Note
Sworn translators for a property purchase in Spain
Quick answer
Documents from abroad that you give to Spanish offices often need an apostille and a translation by a sworn translator. The ministry publishes the list of titled translators and does not broker the work. Their translations are official and courts and public bodies accept them. Ask the receiving office what it needs.
Applies toBuyers with foreign documents, such as certificates, powers of attorney or company papers.
On this page: 8 sections
§ 1When you need one
A property purchase in Spain is conducted in Spanish, and public bodies work in Spanish or in the co-official language of the region. Documents issued abroad, such as birth and marriage certificates, powers of attorney, company papers or a foreign will, may need to be translated before they can be used. The roles of all the professionals are in an overview of the professionals in a purchase.
§ 2What a sworn translation is
The ministry’s page says that translations made by titled sworn translators and interpreters are official and can be submitted to courts and administrative bodies. The translator certifies the accuracy of the work with a signature and seal. The ministry publishes a list of all titled translators with the languages for which each is authorised, and a search tool, and it does not act as an intermediary in the commissions.
§ 3How to find one
Use the official list to choose a translator for the language pair you need. Contact two or three, send the document, and ask for a quote and a delivery date. The price usually depends on the length and the language. Ask whether the translation will be delivered on paper, since the receiving office may require the original with signature and seal.
§ 4The apostille
A foreign public document usually needs to be legalised or apostilled in the country that issued it before it is used in Spain. The apostille is a certificate under an international convention which confirms the document’s origin. The foreigners’ office, for example, requires foreign public documents to be legalised or apostilled and translated by a sworn translator when they are attached to a NIE request. The same logic applies to other offices, but each decides, so ask. The NIE rules are covered in their own chapter.
§ 5Timing and planning
Apostilles and sworn translations take time, and they can hold up a purchase if they are left until the last week. Ask your lawyer at the start for a list of documents you will need to produce. Order the apostilles in your home country first and the translations afterwards, since the translator will translate the apostille too.
§ 6Powers of attorney and company documents
If you sign a power of attorney abroad, the notary or consulate where you sign will advise on the form. A Spanish notary checks the attorney’s authority before accepting it. A document in a foreign language that you wish to use in Spain may need translation, and the translation should be done by a sworn translator.
§ 7Cost control
Translate only what the receiving office requires. Ask whether the office accepts a translation of an extract and not of the whole document. And keep the translations with your deed, since you may need them again for the registry or the tax office.
§ 8More on this topic
A closer look at an independent lawyer explains what a lawyer who acts only for you does and a closer look at how to choose a lawyer explains how to find and compare lawyers.
A closer look at the notary’s role explains what the notary does and does not do and a closer look at the gestor explains what a gestor does and how to use one.
A closer look at estate agents explains what agents do and who they work for and a closer look at a survey explains why a survey matters and what it covers.
FAQRelated questions
Does every document need a sworn translation?
No. It depends on the office that receives it. A foreign public document usually needs an apostille and a sworn translation for official use. Ask your lawyer, the notary or the registry what they require before you pay.
Where do I find a sworn translator?
Spain’s foreign ministry keeps a public directory searchable by language. Everyone in it holds the title, though none is rated. Write to several, weigh price against speed, and keep the agreed date on record.
Can a friend translate it?
A friend’s translation is not official and public bodies are unlikely to accept it. A translation made by a titled sworn translator carries official status and can be submitted to courts and administrative bodies.
Sources
- Oficina de Extranjería (ONE): Application for NIE for international individuals (official source, opens in a new window), Where to apply, form EX-15, fee, documents, resolution timeLast checked 17 October 2026
- Consejo General del Notariado: Houses and real estate properties (official source, opens in a new window), Steps, documents and the notary's roleLast checked 17 October 2026
- Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores: Sworn translators and interpreters (official source, opens in a new window), The official list and the status of sworn translationsLast checked 17 October 2026
Legal note. How the process works in general. It is not legal advice, and it never replaces an independent Spanish lawyer acting for you.