Official Translation of Documents Required When Applying For a Spanish Non-Lucrative Visa

By Dalila Segador

Head of Official Translations

As a result of Brexit, British citizens who wish to spend more than 90 days in Spain must apply for a Non-Lucrative Visa if they are non-working individuals, with an ongoing source of income and substantial savings.

The application for the Non-Lucrative Visa is done through the Spanish Consulate in London or the other Spanish Consulates situated across the UK depending on the place of residence.

Applicants must attend the Spanish Consulate in person when applying for the Non-Lucrative Visa. The Consulate’s website provides the necessary information and forms to be completed by the Applicant.

Among the documents to be submitted to the Consulate, Applicants must submit their criminal record certificates (ACRO certificates) and medical certificates. The sworn official translation into Spanish of the English criminal record certificates and medical certificates must also be submitted. Furthermore, the original English criminal records certificate and medical certificates must be legalised (apostilled).

The criminal record certificate in English is a document with a format different from the Spanish criminal record. It does include complex legal terminology. The legal systems in the UK and Spain are very different. Sworn Official Translators are experts in legal terminology and therefore they will produce accurate official translations.

The medical certificate needs to refer to International Health Regulations, therefore there is also legal terms to translate.

Spanish Sworn Official Translators are appointed by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation and are the only translators authorised to produce official translations. The purpose of a sworn translation is to confer the translated document the same legal value as the original document by providing it with international legal validity.

Sworn official translations do not need to bear an Apostille or any other type of legalisation to verify their authenticity because sworn translations are official documents. The legality of a sworn translation is conferred by the stamp and signature of the sworn translators.

The Apostilles attached to the criminal record certificates and medical certificates do not need to be translated as they will be issued in English, French, and Spanish.

For more information and to find out how we can help you, please contact us on 0345 646 0406 or fill in our online enquiry form and a member of our Team will be in touch.