Spain Nationality by Residence: Translations Checklist

Documents That Typically Need Sworn Translation for Nationality by Residence

The nationality by residence process requires you to submit civil and legal documents that confirm your identity, civil status, and — in some cases — your family history. Any document not already in Spanish must be translated by a sworn translator appointed by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Below is a checklist of the documents most commonly included in a standard nationality translation file, followed by per-document notes.

Quick Checklist

• Birth certificate from your country of origin (with apostille in most cases)
• Criminal record certificate from your country of origin
• Apostille page (if issued as a separate document)
• Consular certificate of conduct (certificado de conducta consular), if required by your nationality
• Marriage certificate (if married)
• Divorce decree or annulment (if previously married)
• Death certificate of spouse (if widowed)
• Birth certificates of parents or grandparents (if claiming shortened residency period)
• Birth certificates of parents or grandparents (if claiming shortened residency period)
• Court orders related to guardianship or tutorship (if applicable)
• Foreign civil-status documents required by the Civil Registry (case by case)

Birth Certificate from Your Country of Origin

This is the core identity document in your nationality file. It needs to be the full, official version issued by your country's civil registry — not an extract or summary. In most cases it also needs to carry an apostille before translation. The sworn translation covers both the body of the certificate and the apostille page.

If your country does not issue apostilles (because it is not a signatory to the Hague Convention), a different legalisation route applies. The Spanish Civil Registry handling your case can advise on this.

Criminal Record Certificate

You need a criminal record certificate from your country of origin (or countries where you have lived for a significant period). This document also typically requires an apostille. The certificate must generally be recent — check the specific requirements for your registry, but certificates older than three months are often not accepted.

If you are from a country that issues criminal record certificates through a different authority (such as the FBI for US citizens, the ACRO for UK citizens, or the RCMP for Canadians), those specific certificates are what is needed.

Apostille Page

When the apostille is physically attached to the document (as is common), it is translated as part of the same document. Occasionally the apostille is issued as a separate sheet. In that case it is translated separately. Either way, the apostille must be present and valid before the translation is prepared.

Marriage, Divorce, and Death Certificates

If your civil status has changed — through marriage, divorce, or the death of a spouse — the relevant certificate must be included in the file. This means:

• Marriage certificate if you are currently married (foreign marriage certificate, not a Spanish one)
• Divorce decree or court order if you have been divorced
• Death certificate of your spouse if you are widowed

All of these typically require apostilles if issued outside the EU. Each document is priced per page of the original.

Birth Certificates of Parents or Grandparents

These are required when you are applying under a shortened residency period — for example, if you are a national of a Latin American country, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Andorra, or Portugal, or if you are a Sephardic Jew. In those cases, the standard ten-year residence requirement is reduced to two years (or one year for Sephardic Jews), but you may need to demonstrate the qualifying link through your parents' or grandparents' birth certificates.

Court Orders, Guardianship, and Tutorship Documents

If you are applying on behalf of a minor, or if your file includes any court orders related to legal guardianship or tutorship, those documents may also need to be translated. This applies on a case-by-case basis depending on the Civil Registry's requirements.

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Special Cases

Married to a Spanish National

If you are married to a Spanish national, the residency requirement for nationality is reduced to one year. You will still need the standard document set (birth certificate, criminal record certificate), plus your marriage certificate showing the marriage to a Spanish national. If the marriage took place abroad, the foreign marriage certificate needs to be apostilled and translated.

Widow or Widower of a Spanish National

The residency requirement is also reduced to one year for widows and widowers of Spanish nationals who were not separated at the time of death. You will need your spouse's death certificate in addition to the standard document set.

Minor Applicant

When the applicant is a minor, the application is submitted by their legal representative. The documents required are the same as for an adult (birth certificate, criminal record if applicable, civil status documents), plus any court orders or documents establishing guardianship or parental authority if relevant.

Descendant of a Spanish National

If you are applying as the descendant of a Spanish national (through the Democratic Memory Law or similar routes), you will need birth certificates and potentially other civil documents that establish the family link across generations. These are likely to require sworn translation, especially if they are from countries where Spanish is not the official language of the issuing authority.

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What Needs an Apostille

The following documents typically need to be apostilled before they can be translated for use in a nationality application:

• Birth certificate from your country of origin
• Criminal record certificate from your country of origin
• Marriage certificate issued abroad
• Divorce decree issued abroad
• Death certificate issued abroad
• Birth certificates of parents or grandparents issued abroad

Exception for EU documents: Documents issued in EU member states are generally exempt from the apostille requirement. They may still need sworn translation if they are not in Spanish, but you do not need to obtain an apostille for them separately.

What Needs Translation but Not a Separate Apostille

Some documents are already in Spanish or are issued by Spanish authorities, meaning they do not need translation. Others may need translation but are exempt from the apostille requirement:

• Documents from EU member states (apostille not required, but translation may still be needed)
• Documents you have already had apostilled — the apostille is translated as part of the same document

What Usually Does Not Form Part of a Standard Nationality Translation File

The following documents are either already in Spanish or are issued by Spanish authorities and do not require sworn translation:

• Your TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) or NIE card — issued by Spanish authorities in Spanish
• Certificates from the Spanish Civil Registry — already in Spanish
• Your padrón certificate — issued by your Spanish municipality in Spanish
• CCSE (knowledge of Spanish society exam) certificate — issued in Spain in Spanish
• DELE or other Spanish language exam certificates — issued in Spanish
• Spanish work contracts or tax documents — already in Spanish

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