How Spain handles apostilles and sworn translation — the traductor jurado system and what foreign documents Spanish authorities require.
Overview
Spain is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. Documents from other Hague countries need only an apostille from the country of origin to be valid in Spain — no consular legalisation. The Spanish system distinguishes between 'apostilla' (for Hague signatory countries) and 'legalización' (for non-Hague countries), with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores) and the Ministry of Justice (Ministerio de Justicia) handling different document types for outgoing Spanish documents. For foreign documents to be used in Spanish procedures, sworn translation by a translator certified by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (traductor jurado) is generally required. Unlike Switzerland's cantonal system, Spain operates a single national sworn-translator registry — the list of authorised traductores jurados is published at exteriores.gob.es and translations from any listed translator are accepted nationwide. This guide details the requirements, verified against exteriores.gob.es, mjusticia.gob.es, and inclusion.gob.es.
Spanish Apostille and Legalisation System
| Document Type | Issuing Authority | Apostille/Legalisation From | Indicative Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil status (birth/marriage/death) | Civil Registry (Registro Civil) | Ministry of Justice (TSJ) | EUR 18-25 |
| Academic degree | Spanish university | Ministry of Education (school) / Ministry of Universities (uni) | Free (apostille) |
| Police clearance (Spanish) | Ministry of Justice | Ministry of Justice (online via Cl@ve) | Free with Cl@ve |
| Court/notarial document | Notary or court | TSJ regional court | EUR 0-18 |
| Federal document (passport, driving licence) | National authority | Ministry of Foreign Affairs | EUR 18 |
| Foreign documents — incoming | Country of origin | Country of origin (apostille) OR Spanish consulate (legalisation) | Varies by country |
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See Paid Plans →Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I get an apostille for a Spanish document?
Depends on the document type. Civil status documents (birth/marriage/death): TSJ (Tribunal Superior de Justicia) of the autonomous community where the document was issued. Police clearance: Ministry of Justice (free via Cl@ve electronic ID). Academic degrees: Ministry of Education (school-level) or Ministry of Universities (university-level). Court/notarial documents: TSJ regional court. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs handles federal documents and final international authentication. Most apostilles cost EUR 0-25.
What is a traductor jurado?
A traductor jurado (sworn translator) is a translator licensed by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAEC) to provide legally-valid translations between Spanish and a foreign language. They've passed a competitive examination administered by MAEC and are registered on a national list (searchable at exteriores.gob.es). Their translations carry a stamp and signature and are accepted by all Spanish authorities — no further authentication needed. Cost: EUR 30-80 per page typically.
Does Spain accept apostilles from other countries?
Yes — Spain is a Hague Apostille Convention member. Documents from other Hague-member countries are accepted in Spain with just the originating country's apostille — no Spanish consular legalisation needed. For non-Hague countries (some Middle Eastern, African, and Asian states), full consular legalisation by the Spanish embassy in the country of origin is required, followed by Ministry of Foreign Affairs authentication.
How much does sworn translation cost in Spain?
EUR 30-80 per page depending on language pair, document complexity, and translator. Common documents like birth certificates and marriage certificates typically EUR 30-50 per page. Less common language pairs (Mandarin, Arabic, Korean to Spanish) are at the higher end. Multi-page documents (academic transcripts, court rulings) often quoted per word — typical EUR 0.10-0.20 per word. Always confirm the translator is on the official MAEC list before commissioning.
How long does it take to apostille a document in Spain?
Civil status documents: 1-2 weeks at the TSJ. Police clearance via Cl@ve: same day (online). Academic degrees: 2-4 weeks at the relevant ministry. Court/notarial documents: 5-10 business days. Total realistic timeline from starting to having all Spanish documents apostilled and sworn-translated for a typical visa or residency application: 3-6 weeks. For foreign documents needing apostille in their home country first, add 4-12 weeks depending on country.
Can I use a German/French/Italian sworn translation in Spain?
Generally no. Spain prefers translations done by Spanish-MAEC-registered traductores jurados. Translations from other countries' sworn-translator systems may not be accepted by Spanish authorities. The safest approach: have the apostille from the country of origin attached to the original document, then bring the apostilled document to Spain and commission a Spanish traductor jurado to translate both the original and the apostille. Some Spanish consulates abroad have local sworn translators they recognise — verify with the consulate before relying on this.
Do I need to translate everything for Spanish authorities?
Generally yes for any document not in Spanish (Castellano). Documents in Catalan, Basque, or Galician may be accepted in their respective autonomous communities without Castellano translation, but for national authorities, Castellano is required. Common documents needing translation: birth certificate, marriage certificate, divorce decree, academic degrees and transcripts, police clearance, court rulings, professional licences. Some authorities accept English-language documents informally for initial assessment but require Castellano translation for the formal submission.
Are sworn translations from Spain valid in other countries?
Translations by Spanish traductores jurados are recognised internationally for Spanish purposes (e.g., Spanish documents being used abroad), but for foreign authorities receiving them, the receiving country may have its own sworn-translator requirements. For Spanish documents to be used abroad: apostille the original in Spain + sworn translation in Spain + verification by the receiving country's embassy in Spain (if needed). The reverse — foreign documents into Spain — works similarly via apostille in origin country + sworn translation in Spain.