Translation of documents issued abroad

Any document that needs to be submitted to the URV (or any other authority in Catalonia) which was not issued in Spanish or Catalan must be submitted together with(*) the pertinent translation into one of these two languages.

(*)IMPORTANT: submitting the translation does not remove the obligation to submit the original document, i.e. the original must be submitted together with a translation of it.

The translation is essential to the processing of different kinds of application, including:

Academic qualifications
Academic certificates (you are reminded that these must include: the subjects/courses studied, together with the mark and number of hours/credits of each of them, plus the system of marks used)
Any other documents necessary to decide on the application if required by the URV bodies responsible (the reason will normally be ignorance of the language in which the document is written)

The translator/interpreter must be on the "Updated list of sworn translators" published by the Spanish ministry of foreign affairs and co-operation.
The translation must include the stamp of the translator/interpreter.

This translation is valid for any other administrative process you may need to go through with the Spanish public authorities, e.g. approval in Spain of your foreign qualification or degree. You are therefore recommended to submit a certified photocopy of the documents to the URV (you can certify the copies at the administrative unit where you are making the application), and keep the originals in case they are needed in the future.

Translations carried out by sworn translators who are not on this ministry of foreign affairs list are not valid.
In particular, translations carried out by sworn translators legally registered in other countries are not valid (unless they are also on the Spanish ministry of foreign affairs list).
Moreover, it should be pointed out that such translations are not valid even if the foreign translator's signature is legalised, whatever the means of legalisation (diplomatic, by Apostille, etc.).
Therefore, if you wish to have documents translated in the country in which they were issued, the Registry only recommends a translation carried out or validated by the Spanish representation in the said country (see section B).

Translation, or validation of translation, by the Spanish diplomatic representation in the country where the document was issued:
In general, embassies and consulates do not offer translation services (whatever the applicant's nationality).
However, they generally do certify the "correctness" of translations carried out through other channels; e.g. they sometimes have lists of recommended translators: the interested party should obtain the translation from one of these professionals, and then go to the embassy or consulate, which will stamp the translation to certify its correctness.
Translation, or validation of translation, by the diplomatic representation in Spain of the country where the document was issued:
This works in the same way as the above case: the translation will be valid if the embassy or consulate in Spain certifies this to be the case.

This translation is valid for any other process by the public authorities in Spain, e.g. approval in Spain of the foreign qualification or degree. We therefore recommend that you submit a certified photocopy of the documents to the URV (you can certify copies at the administrative unit where you make the application), and keep the originals in case you need them in the future.

Approach the embassy or consulate and enquire about obtaining certified translations.
Follow the steps the embassy or consulate tells you (translation by them, translation by a specific translator and subsequent certification, etc.).
Submit the documents, together with the pertinent application, at the URV administrative unit where you are applying.

As mentioned above, the most usual procedure is for the translation to be done by a translator outside the embassy or consulate and then validated by the embassy or consulate.

In any case, the diplomatic representation carrying out or certifying the translation must certify the correctness and accuracy of the said translation. Normally, this means attaching a certificate similar to the following to the document:

see example of a translation by an embassy/consulate

IMPORTANT:

Translations which simply include diplomatic legalisation of the translator's signature are not valid.
Translations where a photocopy of the translation is certified are not valid.

These translations must meet the following requirements:

They must include the stamp of the URV Language Service.
They must be accompanied by a certificate issued by the co-ordinator of the service, stating that the translations are correct.

This translation is only valid for processes at the URV which only affect the URV itself, e.g. admission to a course, if such admission is within the power of the URV.
IMPORTANT: therefore, no other public authority will consider this translation to be valid, nor will the URV if the process for which the translation is being submitted involves effects outside the URV.
Therefore, if you intend to make other applications in Spain (grants, approval of qualifications, etc.) and wish to take advantage of the translations, the Registry does not recommend this channel for translation.

Concept	Any document that needs to be submitted to the URV (or any other authority in Catalonia) which was not issued in Spanish or Catalan must be submitted together with() the pertinent translation into one of these two languages. ()IMPORTANT:** submitting the translation does not remove the obligation to submit the original document, i.e. the original must be submitted together with a translation of it.
Procedures affected	The translation is essential to the processing of different kinds of application, including: Equivalence of a qualification for admission to a doctoral programme Academic transcript for admission to a master's programme Partial convalidation of foreign courses or qualifications Approval of academic qualifications and/or degrees . IMPORTANT: please remember that all documents must be submitted in the original or as a certified copy; the Registry recommends that, once the documents have been legalised, you obtain copies of them certified by a notary or by the Spanish diplomatic representation in your country, and that you send these copies to the URV.
Documents to be translated	Academic qualifications Academic certificates (you are reminded that these must include: the subjects/courses studied, together with the mark and number of hours/credits of each of them, plus the system of marks used) Any other documents necessary to decide on the application if required by the URV bodies responsible (the reason will normally be ignorance of the language in which the document is written)
Valid types of translation	Thus, the different circumstances, and legalisation processes, which may apply are as follows: Translation carried out by a sworn translator/interpreter legally registered in Spain: procedure . Translation carried out through diplomatic channels: procedure . Translation carried out by the URV Language Service: procedure .

A. Translation carried out by a sworn translator/interpreter legally registered in Spain
Conditions	The translator/interpreter must be on the "Updated list of sworn translators" published by the Spanish ministry of foreign affairs and co-operation. The translation must include the stamp of the translator/interpreter.
Effects	This translation is valid for any other administrative process you may need to go through with the Spanish public authorities, e.g. approval in Spain of your foreign qualification or degree. You are therefore recommended to submit a certified photocopy of the documents to the URV (you can certify the copies at the administrative unit where you are making the application), and keep the originals in case they are needed in the future.
Procedure	Contact the person of your choice from the list and have them translate the documents. Hand in the documents, together with the pertinent application, at the administrative unit of the URV where you are making the application.
Remarks	IMPORTANT: Translations carried out by sworn translators who are not on this ministry of foreign affairs list are not valid. In particular, translations carried out by sworn translators legally registered in other countries are not valid (unless they are also on the Spanish ministry of foreign affairs list). Moreover, it should be pointed out that such translations are not valid even if the foreign translator's signature is legalised, whatever the means of legalisation (diplomatic, by Apostille, etc.). Therefore, if you wish to have documents translated in the country in which they were issued, the Registry only recommends a translation carried out or validated by the Spanish representation in the said country (see section B).

B. Translation carried out through diplomatic channels
Conditions	Diplomatic representations of the countries of origin or destination may translate or validate translations. Thus, there are two options for translating (or validating translations of) documents issued abroad: Translation, or validation of translation, by the Spanish diplomatic representation in the country where the document was issued: In general, embassies and consulates do not offer translation services (whatever the applicant's nationality). However, they generally do certify the "correctness" of translations carried out through other channels; e.g. they sometimes have lists of recommended translators: the interested party should obtain the translation from one of these professionals, and then go to the embassy or consulate, which will stamp the translation to certify its correctness. Translation, or validation of translation, by the diplomatic representation in Spain of the country where the document was issued: This works in the same way as the above case: the translation will be valid if the embassy or consulate in Spain certifies this to be the case.
Effects	This translation is valid for any other process by the public authorities in Spain, e.g. approval in Spain of the foreign qualification or degree. We therefore recommend that you submit a certified photocopy of the documents to the URV (you can certify copies at the administrative unit where you make the application), and keep the originals in case you need them in the future.
Procedure	Approach the embassy or consulate and enquire about obtaining certified translations. Follow the steps the embassy or consulate tells you (translation by them, translation by a specific translator and subsequent certification, etc.). Submit the documents, together with the pertinent application, at the URV administrative unit where you are applying.
Remarks	As mentioned above, the most usual procedure is for the translation to be done by a translator outside the embassy or consulate and then validated by the embassy or consulate. In any case, the diplomatic representation carrying out or certifying the translation must certify the correctness and accuracy of the said translation. Normally, this means attaching a certificate similar to the following to the document: see example of a translation by an embassy/consulate IMPORTANT: Translations which simply include diplomatic legalisation of the translator's signature are not valid. Translations where a photocopy of the translation is certified are not valid.

C. Translation carried out by the URV Language Service
Conditions	These translations must meet the following requirements: They must include the stamp of the URV Language Service. They must be accompanied by a certificate issued by the co-ordinator of the service, stating that the translations are correct.
Effects	This translation is only valid for processes at the URV which only affect the URV itself, e.g. admission to a course, if such admission is within the power of the URV. IMPORTANT: therefore, no other public authority will consider this translation to be valid, nor will the URV if the process for which the translation is being submitted involves effects outside the URV. Therefore, if you intend to make other applications in Spain (grants, approval of qualifications, etc.) and wish to take advantage of the translations, the Registry does not recommend this channel for translation.
Procedure	Please enquire at the URV Language Service and they will inform you of the steps to take, prices and so on.: contact details for the URV Language Service
Remarks	To see an example of certification by the co-ordinator of the URV language service: see example