WHAT IS A SWORN TRANSLATION?

WHAT IS A SWORN TRANSLATION?

A sworn translation (ST) is an official translation which can be presented before a judge, as well other official bodies in most countries around the world.

This type of translation certifies that the translation is faithful to the original document. It is certified with the signature and stamp of the professional who has made the translation and thus it is the translator who certifies or "swears" that the translation agrees with the original text.

In other words, the sworn translator acts as a notary public.

Who can make a sworn translation?

To perform a sworn translation, the translator must be in possession of the relevant accreditation granted by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE).

Thus, a sworn translation will only be valid if it is made by a professional who is a qualified sworn translator and interpreter.

In order to obtain the qualification, the translators must meet a series of requirements: they must be in possession of university degree, have no criminal record, have passed the MAE exam, or have met a series of academic requirements as part of the now former undergraduate degree programs in translation.

When might you be asked for a sworn translation?

According to Spanish law, all documents that are not written in Spanish, and which require legal recognition in Spain, must be translated by a sworn translator.

Sworn translations can be requested in trials, when presenting documents at the civil registry, for public tenders, among other things.

What type of documents must be sworn translated?

As mentioned above, the main characteristic of a sworn translation is that a sworn translator certifies that the translation is faithful to the original. Therefore, any text or document can be translated by a sworn translator.

Most of the sworn translations carried out in Spain are of legal documents. However, the question is not what type of document but what is the purpose of a sworn translation.

For example, if a foreigner wants to enrol in a University in Spain or wants to look for work in our region, they will have to translate their academic record and/or their educational certificates. Many entities, universities and private companies require that they be translated in a sworn manner.

What’s more, some foreign companies may also require a criminal record certificate to be presented as a sworn translation, for example.

Thus, you may be asked for sworn translations of any type of document: records, licences, academic diplomas, medical certificates, birth, marriage, death, registration certificates, among others.
Differences between a sworn translation and a legal translation
To end this post, we’ll mention the confusion that exists between these two terms.

Legal translation consists of translating legal documents, whether public or private. These documents are usually written by legal professionals and often contain a large number of legal terms. In some cases, the language must be adapted to that of the country where the translation will be destined. For example, British law is not the same as Catalan law.

Thus, the first question to ask regarding the translation of a legal document is which country it is intended for and does it have to be adapted to the law or legislation of that country, irrespective of the language, since British law is not the same as American law, for example.
Some documents subject to legal translation might be: sales contracts, powers of attorney, wills, deeds and company statutes.

Sworn translation, on the other hand, is not based so much on the style of the translation itself, but rather its function as a literal copy, transfer or translation from one language to another. It is as if a photocopy of the original document had been made, since you even have to record the presence of stamps, images and signatures on the translated document.

Another difference is that the sworn translator, through the certification that he/she attaches to each translation, attests that the content of the translated document is faithful to the content of the original document.

We hope that this article has been some help and has clarified any doubts you may have had.

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