Sworn translations: what you need to know
At CLINTER, we offer a sworn translation service of the highest quality, as our main area of expertise. We provide official translations of documents that require legal validity for submission to public bodies, whether in Spain or abroad.
Official and sworn translations are governed by the following regulations: Organic Act of 27 April 1900, Act 2/2014, of 25 March, 16th Additional Provision, Act 29/2015, of 30 July, 4th Final Provision Royal Decree 724/2020, of 4 August, Order AEC/2125/2014, of 6 November and, finally, Order AUC/213/2025, of 26 February.
We have a team of Sworn Translators and Interpreters appointed by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation (MAEC), specialising in all languages to and from Spanish.
Likewise, in the case of regional official languages, i.e. Catalan, Basque, Galician and Valencian, we have Sworn Translators and Interpreters authorised by the corresponding linguistic authorities, such as the Department of Linguistic Policy of the Generalitat of Catalonia for Catalan, and the Department of Culture and Linguistic Policy of the Basque Country for Basque.
When do you need a sworn translation service?
If you have to submit legal documents written in a specific language to public and official bodies in Spain or abroad, you’ll need a sworn translation.
According to Spanish law, any document for legal purposes not in Spanish must be accompanied by a sworn translation. This translation must also include the signature and stamp of the Sworn Translator, and in some cases, depending on the country of origin and the purpose, an apostille.
This service can only be provided by Sworn Translators-Interpreters appointed by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation (MAEC), or in the case of regional official languages, appointed by the competent regional authorities.
How to obtain a sworn translation from Clinter?
Get your documents translated and sworn quickly and easily. Just follow these steps:
Send us your documents.
You can do this in two ways:- You can send us your documents through the application form, email them to clinter@clinter.es, or bring them directly to our offices. If you send the documents online or by email, make sure that the scans are of high quality and all details are clearly legible.
- Completing the quotation form and attaching the files.
Get your customised quote.
Once we’ve received your application, our management team will study your documents and reply to you soon as possible.
Confirmation and commencement.
Once you’ve confirmed that you agree to the quote, our Sworn Translators specialising in the required language will start working on your project.
Delivering your sworn translation signed by hand.
According to Article 18 of Royal Decree 724/2020, of 4 August, Sworn Translators-Interpreters "shall certify with their signature and seal, the accuracy of their work" and "for the purposes of verifying the authenticity of the original from which the translation has been made, a copy of the original, stamped and dated on all its pages, shall be attached". You’ll therefore receive your document translated, signed and stamped by a Sworn Translator appointed by the MAEC, or in the case of regional official languages, appointed by the competent regional authorities.You can either pick up your translation at our offices in Madrid or receive it conveniently by e-mail.
Delivering your sworn translation with a digital signature.
According to Order AUC/213/2025, of 26 February, regulating the use of digital signatures to certify translations issued by Sworn Translators-Interpreters, said Sworn Translators and Sworn Interpreters "may certify with their digital signature, the truthfulness and accuracy of their works” (Article 3.1) and the “digital signature must be made on the entire document generated, which shall include the document from which the translation has been made, referred to for this purpose as the original, and the translation itself" (Article 3.5).This means that sworn translations don't have to be delivered in print and can be sent online once completed. However, it must be noted that "the certification of works by digital signature may replace, but does not exclude or invalidate, certification by means of handwritten signatures and physical stamps as stipulated in Article 18 of the Regulations of the Language Interpretation Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, approved by Royal Decree 724/2020 of 4 August" (Article 3.7).