Certified Translation of Identity Documents

When a public authority, a notary, or a consulate asks you to prove your identity before a Spanish or foreign institution, the original version of the document is not enough: you need a certified translation of identity documents signed and stamped by a sworn translator authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation (MAEC).

The five documents in this collection cover virtually all common situations:

Certified Translation of the National Identity Card (DNI)

The DNI translated into English or any other language is the most frequently requested document for immigration procedures, notarial processes abroad, and the recognition of academic qualifications. A certified translation of the DNI must accurately reproduce all the information it contains: full name, document number, date of birth, date of issue, and expiry date.

It is commonly required for:

• Obtaining residence in another European Union country
• Formalizing a contract before a foreign notary
• Applying for a visa to countries such as the United States, Canada, or Australia

The translators at Mc LEHM express are registered on the official list of sworn translators maintained by the MAEC and deliver the document in PDF format with a digital signature and stamp within 24 hours.

Certified Translation of a Passport

A certified translation of a passport is essential for long-term visas, international adoption procedures, family reunification applications, and any consular procedure in which the receiving authority does not accept documents in Spanish.

The official passport translation reproduces all pages containing biographical data, the passport number, the date of issue, the expiry date, and, where applicable, visa pages.

Mc LEHM express provides certified passport translations starting from €17.95, with the price varying according to the number of pages.

Certified Translation of the NIE

The NIE (Foreigner Identification Number) identifies non-Spanish citizens before the Spanish authorities. A certified translation is commonly requested when the holder is carrying out procedures in their country of origin, submitting documentation to a foreign financial institution, or needing to prove their legal status in Spain before an international organization.

A frequent question is whether the NIE and the passport are the same document: they are not. The passport is the travel document issued by the holder's country of origin, whereas the NIE is an identification number assigned by Spain, which may appear on a specific card or be noted in the passport itself.

For certain procedures, certified translations of both documents are required separately.

Certified Translation of a Driving Licence

A certified translation of a driving licence (also referred to as a certified translation of a driver's licence or driver's permit) is mandatory when applying for the recognition or exchange of a foreign licence in Spain, or when a Spanish driver needs to drive legally in a country that does not recognize the European driving licence.

Countries such as the United States, Japan, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates require the licence to be accompanied by an official or certified translation in accordance with their local regulations.

The translated document reproduces all the information on both the front and back of the licence, including categories and restrictions.

Certified Translation of the NIF/CIF Card

The NIF (Tax Identification Number) identifies Spanish individuals in their dealings with the Tax Administration, while the CIF is the identification code for legal entities.

Although it is less frequently requested than the DNI or passport, it is essential for international business transactions, opening bank accounts abroad, and due diligence procedures.

A certified translation of the NIF/CIF card provides reliable proof of the holder's identity or legal status before any foreign institution.

How much does a certified translation of identity documents cost?

The price of a certified translation of identity documents at Mc LEHM express starts from €17.95 for translations of DNI, NIE, passport (biographical pages), driving license and NIF/CIF card.

At Mc LEHM express, we are a company specializing in urgent translations.We work completely online, with no need for you to travel: from our website, choose the target language and receive the certified translation in PDF with digital signature and stamp from an official sworn translator.

The cost of a certified translationcan vary based on two factors:

1. The number of pages in the original document
2. The target language

If you want to know how much a certified translationof your specific document costs, you can check it directly on our website.

In which languages is it available?

Mc LEHM express provides certified translations of identity documents between Spanish and the most demanded languages:

• English
• French
• German
• Italian
• Arabic
• Russian
• Dutch

If the language you are looking for is not yet available in our online store, request your no-obligation quote and we will tell you the exact cost of your translation.

For certified English translation (the most requested combination), the delivery time is the same as for other languages: 24 hours from receipt of the document.

The certified English translation of a Spanish DNIincludes the translation of all fields on the front and back, as well as the certification of the sworn translatorattesting to the fidelity of the text to the original.

What legal validity does a certified translation of an identity document have?

A certified translation has full legal validity before any body that requests it: consulates, embassies, notaries, courts, civil registries, universities, and public administrations, both in Spain and abroad.

The validity does not have an intrinsic expiration, although some organizations require that the original document being translated be in force at the time of presentation.

The official translation delivered by Mc LEHM express includes the sworn declaration of the sworn translator, their digital signature, their registration number in the list of sworn translators of the MAECand their official stamp. This set of elements is what gives the document its validity and differentiates it from a normal translationor a certified translationwithout legal backing.

How do you order a certified translation of identity documents online?

The process is completely online: choose the product in this collection, indicate the original language of the document and the language into which you want to translate it. Upload the document in PDF and complete the payment.

The team of official sworn translators at Mc LEHM express processes the order and delivers the urgent certified translation in PDF directly to your email. It is not necessary to send the physical document or visit any office.

Sworn translation, official translation, and certified translation: what's the difference?

In Spain, these three terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but they are not equivalent.

A sworn translation is the only one with full legal recognition: it is performed and signed by a sworn translator registered in the official list of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The expression official document translation is colloquially used as a synonym, but technically it does not designate a specific legal category in Spanish law.

Meanwhile, a certified translation may refer to a document accompanied by a translator's declaration, but without the endorsement of the MAEC, it has no validity before public bodies.

When an administration, consulate, or notary asks you for an official translation of Spanish documents, what they are actually requiring is a sworn translation signed by an authorized professional.

Submitting a non-sworn translation may result in the document being rejected, and you having to repeat the process from the beginning, with the associated costs and delays.

Do I need an apostille if I already have a sworn translation?

The Hague Apostille and sworn translation are two distinct processes that are sometimes needed simultaneously. An apostille is a stamp that certifies the authenticity of an official's signature on the original document; a sworn translation translates the content of that document into another language.

For some countries, submitting your ID card, passport, or driver's license validly requires that the original bears an apostille and, in addition, is accompanied by a sworn translation.

For others, a sworn translation without an apostille is sufficient. If you have doubts about what your specific procedure requires,consult our Mc LEHM Express team before placing your order

Real use cases: when you need a sworn translation of each document

The most frequent uses we handle for each document in this collection are:

• For the ID card: visas for the United States, Canada, Australia, and Asia-Pacific countries; notarial procedures abroad; homologation of degrees in foreign universities; opening bank accounts outside Spain; residency processes in other EU countries that require formal identification.
• For the passport: family reunification; international adoptions; consular procedures; application for work permits abroad; registration in birth registries in the country of origin of the foreign spouse.
• For the NIE: procedures in the holder's country of origin; international financial transactions; presentation to foreign bodies that need to verify the holder's legal status in Spain.
• For the driver's license: homologation or exchange of a foreign driver's license in Spain (very common for holders from non-EU countries); driving in countries outside the European Economic Area; vehicle rental abroad when the company requires a sworn translation or international driving permit with accredited translation.
• For the NIF/CIF card: due diligence in international merger or acquisition operations; opening subsidiaries abroad; international commercial contracts; regulatory compliance in cross-border financial operations.

What if my original document is in another language?

Mc LEHM express also provides sworn translations of foreign identity documents into Spanish.

If you have a Russian Passport, an Arab ID card, or an ID document from any other country and need to present it to a Spanish institution, the process is identical: you upload the document, the sworn translator translates it into Spanish with an official signature and stamp, and you receive the PDF in 24 hours.

This modality is especially common in immigration procedures, family reunifications, and regularization processes where Spanish authorities require translated identity documentation from the country of origin.