Sworn translation in English

From €48 + VAT per document

Sworn translation from and into English is one of Ampersand’s specialities. We have a stable and highly motivated team of translators who are native speakers of the target language and are authorised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MAEC), in line with the requirements for sworn translation in Spain. Not only do our translators boast a linguistic and terminological mastery of the documents they are required to translate; they also have at least five years of proven experience in their particular area of specialisation, have completed a stringent internal training process, and ensure strict compliance with the quality and confidentiality processes that have given Ampersand such a solid reputation in Barcelona, with a portfolio of more than 2,000 clients and 40,000 projects.

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Translation is required for many different procedures

In Spain, thousands of interactions involving English-speaking countries take place every year. For higher education purposes alone, more than 13,000 students travel to the United Kingdom, more than 8,000 travel to the United States and more than 3,000 travel to Australia. Spain also welcomes large numbers of students, workers and people who have decided to retire here, including many Britons (even after Brexit). And these exchanges between countries are not limited only to people. There are also a great many exchanges of goods and services: trade between Spain and the United States, for example, accounts for more than 12 billion euros per year.

In order to carry out official procedures such as enrolling on a course, applying for a work or residence permit, receiving an inheritance abroad, doing business, etc. it is usually necessary to obtain particular documents in Spain and make sure they are valid for the destination country, and vice versa. To do this, the documents must be translated into the destination country’s official language and certified by a sworn translator.

Official translations that are fully valid in the destination country

Some countries do not always require a sworn translation of a document in order for the translation to be considered valid. However, generally speaking, the majority of official procedures involving institutions in a foreign country, where the official language is different to the language in which the document is written, will require the document in question to be translated and certified (signed and stamped) by a sworn translator.

To enable these translations to be carried out and ensure that documents written in Spanish will be valid in English-speaking countries (and vice versa), the MAEC maintains a list of approved translators who have passed the Ministry’s tests and are authorised to produce sworn translations.

The most common documents requiring sworn translation in English

The United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa are among the countries that may require documents written in any of Spain’s official languages (Spanish, Catalan, Basque and Galician) to be accompanied by an official translation into English. The same also applies in Spain: for any procedure requiring an official document issued by an English-speaking country, the paperwork in question must be accompanied by a sworn translation into Spanish. At Ampersand, we can translate these documents in both directions. The most common documents that require sworn translation in English are:

For general procedures:

  • Identity cards
  • Driving licences
  • Hague apostilles

For studying or working:

  • University degree certificates
  • Academic records and certificates
  • Certificates of approval and validation
  • Language proficiency certificates
  • Criminal record certificates
  • Work and residence permits

To receive pensions, grants or inheritances, collect debts, etc.:

  • Certificates of life
  • Disability cards and certificates
  • Birth certificates and municipal registration certificates
  • Medical reports
  • Bank statements and certificates
  • Insurance policies
  • Death certificates
  • Commercial contracts
  • Legal claims

To marry, divorce, or adopt:

  • Civil status certificates
  • Marriage certificates
  • Adoption certificates
  • Tax returns
  • Settlement agreements
  • Family record books

For international mergers, acquisitions, and other business activities:

  • Trade register entries
  • Commercial and trade contracts
  • Annual accounts
  • Legal claims
  • Legal correspondence
  • Articles of association
  • Deeds of incorporation
  • Minutes of shareholders’ meetings
  • Powers of attorney

Ampersand specialises in sworn translation from and into English

On its website, the MAEC maintains a public list of sworn translators for English, along with their contact details, and updates it every year. As the language is in such high demand, Barcelona alone is home to more than 400 active sworn translators who work in English. However, if you are not already familiar with a translator’s work, it can be difficult to know which one to choose. For this reason, using a specialist agency like Ampersand guarantees that your translations will be in the hands of the right professional, who will go beyond the minimum standards set by the Ministry. We only work with translators who have:

At least five years of experience in the sector related to the document that is to be translated, as this is the only way to guarantee that they have exhaustive knowledge of the terminology. Simply passing the test set by the MAEC’s Language Interpretation Office does not guarantee that a translator has this knowledge. This experience can be demonstrated by (for example) possessing qualifications or having worked in the field in question.

Extensive knowledge of the culture and legal procedures of the countries of origin and destination, which ensures that the translator understands the document in its entirety and the procedure for which it is required. This understanding will be reflected in the quality of the translation. This requirement may not always be met by freelance translators, or agencies that only act as an online intermediary between translators and clients without involving themselves any further in the translation process.

Incorporated Ampersand’s tried and tested methodology and structure into their working practices, in order to be able to adapt to larger projects, act as benchmark translators for companies, ensure diligent compliance with deadlines, utilise specific terminology, glossaries and translation memories, meet the strictest confidentiality requirements, and more.

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Services adapted to meet companies’ needs

At Ampersand we offer a range of services that are specifically tailored for companies that need sworn translations on a recurrent basis, such as companies that do business abroad (e.g. pharmaceutical companies, banks, airlines, tech firms), employ staff in other countries, or whose activities necessitate frequent international travel. We take care of their translations and adapt our activities in line with their volumes of work, business schedule, internal processes (working with their own legal departments where necessary), etc. We cater to companies of all sizes: if a firm frequently requires sworn translations, we have a solution to suit each case.

The best conditions for legal teams that frequently require translations

The quality of our translations, allied to our adaptability, competitive prices and fluid communication with our clients have enabled us to build close relationships with legal firms, tax consultancies and corporate legal departments and advisers, both within Spain and in English-speaking countries. They entrust us with a wide variety of common documents, including contracts, patents, legal rulings, tax declarations, business plans, feasibility studies, and more. Feel free to ask us for more information without obligation.

What are the characteristics of Ampersand’s sworn translations in English?

Translated to the very highest quality

Our working methods and translator selection processes are focused on excellence, which enables us to offer the highest quality guarantees. We will not accept any output that is not linguistically and technically correct, legally compliant, culturally appropriate and communicates its message effectively.

Delivered within the required time frame

We are aware that unforeseen circumstances may sometimes arise and a translation is required urgently. That is why we are our clients’ best allies in helping them to meet their deadlines, always provided we are given enough notice to guarantee the quality standards that our 25 years of experience have made our calling-card.

High quality, with a price that reflects our work

We can confidently say that we offer the very best price for sworn translations in English that are produced to the quality standards we offer. In addition, we offer discounts for volume and frequency that are of particular interest to companies. With Ampersand, sworn translation from English into Spanish costs from €48 per document, while the equivalent translation from Spanish into English costs from €54.

The most outstanding customer support services

Our clients have a single point of contact, to ensure that communication is fluid and personalised. Our clients can also rest assured knowing that their translation is backed by our customer support services, in the event that any queries or issues arise after delivery.

Sworn translation: FAQ

The process of obtaining a sworn translation from Ampersand

Do you need a sworn translation in English? Contact us and we’ll get back to you promptly.

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