Birth Certificate Translation for Spain
Sworn translations of birth certificates for Spanish visa, nationality, family reunification, and civil registry procedures — fixed per-page pricing, digitally signed, handled personally by Alba.
- €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
Why birth certificates need a sworn translation for Spain
Birth certificates are among the most frequently required documents in Spanish administrative and immigration procedures. Whether you're applying for nationality, a long-stay visa, family reunification, or registering a birth or marriage in the Spanish civil registry, your birth certificate will almost certainly be requested.
Spanish authorities — including the Oficina de Extranjería, the Registro Civil, and consulates — require that foreign birth certificates be translated into Spanish by an officially appointed sworn translator. A standard or certified translation is not accepted.
When a birth certificate translation is commonly required
- Spanish nationality applications (naturalización)
- Non-lucrative visa and digital nomad visa applications
- Family reunification (reagrupación familiar)
- Registering a foreign birth in the Spanish civil registry
- Pareja de hecho (civil partnership) registrations
- Homologación and equivalencia of foreign qualifications
- Marriage in Spain for foreign nationals
- Inheritance proceedings involving Spanish courts or notaries
Long-form or short-form — which do you need?
Spain's procedures distinguish between different types of birth certificates. The full extract (extracto literal) is typically required for nationality and civil registry procedures. A shorter certified copy may be sufficient for visa processes.
If you're unsure which version you need, send what you have when requesting a quote. The quote response will include guidance on whether your document is suitable for your specific process.
Does the apostille need to be translated too?
Yes. When a birth certificate carries an apostille, the apostille page must be included in the translation. Spanish authorities read the apostille as part of the overall document package, and leaving it out can cause the submission to be rejected.
If your apostille is still being processed, you can send the document for translation in the meantime — but make sure the final submitted package includes the apostilled version with its translation.
What to send for a quote
- A clear scan or PDF of your birth certificate
- The apostille page, if already attached
- The long-form or short-form version, depending on what you have
- A note on which process or authority the translation is for
You don't need to send the original. A scan is sufficient for both quoting and completing the translation.
Which pages are included in the translation?
The sworn translation covers the entire birth certificate — all pages, stamps, and signatures — plus the apostille page if present. Pricing is per page, so the final cost reflects the actual length of your document.
Often requested alongside a birth certificate
Depending on the process, birth certificate translations are commonly submitted together with:
- Marriage certificate (if applicable)
- Background check or police certificate
- Medical certificate
- Criminal record certificate
- Proof of income or financial documents
If you have multiple documents to translate for the same process, all can be quoted together.
How it works
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1
Send your documents
Upload your birth certificate (and apostille if available) via the quote form.
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2
Receive a fixed quote
You'll get a clear price per page with no surprises — typically within one business day.
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3
Translation completed by Alba
Alba translates and certifies the document personally. No agency handoffs.
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4
Digitally signed PDF delivered
You receive the sworn translation as a digitally signed PDF, ready for submission. Payment is made after delivery.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need the long-form or short-form birth certificate?
- Requirements vary by process. Nationality and civil registry procedures usually require the full extract (extracto literal). Visa applications often accept the short-form. If you're unsure, send what you have and the quote will include guidance.
- Does my birth certificate need an apostille before translation?
- For most official processes in Spain, yes. The apostille validates the document internationally, and the apostille page must also be translated. You can send the document for translation while the apostille is being processed — but the final submitted package must include it.
- Can I send a scan, or does it have to be the original?
- A clear scan or PDF is fine. You don't need to post the original document. The sworn translation is delivered as a digitally signed PDF.
- How long does a birth certificate translation take?
- Most birth certificates are translated within 2–3 business days. Urgent turnaround is available on request. See the Pricing & Process page for details.
- Will the translation be accepted by Spanish authorities?
- Yes. Sworn translations by an officially appointed translator are accepted by Spanish consulates, the Oficina de Extranjería, civil registries, notaries, and courts.
- Do I need to send the physical document?
- No. A digital scan is all that's needed for quoting and translation. The finished translation is delivered digitally.
- What if my birth certificate is very long?
- Pricing is per page, so longer documents are quoted accordingly. Everything is clear before you confirm.
- Can you translate a birth certificate in a language other than English?
- Yes — French, Italian, Portuguese, Catalan, Galician, and other languages are all handled. If you have a document in another language, mention it in your quote request.
- What format is the finished translation delivered in?
- A digitally signed PDF with the sworn translator's official certification. This is the format accepted by Spanish authorities.