Sworn translations are official translations carried out by a sworn translator accredited by a government authority. In Spain, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAEC) certifies translators to translate between Spanish and a specific foreign language. At Jurado Traductor, we specialize in Spanish to English and English to Spanish sworn translations, but also provide information on other languages. Below, we’ll explore the process of sworn translations in different languages, legal requirements, and how to choose the right translator for your needs.
Sworn Translations and Language Pair Requirements #
In Spain, sworn translators are certified to translate between Spanish and another language. Certification does not allow translators to switch between two non-Spanish languages, such as German to French or Chinese to English. To translate between non-Spanish languages, a different process is required.
Examples of Sworn Translations for Common Language Pairs
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Spanish to English / English to Spanish: These are among the most requested sworn translations, required for legal, academic, and official documents like birth certificates, diplomas, contracts, and more.
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Spanish to French / French to Spanish: Sworn translations for this language pair are crucial for documents needed in France, Belgium, and French-speaking countries, particularly for legal processes.
Sworn Translations in Other Languages #
The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs recognizes a wide variety of languages for sworn translations, meaning that individuals who need translations between Spanish and these languages can find officially accredited professionals. Here are some of the languages covered under the Spanish system, beyond the widely used English and French:
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Arabic: Sworn translations between Arabic and Spanish are crucial for legal, immigration, and business documentation, especially for those coming from or dealing with countries in the Middle East and North Africa.
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Basque and Catalan: Although these are co-official languages in parts of Spain, sworn translators must be separately accredited for these languages. For instance, a translator certified for Spanish and Catalan cannot automatically translate Catalan to English—separate certification would be needed.
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Chinese: Given China’s global influence, sworn translations between Chinese and Spanish are increasingly in demand, especially in business, trade, and academic fields.
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German: Germany’s importance in Europe makes sworn translations between Spanish and German essential for business, legal, and educational exchanges.
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Italian: Italy’s close relationship with Spain, both geographically and economically, ensures steady demand for sworn translations between Spanish and Italian, particularly for legal and corporate documents.
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Portuguese: With Spain and Portugal sharing a border, sworn translations between Spanish and Portuguese are frequently requested for a wide range of official documents.
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Russian: As a major language in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, sworn translations between Russian and Spanish are critical for legal matters, business, and immigration.
Other available languages include Japanese, Greek, Hebrew, Polish, and Turkish. Each of these languages requires a sworn translator who has passed the specific accreditation process by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Understanding the Accreditation Process #
Accreditation by Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs involves rigorous examinations that test both the linguistic and legal knowledge of the candidate. Each translator is certified for a specific language pair, such as Spanish-English or Spanish-Russian. They cannot perform translations outside this pair without gaining separate accreditation.
For example:
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A sworn translator certified in Spanish-English cannot translate from English to French.
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A sworn translator certified for Spanish-Catalan cannot translate from Catalan to English without passing the Spanish-English exam.
Therefore, when hiring a sworn translator, it’s essential to ensure they are accredited for the exact language pair you need. For more information on how to verify a sworn translator’s qualifications, visit our guide on How to Verify a Sworn Translator.
Possible Language Combinations for Sworn Translations in Spain #
The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs certifies sworn translators to perform official translations between Spanish and a wide range of other languages. Below is a comprehensive table outlining all the possible sworn translation language combinations available within the Spanish system. Each language includes links to find a certified translator.
Language | Spanish to [Language] | [Language] to Spanish | Directory |
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Arabic | Spanish to Arabic | Arabic to Spanish | Find a sworn translator for Arabic |
Basque | Spanish to Basque | Basque to Spanish | Find a sworn translator for Basque |
Belarusian | Spanish to Belarusian | Belarusian to Spanish | Find a sworn translator for Belarusian |
Bengali | Spanish to Bengali | Bengali to Spanish | Find a sworn translator for Bengali |
Bulgarian | Spanish to Bulgarian | Bulgarian to Spanish | Find a sworn translator for Bulgarian |
Catalan | Spanish to Catalan | Catalan to Spanish | Find a sworn translator for Catalan |
Chinese | Spanish to Chinese | Chinese to Spanish | Find a sworn translator for Chinese |
Croatian | Spanish to Croatian | Croatian to Spanish | Find a sworn translator for Croatian |
Czech | Spanish to Czech | Czech to Spanish | Find a sworn translator for Czech |
Danish | Spanish to Danish | Danish to Spanish | Find a sworn translator for Danish |
Dutch | Spanish to Dutch | Dutch to Spanish | Find a sworn translator for Dutch |
English | Spanish to English | English to Spanish | Find a sworn translator for English |
Estonian | Spanish to Estonian | Estonian to Spanish | Find a sworn translator for Estonian |
Finnish | Spanish to Finnish | Finnish to Spanish | Find a sworn translator for Finnish |
French | Spanish to French | French to Spanish | Find a sworn translator for French |
German | Spanish to German | German to Spanish | Find a sworn translator for German |
Greek | Spanish to Greek | Greek to Spanish | Find a sworn translator for Greek |
Hebrew | Spanish to Hebrew | Hebrew to Spanish | Find a sworn translator for Hebrew |
Hungarian | Spanish to Hungarian | Hungarian to Spanish | Find a sworn translator for Hungarian |
Icelandic | Spanish to Icelandic | Icelandic to Spanish | Find a sworn translator for Icelandic |
Italian | Spanish to Italian | Italian to Spanish | Find a sworn translator for Italian |
Japanese | Spanish to Japanese | Japanese to Spanish | Find a sworn translator for Japanese |
Korean | Spanish to Korean | Korean to Spanish | Find a sworn translator for Korean |
Latin | Spanish to Latin | Latin to Spanish | Find a sworn translator for Latin |
Latvian | Spanish to Latvian | Latvian to Spanish | Find a sworn translator for Latvian |
Lithuanian | Spanish to Lithuanian | Lithuanian to Spanish | Find a sworn translator for Lithuanian |
Macedonian | Spanish to Macedonian | Macedonian to Spanish | Find a sworn translator for Macedonian |
Norwegian | Spanish to Norwegian | Norwegian to Spanish | Find a sworn translator for Norwegian |
Persian (Farsi) | Spanish to Persian | Persian to Spanish | Find a sworn translator for Persian |
Polish | Spanish to Polish | Polish to Spanish | Find a sworn translator for Polish |
Portuguese | Spanish to Portuguese | Portuguese to Spanish | Find a sworn translator for Portuguese |
Romanian | Spanish to Romanian | Romanian to Spanish | Find a sworn translator for Romanian |
Russian | Spanish to Russian | Russian to Spanish | Find a sworn translator for Russian |
Serbian | Spanish to Serbian | Serbian to Spanish | Find a sworn translator for Serbian |
Slovak | Spanish to Slovak | Slovak to Spanish | Find a sworn translator for Slovak |
Slovenian | Spanish to Slovenian | Slovenian to Spanish | Find a sworn translator for Slovenian |
Swedish | Spanish to Swedish | Swedish to Spanish | Find a sworn translator for Swedish |
Turkish | Spanish to Turkish | Turkish to Spanish | Find a sworn translator for Turkish |
Ukrainian | Spanish to Ukrainian | Ukrainian to Spanish | Find a sworn translator for Ukrainian |
Urdu | Spanish to Urdu | Urdu to Spanish | Find a sworn translator for Urdu |
How to Hire a Sworn Translator for Your Language Needs #
At Jurado Traductor, we offer sworn translation services for Spanish to English and English to Spanish, but we also guide clients in finding accredited professionals for other language pairs through our Global Geodirectory of Sworn Translators. Simply choose the language combination you need, and you’ll find qualified translators ready to assist with your project. For tips on choosing the right translator, visit our page on How to Hire a Sworn Translator Online.
Conclusion #
Sworn translations are an essential part of legal, academic, and official processes across borders. The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs accredits sworn translators to translate only between Spanish and another language, ensuring the highest level of accuracy and legal recognition. Whether you need a sworn translation between Spanish and English, Spanish and French, or any of the other languages recognized by the Ministry, it’s important to choose a certified professional for your specific language pair.
For more details on how sworn translations work, explore our General Information About Sworn Translations, and remember that Jurado Traductor is here to assist with your Spanish-English and English-Spanish translation needs.
Images:
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Placeholder 1: Illustration of two legal documents with different languages (English, French, Chinese), with stamps for sworn translations.
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Alt Text: Legal documents in multiple languages with sworn translation stamps.
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Title: Sworn Translations in Different Languages
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Description: Official documents translated into various languages with a sworn translation stamp.
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