When Might You Need Sworn Translations in Spain

Are you the manager of a European-based company that needs official translations of legal documents? Do you want to expand your services in Spain, but the official paperwork of your activity needs to be translated and administrable in court? If that’s the case, the best thing you can do is utilize sworn translations in Spain. Sworn translations are necessary for documents that need to be presented to legal entities or recognized by authorities dealing with the activity of companies in your field. 

Are you, for example, present in a competitive industry and want your business to expand to a national level? Do you want to buy a new office space or transfer your land lease to a third party? If so, the sworn translator you call upon will translate your notarized documentation and court judgments as well as provide comprehensive and objective translations of your contracts.

However, the services of sworn national translators do not stop at those offered for businesses. Are you a private individual who needs accurate translations for your documentation? If so, using an expert sworn translator is the only solution you have at your disposal.

What Are Sworn Translators? 

Sworn translators are linguistic and translation experts accredited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation who have passed their MAEC examination, are over 18 years old, and possess citizenship in a member nation of the EU or ECA. Sworn Spanish translations are accompanied by the signature and the accreditation number of the translation specialist and are valid at the national level without the need for further notarization.

In other words, these types of translations have guaranteed accuracy and are, therefore, admissible in court, both for civil and criminal cases. Are you a foreign private entity that needs to submit documentation to a national institution? If so, you will need to use a sworn translator. 

Moreover, certified translators can work with an impressive variety of documents, ranging from birth certificates to property sales contracts, wills, financial statements, permanent residency cards, regulatory compliance documents, internship certifications, or travel insurance papers. The translations performed by Spanish-sworn translators must follow a classic format and be accompanied by an official signature, stamp, and certification statement. Plus, once the translation is completed, official sworn translations in Spain are usually sealed or encrypted to prevent tampering.

As for obtaining their license, applicants must pay a fee of around 37 euros per examination and possess a degree from a Spanish University. The exam for sworn translators has three parts. It is composed of grammatical exercises, translations with the help of a dictionary for journalistic and economic texts, and article interpretations between Spanish and the applicant’s native language.

Once the applicants pass their exam and submit their documentation to the OIL, they will receive a unique sworn translation number, a stamp, a certificate of their activity, and a license to practice their activity.

What Are ISO 9001 and ISO 17100? 

Do you wish to receive quality translations with accuracy guarantees? If that’s the case, you need to use the services of a translation agency that’s ISO 9001 and ISO 17100 certified. ISO 9001:2015 is a standard that lays out the criteria for the implementation of quality management systems.

Firms that have obtained an ISO 9001 qualification understand the operations necessary to achieve consistency in the output translations, are aware of customer expectations, and are able to deliver translation services in line with regulatory requirements and customer wishes. ISO 9001-certified translation agencies focus on the flexibility of their QMS and are a safe bet for clients who require professional translations backed by years of experience in the field. 

ISO 17100, on the other hand, is a standard that defines the internal elements of the processes needed to deliver quality translation services. It specifies the competencies expected from project managers, text proofreaders, and translators, provides a systematic implementation for the framework of translation quality assurance, and encourages the continuous improvement of translation processes. 

ISO 1700-certified translation agencies must utilize standardized processes for the management of translation projects, leverage the experience of qualified personnel, follow precise procedures for client communication, and implement strict protocols to ensure the confidentiality of the documents analyzed. ISO 17100 and ISO 9001 are international quality standards. Does the MAEUEC-approved firm to which you are appealing benefit from these two certifications? If so, the sworn translations they provide are certainly of superior quality and meet guidelines for ensuring the consistency of output translations.

How Do They Differ from Conventional Translators? 

In accordance with Spanish legislation, sworn translators must be accredited by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union, and Cooperation. On top of that, they can perform translations of official documentation only after they pass a thorough examination in which they will have to present their proficiency in the Spanish language.

Regular translators, on the other hand, do not need the same qualification level. However, their activity is more limited, as they will not have the legal authority to provide legal translations for documents submitted to public authorities. Sworn translators deal mainly with official documents such as birth certificates, diplomas, court rulings, and other types of paperwork that have legal capacity. 

On the other hand, conventional translators can handle a wide range of materials, both in physical and digital formats. Are you, for example, the administrator of an online shop and want to expand your services in another market? If so, your web pages will be translated by a regular translator. This doesn’t mean that the output of conventional translators is less qualitative.

However, their services will not carry the same legal weight, and, at least in the Iberian Peninsula, they will not be held to the same level of regulatory oversight as in the case of sworn translators. Furthermore, due to their specialization and the nature of the involved documentation, sworn translation services are usually pricier.

The Best Help You Can Obtain 

The specialist you call will translate your birth certificate, criminal record, diplomas, proof of residency, or visa application. Is it necessary to use a professional? In the Iberian Peninsula, the answer is yes. According to the national legislature, to be admissible in court and recognized by public authorities, the translations of official documents must be carried out by translators accredited by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Such translators carry the translator’s official seal and are therefore recognized for their quality at the national level. Certified translations are not necessary for unofficial documentation. However, accredited translations are a requirement for any type of documentation submitted to legal entities.

 Do you have a blog post to translate, informal documents, creative work for personal use, or internal documentation necessary for the activity of your venture? If so, the services of regular translators might be sufficient for your needs. Are you looking instead to translate a court judgment, legal contracts, visa applications, or work permits?

In that case, the services of sworn translators will be necessary for your activity. Licensed translators active in Spain are essential for documentation that must be submitted to legal entities. Plus, licensed translations are official and will not require notarization.