Spain Non-Lucrative Visa Translations Checklist

Applying for Spain’s Non-Lucrative Visa usually means gathering documents from banks, doctors, insurers, civil registries, and government authorities. One of the most common questions is simple: which documents need a sworn translation for Spain?

In most cases, the documents that form part of your Non-Lucrative Visa application and are not already in Spanish should be treated as needing sworn translation for submission. The main difference is that some documents also need an apostille or legalization, while others generally do not.

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Quick Checklist

For most Non-Lucrative Visa applications, the documents most commonly needing sworn translation are:

Criminal record certificate
Apostille attached to the criminal record certificate, where applicable
Medical certificate
Private health insurance certificate or policy
Bank statements
Bank certificate
Pension letters
Passive income documents
Investment income documents
Other proof-of-funds documents
Marriage certificate, if applying with a spouse
Birth certificates, if children are included
Divorce decree, death certificate, or other civil-status records, where relevant

The Documents People Most Often Need Translated

Criminal Record Certificate

This is one of the key documents in a Non-Lucrative Visa application. Spain requires a criminal record certificate covering the countries where the applicant has lived during the last five years. Because it is a foreign public document, it is also one of the documents most likely to need both apostille/legalization and sworn translation.

Apostille Page

If your criminal record certificate or another public record includes an apostille, the apostille page should be translated together with the main document. For Spain, the apostille forms part of the official document being submitted. See Do Apostilles Need Translation for Spain?

Medical Certificate

The Non-Lucrative Visa requires a medical certificate. If it is not already in Spanish, it should be submitted with a sworn translation.

Proof of Financial Means

Spain’s Non-Lucrative Visa requires the applicant to prove sufficient financial means to live in Spain without working. This is why financial documents are such an important part of the file.

Bank Statements and Financial Documents

Bank statements, bank certificates, pension letters, passive-income records, investment-income records, and other proof-of-funds documents should be treated the same way from the translation side as the rest of the application: if they are not in Spanish, they should be submitted with sworn translation.

The key difference is not whether they need translation. The key difference is that these supporting financial documents are generally not apostilled, unlike criminal records and civil-status documents.

Health Insurance Documents

The applicant must show public or private health insurance arranged with an insurer authorized to operate in Spain. If the proof of coverage is not already in Spanish, it should be submitted with sworn translation.

If Family Members Are Applying Too

If a spouse or children are included, the checklist usually expands to include:

Marriage certificate
Birth certificates
Divorce decree, if relevant
Death certificate, if relevant
Other documents proving the family relationship or civil status

These family and civil-status documents are typically treated as public documents, so they usually need both sworn translation and, where applicable, apostille or legalization.

What Usually Needs an Apostille

The documents most commonly needing apostille or legalization are:

criminal record certificates
marriage certificates
birth certificates
divorce decrees
death certificates
other foreign public or civil documents in the application file

What Also Needs Sworn Translation, but Not Usually an Apostille

These documents also need sworn translation if they are not in Spanish, but they are not usually apostilled:

medical certificate
health insurance certificate or policy
bank statements
bank certificate
pension letters
passive-income records
investment-income records
other proof-of-funds documents

The easiest way to think about it

Public and civil documents usually need apostille/legalization and sworn translation
Supporting financial, medical, and insurance documents also need sworn translation
The main difference is that supporting documents are not usually apostilled

How It Works

Upload Your Documents
Send clear scans or PDFs of the documents you plan to use for your Non-Lucrative Visa application.
Confirm What Needs Translation
If you are not sure which pages need sworn translation, those can be checked first.
Receive Your Sworn Translation
Your translations are prepared for official use in Spain and delivered as a digitally signed and stamped PDF.
Pay After Delivery
You only pay once your translation has been delivered.

Start Your Translation Request See Pricing & Process

Common Questions

Which documents usually need sworn translation for a Spain Non-Lucrative Visa?

Most applicants need sworn translation for the criminal record certificate, apostille, medical certificate, health insurance documents, proof-of-funds documents, and any family civil documents such as marriage or birth certificates.

Does the criminal record certificate need an apostille and sworn translation?

Usually yes. It is a foreign public document, so it normally needs apostille or legalization and, if it is not in Spanish, sworn translation.

Does the medical certificate need sworn translation?

Yes. If it is not already in Spanish, it should be submitted with sworn translation as part of the application.

Do bank statements need sworn translation?

Yes. If they are part of the application file and are not already in Spanish, they should be submitted with sworn translation. The main distinction is that bank statements are generally translated but not apostilled.

Do proof-of-funds documents need an apostille?

Usually not. Proof-of-funds documents such as bank statements, bank certificates, pension letters, and other financial records should be treated the same as the rest of the file from the translation side, but they are generally not apostilled.

Which family documents usually need translation for a Non-Lucrative Visa?

Usually the documents proving the relationship to the main applicant, especially marriage certificates, birth certificates, and other relevant civil-status records.

Can the authorities ask for more documents?

Yes. The authorities can ask for additional documents if they consider the file submitted insufficient.