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The short answer
Usually yes: Spanish authorities work in Spanish, and when a Nigerian document in English is filed with a ministry, registry, university or immigration office, it is normally expected with a Spanish translation by a traductor jurado (sworn translator) or another officially recognised translator. Prices are set by each translator rather than by an official tariff we could find, so get a written quote per document before you commit.
English is widely understood in Spain, so Nigerians are often surprised when an office refuses an English birth certificate or degree. The rule of thumb is simple: an informal check may accept English, an official file usually will not. A sworn translation is what turns your document into one a Spanish official can rely on without reading English.
What a traductor jurado is
A traductor jurado (sworn translator) is a translator authorised in Spain to produce translations that carry their signature and seal and are accepted as faithful by Spanish public bodies. Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs publishes information on sworn translators and interpreters in its citizen services section; its page would not load when we checked, so look there yourself for the official list when choosing one.
Which translations Spanish bodies accept
Universidad de Deusto's guide to foreign documents gives the accepted forms of translation into Spanish:
- A sworn translator authorised or registered in Spain.
- A Spanish diplomatic or consular mission abroad (in Nigeria's case, the Spanish Embassy in Abuja).
- The applicant's country's diplomatic or consular mission in Spain (for Nigerians, the Embassy of Nigeria in Madrid).
- An official translator abroad, provided their signature is legalised.
Most Nigerians in Spain use the first option because it is quick and local. The fourth option is rarely practical for Nigeria, because the translator's signature would itself need to go through the non-Hague legalisation chain.
When you will need one
| Purpose | Translation usually expected? |
|---|---|
| Degree recognition (homologación or equivalencia) | Yes, for degree and transcript |
| Residence and visa files with criminal records or civil documents | Yes. Spain's consulate in New York, for example, asks for criminal records apostilled and translated for the telework visa |
| Marriage file at the Registro Civil or a notary | Yes, for birth and civil status documents |
| Registering a foreign marriage or birth in the Spanish registry | Yes |
| Showing a document informally to a landlord or employer | Often not; ask |
The final say rests with the office receiving the document. Some accept English for specific documents; ask them in writing so you have something to show if a different official says otherwise.
Order: legalise first, translate second
Nigerian documents for Spain must be legalised because Nigeria is not in the Apostille Convention. Translate after legalisation, so the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Spanish Embassy stamps are translated as part of the document. If you translate first and legalise later, the new stamps are untranslated and you may have to pay again. See legalising Nigerian documents for Spain.
What it costs
We found no official tariff for sworn translation in Spain; each translator sets their own price, and may charge per page, per word or per document, sometimes with a minimum. Costs vary with language pair, length, urgency and whether you need paper originals with a wet seal or a digitally signed translation. Treat any number you see online as a single provider's price, not a standard. Ask three translators from the official list for a written quote that states:
- Price per document and what counts as a page.
- Whether stamps, seals and the reverse side are included.
- Delivery time and format (paper, digital signature, or both).
- Postage if you need originals sent.
Translations made by the Nigerian Embassy in Madrid
Deusto's list includes translations by the applicant's own country's mission in Spain. In principle, that makes the Embassy of Nigeria in Madrid an option for translating Nigerian documents. We found no published Madrid translation service, fee or turnaround, so ask before relying on it, and confirm with the Spanish office that it will accept a translation from that source for your procedure.
Practical tips
- Send clear scans of every side, including stamps.
- Make sure names are spelt as on your passport, and tell the translator about any known variant.
- Keep the original and the translation together; offices often want to see both.
- Ask whether one translation can serve several procedures, so you order enough copies.
Where Pryme fits
When you pay a translator or a Spanish office, keep proof. Pryme lets you generate a regular or verifiable receipt or statement, in partnership with VerifyDoc.ai, which helps when an office asks for evidence of payment. Spanish families also use Send to pay naira costs in Nigeria.
Questions people ask
Are English documents accepted in Spain?
Official files usually need a Spanish translation. Some offices accept English for particular documents; ask the receiving office.
Who can translate Nigerian documents for Spain?
A sworn translator in Spain, the Spanish Embassy in Abuja, the Nigerian Embassy in Madrid, or an official translator abroad whose signature is legalised.
How much does a traductor jurado cost?
There is no official tariff we could find; prices are set by each translator. Get written quotes.
Should I translate before or after legalisation?
After, so the legalisation stamps are translated too.
Sources
- Universidad de Deusto: Legalisation of foreign documents · accessed Oct 2026
- Consulado General de España en Nueva York: telework visa requirements · accessed Oct 2026
- HCCH: Apostille Convention status table (updated 30 Jun 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
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