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Sworn translation

Sworn translation and recognition of qualifications (homologación) in Spain

In Spain an official translation is signed by a Traductor-Intérprete Jurado appointed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Below: what legal value that translation has and what else is required to have a foreign qualification recognised.

Key facts

  • A sworn translation is signed by a Traductor-Intérprete Jurado appointed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. [1]
  • Documents from the EU, EEA and Switzerland need no legalisation or apostille for recognition (homologación). [3]
  • The homologación decision is issued within six months at most. [3]

Who can make a sworn translation?

  • The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation «es competente para la concesión de los títulos de Traductor/a Jurado/a e Intérprete Jurado/a» (is competent to grant the titles of Sworn Translator and Sworn Interpreter). [1]
  • Their translations «tendrán carácter oficial, pudiendo ser aportadas ante los órganos judiciales y administrativos» (have official status and may be submitted to courts and administrative bodies). [1]
  • The professionals «certificarán con su firma y sello la fidelidad y exactitud de sus actuaciones, empleando la fórmula dictada por el Ministerio» (certify the fidelity and accuracy of their work with their signature and seal, using the wording set by the Ministry). [1]
  • The Language Interpretation Office «elabora y publica periódicamente un listado de todos los Traductores Jurados e Intérpretes Jurados que han sido nombrados por el Ministerio» (regularly publishes a list of all sworn translators and interpreters appointed by the Ministry). [2]
  • The title «no confiere a sus titulares la condición de funcionario público ni supone el establecimiento de ningún vínculo orgánico ni laboral con la Administración Pública» (does not make holders civil servants or create any employment link with the public administration): a sworn translator is an independent professional, not a state office. [2]
  • The Ministry refers to Royal Decree 724/2020 of 4 August approving the Regulation of the Language Interpretation Office (Art. 9.2). [1]

Homologación or equivalencia: not the same thing

  • Homologación is the «reconocimiento oficial de la formación superada para la obtención de un título extranjero, equiparable a la exigida para la obtención de un título español cuya obtención se requiere para el ejercicio de una profesión regulada» (official recognition of foreign training as equivalent to the Spanish qualification required for a regulated profession). [3]
  • A declaración de equivalencia equates the training to an academic level — Grado, Máster Universitario or Doctorado — «con exclusión de los efectos profesionales» (excluding professional effects), i.e. it does not qualify you for a regulated profession. [3]

Translation, legalisation and apostille

  • Documents must be submitted «legalizados por vía diplomática o, en su caso, mediante la apostilla del Convenio de La Haya» (legalised through diplomatic channels or, where applicable, with a Hague Convention apostille). [3]
  • IMPORTANT: this requirement «no se exigirá a los documentos expedidos por las autoridades de los Estados miembros de la Unión Europea o signatarios del Acuerdo sobre el Espacio Económico Europeo y Suiza» (does not apply to documents issued by authorities of EU member states, EEA signatories and Switzerland) — if your document comes from there, you skip that step. [3]
  • Documents must be accompanied by a «traducción oficial al castellano» (official translation into Spanish). [3]

Deadlines

  • «La resolución se dictará y notificará en el plazo máximo de seis meses, desde la fecha en que la solicitud haya tenido entrada en el registro electrónico» (the decision is issued and notified within six months of the application being entered in the electronic register). [3]

Based on the official sources cited below (as of July 2026). Requirements depend on the body receiving your file — confirm with it before paying for a translation.

Request to sworn translators

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Sources

All information above comes from official sources:

  1. MAEC — Traductores/as-Intérpretes Jurados/as (nombramiento, sello, listado oficial)
  2. MAEC, Oficina de Interpretación de Lenguas — Traducción e interpretación jurada
  3. BOE — Real Decreto 889/2022 (homologación y declaración de equivalencia de títulos extranjeros)
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