mistake that can delay approval.
ACRO Police Certificate and Apostille for Spain
UK applicants applying for Spanish visas or residency typically need to provide an ACRO police certificate (for England and Wales) or equivalent from Police Scotland or the PSNI. As with the FBI check, this document must be apostilled and sworn-translated before submission to Spanish authorities.
One important detail for UK applicants: ACRO police certificates for England and Wales are not eligible for e-Apostille. The UK Government’s GOV.UK guidance confirms that ACRO certificates must go through the paper-based apostille route. Factor this into your timeline.
Once the paper apostille is attached, send the full package — certificate and apostille together — for sworn translation.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Translating the document but not the apostille. The apostille page contains official certification information. If the translation omits it, the submitted package may be considered incomplete.
- Getting the translation before the apostille. The sworn translation should cover the final apostilled version you will actually submit. If the apostille is added afterwards, the translation may no longer match the package.
- Sending separate scans. Do not split the apostille and the main document into separate files when submitting for translation. Send the full apostilled package as one scan.
- Assuming the apostille does not need translation because it is “just a certificate.” Spanish authorities are reviewing the complete official document set. The apostille is part of that set.
- Using a general translation agency instead of a sworn translator. For official use in Spain, translations must be prepared by a sworn translator-interpreter officially appointed in Spain. A standard certified translation from a general agency is not the same thing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an apostille?
An apostille is an official certificate used under the Hague Apostille Convention to authenticate a public document for use in another member country. It is not a translation of the document.
Does an apostille need translation for Spain?
In most cases, yes. Spanish authorities generally expect the full apostilled document package to be translated, including the apostille page, as it contains issuing authority details, date of issue, and certification information that form part of the official record.
Is apostille the same as translation?
No. Apostille authenticates the official document for international use. Translation converts the content into Spanish. They are separate steps serving different purposes.
Should I translate the document first or get the apostille first?
For the final version you will submit in Spain, it is usually best to have the apostille attached first so the whole package can be translated together in one sworn translation.
What if the apostille is attached to the back page?
Send the whole set together. Scan the full document including the apostille as one file and do not separate them before sending.
What if my apostille is already in Spanish?
The translation may then focus on the main document, but the full package should still be reviewed together so it is clear what forms part of the submission.
Do all documents for Spain need an apostille?
Not always. Apostille or legalisation is the general rule for foreign public documents unless an exemption applies, and the exact route depends on the country and document type.
Do ACRO certificates use e-Apostille?
No. GOV.UK states that ACRO police certificates for England and Wales are not eligible for e-Apostille and must use the paper-based apostille route.
How do I get an apostille in the United States?
The U.S. Department of State’s Office of Authentications issues apostilles for U.S. federal documents. Applicants submit the document, the required form, the fee, and the country of use.
Can you translate both the document and the apostille together?
Yes. That is exactly how this service works: one complete sworn translation of the official package you will use in Spain.
Do I need an apostille on my FBI background check for Spain?
Yes. For most Spanish visa and residency procedures, the FBI Identity History Summary must be apostilled through the U.S. Department of State and then sworn-translated into Spanish. The sworn translation covers the full apostilled package — both the FBI certificate and the apostille page together.
Can ACRO police certificates use e-Apostille?
No. UK Government guidance confirms that ACRO police certificates for England and Wales are not eligible for e-Apostille and must use the paper-based apostille route. Factor this into your timeline when preparing documents for a Spanish visa.
What happens if I only translate the main document and leave out the apostille?
The submission may be treated as incomplete. Spanish authorities review the full official document set. If the apostille is omitted from the sworn translation, you may be asked to redo the translation — costing time and money.
Related Services
- FBI Background Check Translation
- ACRO Police Certificate Translation
- Other Police Certificate Translations
- Birth Certificate Translations
- Marriage Certificate Translations
- Medical Certificate Translations
- Digital Nomad Visa Translations
- Sworn Translation for Spain — UK Applicants
- Sworn Translation for Spain — US Applicants
- Non-Lucrative Visa Translations
- Student Visa Translations
- Spanish Nationality Translations