Sworn Translation of Birth Certificate English-Spanish in Gran Canaria

When we emigrate to a foreign country we are not only confronted with the nostalgia of leaving our country of origin, our friends and customs behind, but also with the culture, life and bureaucracy of the country we have chosen to reside in.

There are some countries, such as those belonging to the EU that simplify the procedures we have to carry out in order to reside legally in the country, but others, such as the UK, have somewhat more complex procedures that lead to some headaches.

However, no matter whether the country we have chosen is an EU country such as Spain or Germany or a non-EU country such as the UK, in either of them you will more than once come across the figure of a sworn translation.

Let’s assume that you are between the UK and Spain, then you will probably need a sworn translation of your documents from Spanish and English or vice versa for many procedures.

What is a sworn English-Spanish translation?

When we live in a foreign country and we want to carry out a procedure and our documents are not written in the national language, we need a sworn translation. A sworn translation is considered to be an official translation carried out by a recognised professional translator in accordance with the requirements determined by each authority.

In the case of the United Kingdom and Spain, sworn translations must be signed and stamped by the sworn translator, must contain the date on which the translation was stamped, a copy of the original document and a certification by the translator that he/she has made a faithful and complete translation of the original document.

Let’s take an example:

Claire lives in Gran Canaria, Spain with her partner. She wants to get married in the Canary Islands and needs to present her birth certificate. She is from London, UK. As the document is in English, she needs to translate it into Spanish in order to present it together with other documents at the civil registry for her wedding. Claire would also like to register her marriage in England and be recorded as married.
To do this, she would also need to have a sworn translation of the marriage certificate issued by the civil registry in Spain.
Conclusion: In order to get married, Claire will need (among others) the sworn translation from English to Spanish of her birth certificate. And, in order to register her Spanish marriage in England, she will need the sworn translation of her Spanish marriage certificate.

Sworn Translation of Birth Certificate English-Spanish in Gran Canaria

Surely, we have all held our own birth certificate in our hands at some point or have seen one up close.

A birth certificate is a legal document certifying the birth of a person. It is issued by the governmental entity responsible for civil registers, generally the Civil Registry or a similar office, in the country where the birth took place. This certificate is an official document and is required in different legal and administrative situations, such as applying for a passport, obtaining an official ID, enrolling in government programs, applying for social security, getting married, among others.

Birth certificates generally contain the following information:

1. Full name of the person in question.
2. Date of birth.
3. Place of birth (city, state or province, country).
4. Full names of the parents.
5. Names of witnesses present during the registration of the birth (in some cases).

English-Spanish sworn translation for UK or Spain

It is important to keep in mind that the requirements for sworn translations may vary depending on the country where the translation is to be delivered.

In this blog, we will clarify the requirements for the delivery of sworn English-Spanish translations in the United Kingdom and Spain.

1. United Kingdom: in Anglo-Saxon countries, unlike other countries such as Spain or Germany, this type of translation is called certified translation. It must be done by a translator appointed by one of the institutions authorized by the UK government, such as the Chartered Institute of Linguists, the ITI and ATA. The translations must comply with certain requirements demanded by the public administrations such as: certification of the translator, signature and stamp of the translator, copy of the original, among others.
2. On the other hand, in Spain, we do recognize the figure of the sworn translator and only those translators authorized by the MAEC can make sworn translations to be valid in Spain. As for the requirements for them to be valid, they follow the same guidelines as certified translations for the UK.

Where can I translate my birth certificate?

In case you need a certified translation of your birth certificate from Spanish to English or vice versa, I will be happy to help you.

I am a sworn translator of German and Spanish appointed by the regional court of Hannover (Germany) and I am a member of the Chartered Institute of Linguists in the United Kingdom, so I can provide certified Spanish-English translations.

How do I order a certified translation/sworn translation of my birth certificate?

If you need a sworn translation or certified translation of your birth certificate or other any document, please follow the following steps:

1. Send an email to info@paulajorge-traducciones.com with a scanned version of the document in .PDF format. If it is not possible to scan the document, you can send a photo as long as all the information on the document is clearly legible.
2. I will prepare a quote as soon as possible.
3. If you wish to proceed with the translation, we will issue an invoice to begin working on it.
4. You will receive the translation by postal mail to the provided address. You can also specify an address to which you want the certificate to be sent directly within Germany.

How long does the translation take?

As a general rule, such translations are usually ready within 1-3 working days at the latest. They are usually 1-3 page documents and therefore do not require that much time. However, it is always necessary for the translator to see the document before confirming the deadline, as the document may contain additional information or the translator may have a heavier workload at that time.

Where do I request a birth certificate?

The procedure for obtaining the birth certificate varies depending on the country. Therefore, it is advisable to consult the corresponding governmental entity in the country where the birth certificate is needed to obtain precise information on how to request it and what specific data it will include.

Generally, the request for a birth certificate is made at the relevant civil registry office, and certain documents must be provided, and a fee paid to obtain it. Some countries also offer the option to request birth certificates online or through other electronic methods, which can expedite the process.

For example, in the case of Spain, you can request the birth certificate here. In England and Wales, birth certificates are issued by the General Register Office. They usually have always the same characteristics in which information such as personal data and registration district vary (North Yorkshire, East Hertfordshire, Bristol, East Hampshire (among others).

Here you have more information about on how to get a birth or marriage certificate in the UK.

Do I need to request an Apostille?

In order for your document issued in England or Spain to be valid in the other country you will need to apply for the apostille of your document.

If your birth certificate was issued in England, you will need to obtain the apostille before the sworn translation is done.

And if your birth certificate was issued in Spain, you will need to apply for the apostille in Spain before to request the sworn translation of the document.

Sworn Translation of Birth Certificate English-Spanish in Gran Canaria

Easy and simple online service

Although I am based between Tenerife and Gran Canaria, my sworn translation services are fully online. You do not need to make an appointment. The whole procedure is carried out comfortably online and you will receive the translations by post to the address you indicate or directly by e-mail if you have requested the digital version of the sworn translation.

So, do not worry if you are in another city. I can do your sworn translation regardless of your residence, no matter if you are in Tenerife, Gran Canaria, La Palma, Fuerteventura or Lanzarote or if you are in London, Manchester, Liverpool or Bristol, I can help you anyway.