The UK government have recently announced the creation of a £3m grant to help UK nationals living in the EU with residency applications and consequent translations. When London leaves Brussels as a result of Brexit, we can begin to assess the role played by Translation and Interpretation Agencies, such as CBLingua, in the modern and politically multi-faceted world.
Anti-Brexit Campaigners gather just metres away from our Malaga office
Translators in all 28 (soon to be 27) members of the EU are now tasked with translating the documents of British nationals and nationals of their countries so that they can successfully complete registration processes and continue to live where they wish after Britain departs from the union. At first glance, the translation of a birth certificate or identity document could seem like an insignificant, banal task. It is simply the changing and converting the words from one language into another so that it can stand legally in another country. Although, when we begin to scratch the surface, without professionals in the translation industry and multilingualism many Brits would be left isolated and unable to complete indispensable processes enabling them to continue living in the EU post-brexit. Monolingualism in the modern, interconnected world can hinder process and build walls and barriers between people and countries. As Nelson Mandela stated: “if you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language that goes to his heart.” Translators and interpreters are the links connecting communication across borders and oceans, the middle men that can connect and enable international deals to be made and that can permit global migration.
Here at CBLingua, we are testament to the benefits that multilingualism and breaking down communication barriers bring. As Brexit looms, we are busy translating documents for British Nationals living across Spain. There are more than 300,000 Britons officially registered in Spain. However, it remains uncertain how Brexit will shape Europe and what will happen on the 31st October. The Spanish government have passed crucial legislation to protect the rights of Britons but, for Spaniards in Britain, prospects are more uncertain. The British government categorises EU nationals with a “settled status”, which brings many rights and “pre-settled status”, carrying significantly less rights. However, Luis Marco Aguiriano, Spain’s secretary of state for the EU has insisted that reciprocity is required and if Spanish nationals in the UK cannot enjoy the same rights as British nationals in Spain, there will be no deal.
These negotiations and discussions would be impossible without the knowledge of both English and Spanish or the intermediator of an interpreter. As the 31st October rapidly approaches, the uncertainty remains vast; we are no closer to knowing how the EU will look without Britain. Amongst the uncertainty, one certainty remains- the necessity of languages and the industry of translation interpretation to iron out nuances in meaning, miscommunication and misunderstanding. At CBLingua, we have an international team of translators and interpreters and we work with a plethora of different languages each day. We, as professionals, are at the forefront of helping individuals confront challenges that can arise in times of global uncertainty. We ease bureaucratic processes and enable customers every day to overcome obstacles that can arise when settling in your non-native country.
Although there is mass uncertainty surrounding Brexit, there are a number of ways you can prepare yourself for whatever outcome. If you are a British National living in Spain, it is more than likely that you will require our services. Official government advice is to register your residency here. This process requires the sworn translation of identity documents, for example, your passport or driving licence. If you want to access Healthcare in Spain, a translation of your medical records could be required. It is also recommended that you register on your local empadronamiento, a municipial register. For more information visit: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-spain#brexit-what-you-should-do
For any queries regarding any document that you may need translating to prepare for life after Brexit, contact our team and we are always happy to help!