Imagine: you´ve just upped and moved to the Costa del Sol, in search of a new life, full of sun, sand, and sangria. At first, the whole experience is thrilling: the novelty of how cheap the food is; how welcoming the andaluces are; and most importantly, the sheer amount of sun – it really does feel like paradise! However, after the initial excitement wears off, you come crashing back down to reality once you realise that in order to fully settle into Spanish life, all your original official documents must be translated into Spanish via a sworn translation. You start to panic: “I need to get it all translated?! Where on earth am I going to get it translated?! I´m new here and I don´t know any translation agencies! What even is a sworn translation?!?” you think to yourself, spiralling.
Does this sound familiar to you? If yes, you can stop worrying; here at CBLingua Malaga, with our years of experience and our huge team of more than 125 translators, we can assist you with all your needs, and here we´ve written a small guide to help explain the world of sworn translation…
What is sworn translation and who can do it?
A sworn translation is an official translation of a document – a translation that is considered valid by the authorities. This translation must bear the signature, seal, certification and accreditation number of the sworn translator-interpreter. Only a sworn translator-interpreter accredited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation can offer this service, and here at CBLingua, we have a team of sworn translators for over 25 languages such as English, German, and French.
How can I use a sworn translation?
Simply put, the certified translation you’ll receive can be presented at any institution as the official translation of the original document. Sworn translations typically have a legal nature, so these types of translations will be requested usually for legal purposes. There are various ways in which sworn translations are very useful for ex-pats:
- Do you want to apply for a residency card in Spain? The legal requirements for this depend on your age and employment status, but generally, documents such as bank statements, criminal record certificate, and work contracts are often needed to be officially translated into Spanish.
- Are you planning on getting married in Spain? You may be asked to present sworn translations of: a martial status certificate, a birth certificate, or if appropriate, a divorce decree.
- Do you want to study at a university in Spain? You may need a sworn translation of your academic transcripts, proof of payment, and even your passport.
To sum up, here at CBLingua, we translate the aforementioned documents on a daily basis, alongside many more. It is important to note that only certain documents will require a sworn translation, and so, to avoid wasting time and money, make sure that you enquire at the office or legal institution where you need to deliver your official translation on the documentation needed. They will also confirm if your documents need any additional requirements, such as an apostille stamp or equivalent from the country of issuance.
How long does it take to translate, and how much will it cost me?
This question is difficult to answer because the time scale depends on the size of the document, and the language combination, and here at CBLingua, we recognise that every case is different.
On average, small translations for common documents (such as birth or marriage certificates) from English to Spanish can take around two to three working days, and start at €35 (without IVA). For other types of larger documents, they typically need to be evaluated first to calculate a quote and how long it will take.
At CBLingua Malaga, there are two ways to ask for a quote…
- Firstly, you can send a scanned version of your documents to our e-mail address info@cblingua.com, along with your name, telephone number, the date for when you´ll need the translation, and the language combination (for example, English to Spanish).
- Alternatively, you can come directly to at our translation agency right in the heart of Malaga – situated on Calle Ángel, 3 -1B – where our experts will be waiting to assist you in person, and will be able to scan all your documents and take your details for you.
Whether you send an e-mail or come to the office, once the scanned versions of your documents and details have been sent off, they´ll be processed by administration to calculate the cost. They will then e-mail you your quote with details on how to pay, and as soon as you´ve paid, your translation will start!
Additionally, at CBLingua, we can offer you an express Sworn Translation service for short documents that are needed urgently, so you can receive your translation as soon as possible, and always at the most competitive price.
For whatever you need, CBLingua is here to assist any newcomers to the Costa del Sol to settle down and enjoy the life in Spain they´ve always dreamt of. If you have any questions, please don´t hesitate to come visit our Malaga office, or ring us on +34 605 53 68 69, and we will endeavour to help you as much as we can.