What needs translating for a Spain student visa from the US?
Usually less than people expect. The FBI background check and its apostille must be translated into Spanish by an official sworn translator, at roughly $40-$120. Beyond that, many consulates provide a bilingual medical certificate template that needs no translation at all, and several accept bank statements in English. So a typical US applicant needs one translation job, not a stack of them.
What usually needs translating
- FBI background check, together with its apostille: yes
- Medical certificate: often no, if you use the consulate's bilingual template
- Bank statements: often no, several consulates accept English
- Notarised sponsor letters and birth certificates: yes, if your route needs them
Order of operations
Apostille first, translate second. The translation has to cover the apostille stamp as well as the document, so doing it the other way round means paying for the same document twice. It's the most common avoidable expense in the whole process.
Who counts as a sworn translator
Spain recognises sworn translators (traductores jurados) authorised by its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and consulates may also accept translators from their own approved list. A bilingual friend or a general translation agency does not qualify, however accurate the work. Confirm with your consulate which list they accept before you commission anything.
Streamline the whole process
Visado puts every step in the right order for your course date and walks you through them one at a time. Nothing missed, nothing late.
Start my free planFrequently asked
Can I translate my own documents?
No. Translations must come from an official sworn translator recognised by Spain or your consulate.
How much do sworn translations cost in the US?
Roughly $40-$120 per document as an estimate, depending on length and translator.
Do I need to translate the apostille too?
Yes, which is exactly why you apostille before translating.