Sworn translation of academic degrees and transcripts
A sworn translation of an academic degree is the official translation, signed and stamped by a translator appointed by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAEC), that universities, ministries and professional bodies require in order to recognise studies completed in another language. At ElbaTrad we translate university degrees, academic transcripts, diplomas and grade certificates in 39 languages, with standard delivery in 3 to 4 days and a fixed price confirmed before we start. A sworn translation never expires: it will be valid for every application you submit, now and in the future. The whole process is handled remotely, from anywhere in Spain or abroad.
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- Translators appointed by the MAEC
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- 39 languages available
- Delivery in 3-4 days
When do you need a sworn translation of your university degree?
A degree or diploma is an official document issued by a university or educational institution. When it has to be submitted to an institution in a country with a different language — a foreign university, a professional body, a ministry or an employer — most organisations require the translation to be sworn: produced by an accredited translator whose signature, stamp and certification give it legal validity. A simple translation, done yourself or by a non-accredited agency, will be rejected.
These are the four situations we handle most often:
Having your studies recognised abroadThe receiving university asks for your degree and transcript in an officially valid translation so it can recognise the subjects you passed and place you in the right year.
Studying a master’s or bachelor’s degree abroadInternational programmes require your academic paperwork in the language of the country. Without the sworn translation, your application is incomplete — and deadlines don’t wait.
Working or doing an internship abroadEmployers, hospitals and professional bodies ask for a translated degree to verify your qualifications before signing the contract or registering you.
Studying or working in Spain with a foreign degreeThe Spanish authorities require a sworn translation into Spanish of your original qualification for any procedure: recognition (homologación), public exams, professional registration or public-sector employment.
Sworn translation of academic transcripts and grade certificates
Your academic transcript is the document that lists the subjects you took, the credits and the grades you obtained. For recognition or admission purposes, most universities require it translated together with your degree: it is what allows them to recognise modules and place you in the right year.
The sworn translation of a transcript reproduces every subject and every grade faithfully, with the translator’s signature and stamp on every page. As the longest document in the process, it is also the one that most affects the price — which is why the quote is based on the actual length of the document rather than a flat fee: you only pay for what your transcript really contains. The same applies to grade certificates from secondary school or entrance exams.
Academic documents we translate
We translate any document issued by a university, school or training centre, in the 39 languages we work with. The most requested:
- University degrees
- Academic transcripts
- Grade certificates
- Master’s degrees
- Secondary school diplomas
- Recommendation letters
- CVs
- Language certificates
Every country and every institution has its own requirements: some universities only ask for the degree, others require the full transcript. Before ordering the translation, check with the receiving institution which documents you need — we are happy to advise you, free of charge, when preparing your quote.
For academic documents, the most requested combination is the sworn translation between Spanish and English — for the UK, Ireland and the United States — followed by German, French and Italian. We also translate foreign degrees into Spanish for their recognition or professional registration in Spain.
Who can produce a sworn translation of a degree?
Only a sworn translator-interpreter appointed by the MAEC can sign a translation with official validity in Spain; translations done by non-accredited agencies or by yourself are not accepted. Your degree is the key to an enrolment, a contract or a professional registration: one mistake or one delay can cost you the whole intake. Here is how we make sure that doesn’t happen:
Translators accredited by the MAEC
Translations into English are signed by our in-house sworn translator, accredited under no. 6715 since 2008. All other languages are covered by a network of translators equally appointed by the Ministry, whose accreditation number appears on every document.
Deadlines that match your intake dates
Standard delivery in 3 to 4 days. If you have an enrolment or application deadline, tell us when requesting your quote: an urgent service is available at an additional cost for tighter deadlines.
Digital delivery with the same validity
You will receive the translation by email with the translator’s electronic signature, accepted by universities and public bodies. If you need it on paper, we ship it by courier or you can collect it in Adeje, Seville or Málaga.
Guaranteed confidentiality
Your degrees, grades and personal data are never shared with third parties. The document is used exclusively to prepare the translation and the quote.
What you will receive
- The complete translation of your document with the sworn translator’s signature and stamp on every page, as required by Spanish regulations.
- The translator’s accreditation number, verifiable in the official MAEC register, visible on the document.
- A PDF with the translator’s electronic signature, legally equivalent to the paper version and ready to upload to any application platform.
- If you need it on paper, courier delivery to any address in Spain or collection at our Adeje, Seville or Málaga offices.
How to order the sworn translation of an academic degree
The whole process is remote: we translate from a scan of your document — no need to hand over the original or visit an office. Three steps:
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Send your degree or diploma
Attach a scan or a high-quality photo — stamps and signatures must be legible — via the quotation form, by email or on WhatsApp, indicating the target language.
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Receive your free quote
As soon as we receive the document we send you a personalised quote with a fixed price and the delivery date. No obligation: we only start translating once you confirm.
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Receive your signed translation
Once payment is confirmed, the sworn translator for that language gets to work. You will receive the signed and stamped translation by email, by courier or at the office of your choice.
Sworn translation and degree recognition are not the same thing. The sworn translation turns your degree into an officially valid document in another language; recognition (homologación) is the acceptance of those studies and is processed by the competent ministry in each country. ElbaTrad produces the sworn translation that this file requires — and handles the Hague apostille if the receiving body asks for it on the original — but does not process the recognition itself. That way you know exactly what to order and who to contact at every step.
Frequently asked questions about degree translations
How much does it cost to translate a university degree?
The price depends on three things: the actual length of the document, the language pair and the complexity of the text — a transcript with dozens of subjects is not the same as a one-page degree. That is why we do not work with catalogue rates: we review your document and send you a free, fixed quote before you decide anything. That price does not change afterwards: it is what you will pay.
How long does the sworn translation of a degree take?
Standard turnaround is 3 to 4 days. It depends on the length of the document and the availability of the sworn translator for that language. If you have an enrolment or application deadline, mention it when requesting the quote; an urgent service is available at an additional cost.
Does the sworn translation of a degree expire?
It never expires. Once signed and stamped by the sworn translator, you can submit it as many times as you need, at any time, to different universities or institutions, without repeating the process or paying again. Keep the signed copy and your digital copies safe.
Do I need the original degree on paper?
No. The translation is produced from the scanned document, as long as all stamps and signatures are clearly legible. Delivery can be digital, with the translator’s electronic signature — legally equivalent — or on paper by courier anywhere in Spain.
Does the transcript also need a sworn translation?
Yes, whenever a university or official body requests it. The transcript certifies the subjects you took and the grades you obtained, and is usually required together with the degree for recognition and admission. Being longer, it is the document that most affects the final price.
Can the university reject a sworn translation?
Translations signed by a translator appointed by the MAEC are the format recognised by Spanish regulations, and the translator’s accreditation number appears on the document and can be verified in the Ministry’s official register. Each institution may have its own formal requirements — paper or digital delivery, apostille on the original — so tell us the receiving institution when requesting your quote and we will review those requirements with you before starting.
Is it valid for degree recognition in Spain?
Yes: the sworn translation into Spanish is a requirement of the recognition file, together with the apostilled original. The recognition itself is processed by the competent ministry; ElbaTrad prepares the sworn translation and the apostille management.