French-Spanish sworn translation: your questions answered (FAQ)

Are you dealing with paperwork between France, Spain or Latin America? Here are the answers to the questions I am asked most often about French-Spanish sworn translation. For a specific situation, the simplest option is to contact me: I reply within 24 hours.

Understanding sworn translation

What is a sworn translation? Certified, sworn, official: is it the same thing?

A sworn translation is a translation produced by an expert translator registered on the list of a French court of appeal (cour d’appel), who certifies it as a true translation of the original with their signature and seal. In France, the terms “certified translation”, “sworn translation”, “official translation” and “legalised translation” refer in practice to the same thing.

I am a French-Spanish sworn translator at the Rennes Court of Appeal: each of my translations bears my seal, my signature, a certification statement and a registration number.

When do I need a sworn translation rather than a standard translation?

Whenever a document in a foreign language has to be submitted to a government office, a town hall, a prefecture, a court, a notary or a university, a sworn translation is usually required. A “standard” translation, however good, has no official value and will be rejected.

To understand a document, prepare an internal file or translate a website, a professional non-certified translation is enough. If in doubt, read the list of required documents again: the words “translation by a sworn translator” or “expert at a court of appeal” appear there explicitly.

How can I check that a translator is really sworn?

Each French court of appeal publishes the list of its court experts, including translators. These lists can be consulted on the website of the Cour de cassation (courdecassation.fr). There you can check the translator’s name, the language for which they are registered and their court of appeal. I am on the list of the Rennes Court of Appeal for Spanish.

Be wary of “certified translation” offers that state neither the translator’s name nor their court of appeal.

Can a sworn translator at the Rennes Court of Appeal translate for a procedure in Paris, Lyon or elsewhere in France?

Yes. A sworn translation has the same value throughout France, whichever court of appeal the translator belongs to. I work for clients in Brest and Finistère, throughout Brittany (Quimper, Morlaix, Lorient, Vannes, Rennes…), but also throughout France and abroad: you can send me your documents by email, and the translation is sent to you by tracked letter.

What is the difference between an apostille and a sworn translation?

They are two separate formalities that often complement each other. An apostille certifies the authenticity of the signature and seal on a public document (for example a Spanish birth certificate) so that it is recognised in another country that has signed the 1961 Hague Convention. A sworn translation, on the other hand, makes the content of the document understandable and officially valid in another language.

A document may therefore need to be apostilled and then translated: the apostille is then translated along with the rest of the document. Since 1 May 2025, apostilles in France have been issued by French notaries (Notaires de France) rather than by the courts of appeal. Find out more: Apostille in France: A Reform That Changes Your Administrative Procedures.

Does the translation itself need to be apostilled or legalised?

For a procedure in France, no: a translation by an expert at a court of appeal is accepted as it is. For a procedure abroad, some countries or bodies also require the translator’s signature to be authenticated, by an apostille or legalisation.

Check with the receiving body before starting the process: I can help you identify the right route.

Validity in France and abroad

Is a French sworn translation valid in Spain and Latin America?

It depends on the country and the receiving body. In Spain, official translations are in principle produced by sworn translator-interpreters (traductores-intérpretes jurados) appointed by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A translation by a sworn translator in France is generally accepted. Sometimes the translator’s signature will need to be apostilled.

Practices also vary between Latin American countries and consulates. The best approach: ask the receiving body whether it accepts an apostilled French sworn translation.

Does a sworn translation have an expiry date?

No, the translation itself does not expire. However, the authorities may require a recent source document: this is often the case for civil status records (less than 3 or 6 months old for a marriage, for example) or criminal record certificates. If your certificate is too old, you will need to request a new one and then have it translated. So check the required date before ordering the translation.

Can I use a translation by a Spanish sworn translator in France?

As a rule, French authorities require a translation by an expert translator registered at a French court of appeal. A Spanish sworn translation is therefore likely to be rejected, unless the body expressly accepts it. It is best to check before incurring any costs.

Procedures and documents

Which documents must be translated by a sworn translator?

The most common are:

• civil status records: birth, marriage and death certificates, family record books;
• certificates of single status, certificates of custom (certificat de coutume) or certificates of capacity to marry;
• criminal record certificates;
• diplomas, transcripts and certificates of study;
• court judgments: divorce, adoption, child custody;
• notarial deeds: estates, property sales, powers of attorney;
• company documents: articles of association, Kbis extracts or extracts from the Spanish Registro Mercantil;
• driving licences and various administrative documents.

I translate these documents from Spanish into French and from French into Spanish.

Do I need to translate a Spanish or Latin American diploma for a French university?

It depends on the body. For a certificate of comparability (attestation de comparabilité) issued by the ENIC-NARIC France centre (France Éducation international), documents written in Spanish are exempt from translation. However, many universities, schools, employers and professional bodies (for regulated professions) require a sworn translation of the diploma and transcripts.

Check the application file or contact the institution’s admissions office. Find out more: Diploma in Spanish: what should I do?

Which documents need translating to get married in France to a Spanish or Latin American national?

The town hall will give you the exact list of documents. For the future Spanish or Latin American spouse, they usually include a recent birth certificate, a certificate of custom or of capacity to marry, a certificate of single status and, where applicable, the divorce judgment or the death certificate of the previous spouse. All documents written in Spanish must be translated by a sworn translator.

Find out more: Getting Married in France to a Spanish or Latin American National.

Which documents need translating for a residence permit or French naturalisation?

The prefecture usually asks for civil status records (birth, marriage) and, for naturalisation, a criminal record certificate from the country of origin, as well as any supporting document written in a foreign language. Each one must be accompanied by its sworn translation. Plan ahead: an untranslated or poorly translated document can delay your application by several weeks.

Does a Spanish multilingual birth certificate make a translation unnecessary?

Often, yes. France and Spain apply the convention of the International Commission on Civil Status (ICCS/CIEC) on multilingual extracts: a certificado plurilingüe issued by the Spanish Registro Civil is in principle accepted in France without translation. Within the European Union, multilingual standard forms (Regulation (EU) 2016/1191) can also accompany certain public documents to avoid the need for a translation.

Some authorities nevertheless require a translated full copy: check before ordering, as it could save you a translation.

Practical matters

Do I need to provide the original document?

Not to get started: a clear, legible scan or photo is enough to prepare the quote and carry out the translation. I provide the translation together with a copy of the source document bearing my seal. If you collect the translation in Brest, please bring the originals.

When you submit your application, you will present the original, the copy bearing my seal and the translation. Some countries or bodies require the translation to be made from the original: I will let you know if this is the case.

How do I send you my documents for a sworn translation quote?

Everything can be done remotely, even if you don’t live in Brest. Send me your documents via the contact form, by email or by WhatsApp. I send you a free quote within 24 hours, then the translation by tracked letter anywhere in France (flat fee of €10).

How are my sworn translations delivered, in Brest or remotely?

You can collect your translations in Brest (please bring the originals) or receive them by tracked letter anywhere in France (flat fee of €10). You receive the translation on paper, signed and bearing my original seal, together with the copy of the source document bearing my seal. This is the format required by most authorities.

How long does it take to get a French-Spanish sworn translation?

For a birth certificate, a criminal record certificate or another short document, allow 24 hours at most depending on my availability, plus delivery by tracked letter. For longer documents (judgments, notarial deeds, complete files), the turnaround time is stated in the quote. An urgent service is available, at a surcharge.

How much does a sworn translation cost, for example for a birth certificate?

My rate is €35 per translated page. The translation of a one-page birth certificate therefore costs €35, plus €10 for delivery by tracked letter if you do not collect it in Brest. Pages with little text are charged at a reduced rate; very short deadlines incur a surcharge. The quote is free and reaches you within 24 hours.

How can I pay? Is a deposit required?

You can pay by bank transfer, Wero transfer, cheque or in cash within the legal limit. For quotes over €100, a 50% deposit is requested when the translation starts.

Are my documents handled confidentially?

Yes. Your documents are used solely to prepare the quote and carry out the translation. They are not passed on to any third party and are stored securely, in accordance with the GDPR and my privacy policy. They are kept for 3 years from our last exchange.

Any other questions?

Every case is different. Send me your documents: I will reply within 24 hours with a detailed quote and, if needed, advice on the steps to follow.