Quick answer
Spain has a defined translator: the traductor/a jurado/a appointed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who signs and seals each translation and is listed in the Ministry's public search tool. One Florida apostille is all the U.S. side needs — $220, 5–7 business days.
- Issued by
- The translator, signing an affidavit of accuracy before a Florida notary who is not the translator.
- Florida state fee
- $10 — included in $220
- Route
- Apostille only — Hague member since 1978
- Online notarization
- Available as an add-on
- Consulate serving Florida
- Consulate General of Spain in Miami
- Translation
- Our general rule is a translation certified by the translator, notarized by a different notary and apostilled in Florida.
How a Florida certified translation is used in Spain
Spain has a defined translator: the traductor/a jurado/a appointed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who signs and seals each translation and is listed in the Ministry's public search tool. Spanish courts and registries usually expect that sworn translation, so a Florida translation, even certified, notarized and apostilled, may not replace it. For nationality files, the Ministry of Justice also accepts translations done or checked at Spanish consulates abroad. Translate after the apostille, and ask the translator to include the apostille page.
Getting a certified translation Florida will apostille
The complete translation bound to the translator's affidavit (name, languages, document translated, statement of accuracy and competence), sworn before a different Florida notary with a complete jurat. As a rule, the translation is certified, notarized and apostilled in Florida so it carries its own apostille, while the original document gets its own apostille first.
Ask the receiving authority whether it accepts a translation made in the U.S.; some countries may also or instead require their own sworn or official translator (for example, a traductor jurado in Spain, a sworn translator in Germany or a perito traductor in Mexico). The translator can sign through our online notarization add-on: $40 for the first document ($10 notarization fee + $30 technology platform fee) and $20 for each additional document. Translation and notarization fees are not included in our $220, and we don't translate.
State fee for this document: $10 — included in our price. Full details on the certified translation apostille page.
Who receives it in Spain — and translation
The main receivers are the Registro Civil (in Spain, or the Registro Civil Central) for marriages, births and deaths; Spanish notarios for property, powers and inheritances; the Ministry of Justice for nationality files; universities and the education ministry for degree recognition; and Spanish consulates in the U.S. for visas and civil registrations. The Consulate General of Spain in Miami serves Florida.
Our general rule is a translation certified by the translator, notarized by a different notary and apostilled in Florida. Spain may instead require a traducción jurada by a sworn translator appointed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which publishes a searchable list. For nationality files, the Ministry of Justice also accepts translations done or checked at Spanish consulates abroad. Translate after the apostille and include the apostille page.
Spain has no single expiry for apostilled documents; each registry, notario and consulate sets its own, and many treat civil-status certificates and criminal records issued several months earlier as stale. Order fresh certified copies close to your filing date and ask the receiving office how recent they must be.
Consular office serving Florida: Consulate General of Spain in Miami.
Four steps, one week
Order online
Pick the document and destination country on the order form and pay by card. After we review your documents, FedEx emails you a prepaid label.
Send it — or sign online
Drop the envelope at any FedEx location. Not signed yet? Add online notarization and there is nothing to ship.
We file in person
We review it, then walk it to the Florida Department of State in Tallahassee for the apostille.
Returned to you
Back in 5–7 business days — anywhere in the U.S., or abroad for a flat $100.
Why certified translations get rejected
- Translator notarized their own affidavit
- Certificate of accuracy with no notarization
- Translation stapled to the certified original before it was apostilled
- Destination required its own sworn translator
What it costs for Spain
$220 per document, $380 for two and $160 each for three or more — the state fee, request form, in-person filing in Tallahassee and FedEx shipping inside the U.S. are included. Shipping the finished apostille to Spain is a flat $100 per order.
Not included: whatever the issuing office charges for the certified copy or certificate, and notarization (online notarization is $40 for the first document — $10 notarization fee + $30 technology platform fee — and $20 for each additional one).
