The dangers of forging or knowingly using a Spanish sworn translation not made by a legit, official Spanish sworn translator: 2 criminal offenses

Ocassionally, you may find individuals (who are not legit, official Spanish sworn translators) offering “sworn translations” at suspiciously low prices or with unrealistic turnaround times. However, what many people don’t realise is that a sworn translation is only legally valid in Spain if it has been carried out by a translator-interpreter officially appointed by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation (MAEC) and registered with the Ministry.

Hiring someone who is not accredited by the MAEC can lead to serious legal and administrative consequences. Before taking that risk, it’s important to understand exactly what might happen.

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Main risks of not using a legit Spanish sworn translator

1. A forged sworn translation has no legal validity in Spain.
   Spanish authorities (ministries, courts, universities, civil registries, consulates, etc.) only accept sworn translations signed and stamped by an officially appointed sworn translator.
   Any translation issued by an unauthorised person will be rejected, which means you’ll have to repeat the process — losing both time and money.
2. It involves criminal liability.
   Anyone who offers or performs “sworn translations” without having been appointed by the MAEC is committing professional misconduct (‘intrusismo profesional’) as defined under Section 403 of the Spanish Criminal Code (Código Penal).
   If a fake seal or signature is used, this may also amount to forgery of documents (‘falsedad documental‘) under Sections 390 et seq. of the Criminal Code.
3. The client may also be reported.
   The law does not only hold the unauthorised person responsible, but also anyone who knowingly submits or uses a fake sworn translation. In such cases, both parties may be reported to the authorities.
4. You risk losing important opportunities.
   An invalid translation can derail key procedures such as citizenship applications, academic recognition, business registrations, imports and customs procedures, or legal and notarial acts.
   In some cases, it could even lead to the permanent rejection of your application.
5. Reputational damage and loss of credibility.
   Submitting false or invalid documents to a public institution can have serious reputational consequences, particularly in legal, academic, or immigration contexts.

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How to become a legit Sworn Spanish translator

Becoming an official Spanish sworn translator accredited by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not something that can be achieved easily or quickly.

This title can only be obtained through a rigorous official examination organised by the MAEC, which ensures that the translator has the linguistic, legal and technical expertise required to perform this public function with accuracy and reliability. This title was also formerly granted after taking 4 years of degree studies in Translation (including courses on ‘Legal and Financial-Economic Translation’.

The examination tests the candidate’s ability to understand and translate complex legal, administrative and technical texts between Spanish and the foreign language.
Only those who successfully pass all parts of the exam are formally appointed as sworn translators-interpreters, receiving a lifelong title that allows them to certify translations with full legal validity in Spain.

In other words, a sworn translation is a professional act with legal effects — it requires solid linguistic and legal training, and may only be performed by qualified professionals.

What the law says

Section 6 of Spanish Royal Decree 724/2020 of 4 August regulates the legal framework of sworn translators and interpreters. It states that only Sworn Spanish translators appointed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs may produce and sign sworn translations in Spain.

This appointment is lifelong and gives the translator the legal authority to certify the accuracy and completeness of translations through their official seal and signature.

Therefore, any translation presented as “sworn” that has not been carried out by an officially appointed Spanish/English sworn translator accredited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has no legal validity and constitutes a serious offence.

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Remember: Applicable criminal offences

Under the Spanish Criminal Code, two main offences may apply in cases of false or unauthorised sworn translations:

• Professional misconduct (‘intrusismo profesional’) – Section 403 of the Spanish Criminal Code:
  Applies to anyone who performs acts belonging to a regulated profession without holding the necessary official qualification.
  Example: a person offering “sworn translations” without being appointed by the MAEC.
• Forgery of documents (‘falsedad documental’) – Section 390 et seq. of Spanish the Criminal Code:
  Applies to anyone who falsifies or alters an official document, such as a translation with a fake seal or signature, or uses a falsified translation knowingly.

Both offences can carry fines or even prison sentences, depending on the seriousness of the case.

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Immediate reporting

Any instance of forged sworn translations or unauthorised practice of the profession will be reported immediately to the competent authorities.
Both the unauthorised person offering or performing the translation and the person who knowingly uses the false translation may be subject to a report.

These measures are designed to protect legal certainty and uphold the integrity of official documentation in Spain.

Please also bear in mind that the APTIJ (Spanish Association of Sworn Translators and Court Interpreters) stands for Spanish sworn translators, advocating for their rights at these instances.

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How to verify an authentic sworn translation

Digitally signed sworn translations can be verified as genuinely signed using Spain’s official government platform valide.redsara.es.
This tool confirms that the translation has been electronically signed by an officially appointed sworn translator.

Important note: the valide.redsara.es platform may not always be supported by Google Chrome.
If you encounter difficulties, we recommend using Mozilla Firefox, which tends to offer better compatibility with Spain’s official digital signature verification system.

You can also read my detailed guide on how to verify a sworn translator’s credentials in Spain here:
https://vprspanishtranslations.com/legit-spanish-sworn-translator/

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In summary

Working with an official Spanish sworn translator accredited by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs ensures that your translation:

• has full legal validity,
• is accurate and faithful to the original,
• and meets all formal and legal requirements set by Spanish authorities.

Any translation presented as “sworn” by an unauthorised person not only lacks validity, but could also lead to criminal prosecution, rejected applications, and financial or legal consequences for the client.

I am a legit, official Spanish sworn translator. Contact me at info@vprspanishtranslations.com if you require my services.

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OTHER USEFUL LINKS

Spanish Criminal Code:

https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1995-25444

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