Sworn translation of criminal record certificates for Spain’s extraordinary regularisation procedure
Spain’s extraordinary regularisation procedure opened in 2026 has increased the need to submit criminal record certificates issued outside Spain. In many applications, the applicant must prove that they have no criminal record and may need to provide a certificate from their country of origin or from countries where they lived before entering Spain.
When the criminal record certificate is written in a language other than Spanish, it will usually need to be submitted with a sworn translation into Spanish. The translation must be produced by an authorised sworn translator and must faithfully reproduce the contents of the original document, including stamps, signatures, dates, verification codes and administrative notes.
At LinguaVox we can help with the sworn translation of criminal record certificates for immigration and regularisation procedures in Spain. We do not handle immigration applications and we do not replace advice from an immigration lawyer or specialist adviser, but we can translate the certificate so that it can be submitted to Spanish authorities when required.
>>> If you need a sworn translation of your criminal record certificate for Spain’s extraordinary regularisation procedure, send us a scanned copy and we will confirm the price, deadline and delivery format: request a free quote.
Criminal record certificates from Morocco, Algeria, Brazil, the Philippines, Pakistan and other countries
The translation required will depend on the country that issued the certificate and on the language of the document. For example, a person from Morocco or Algeria may need a sworn translation from French into Spanish of their criminal record certificate, although some documents may also need to be translated from Arabic. Certificates from Senegal, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire and other francophone countries are also frequently translated from French into Spanish.
For Brazil, a sworn translation from Portuguese into Spanish is often required. For certificates issued in the Philippines, Pakistan, India, Nigeria, Ghana or other countries where the document is issued in English, a sworn translation from English into Spanish may be needed.
Before ordering the translation, it is advisable to check whether the document must be apostilled or legalised. Apostille/legalisation and sworn translation are separate requirements: the first confirms the formal authenticity of the document, while the sworn translation allows its contents to be officially submitted in Spanish. If you are unsure, you can send us the certificate and we will tell you which parts need to be translated and which details should be checked before starting the job.
When is the sworn translation of a criminal records check needed?
A criminal record certificate is an official document that accredits whether or not a person has a criminal record. It is important both at national and international level, as it is often required for procedures such as accessing public employment, obtaining a residence permit if you are a foreigner, or for working with minors (in this case it is usually a specific certificate on sexual offences).
The document details the offences for which a person has been convicted through a final judgement or, on the contrary, notes that no such record exists. This information, although extremely private, is crucial in determining whether an individual is suitable for certain jobs or access to a country.
In Spain, the criminal record certificate is requested through the Ministry of Justice, and can be requested online. You must indicate your ID number and submit form 790. Once issued, the document has a validity of three months.
Having a criminal record does not mean that you will automatically be excluded from a job or that you will be refused a visa. Government authorities usually assess applications and certificates on an individual basis, paying attention to issues such as the nature of the offence committed, the time that has passed since the conviction and the rehabilitation of the person.
When the criminal record certificate has to be presented in a foreign country, a sworn translation of the certificate is required. A sworn translation is an official translation carried out by a certified translator who guarantees the accuracy of the translated document in relation to the original document.
The official translation of a criminal record check certificate is necessary when this document has to be presented abroad and when the official language of the place of issue and the official language of the place of presentation are not the same.
A sworn translation of a criminal record certificate may be required to obtain a visa, to be able to study abroad, or even to access certain jobs.
Official translators must ensure that the translated document is faithful to the original. They must, therefore, have both linguistic and technical expertise, as well as accreditation as a sworn interpreter or sworn translator registered with the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The translation should be ordered within the validity time frame of the original document, as some documents may “expire” after a certain time period.
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How much does a sworn translation of a criminal record certificate cost?
Usually translators set a fixed fee per word, although in some cases this fixed fee is applied directly to each page, on the assumption that most of the pages of the document have more or less the same number of words.
At LinguaVox we work with sworn translator in Spain. Don’t hesitate to contact us for an exact quote.
However, a sworn translator in Madrid may charge between 55 and 65 euros + VAT for a sworn translation from English of a criminal record certificate.
>>> Request our rates for sworn translations of criminal record certificates.