Many Americans call Spain their second home. Statistics show that the migration of US citizens to Spain has increased since the pandemic, growing by 13% between 2019 and 2021. Records have revealed that almost 42,000 Americans were residing in the Land of Cervantes three years ago. More and more people from the US are becoming Spaniards, while others prefer to celebrate important life events there.
If you and your partner intend to tie the knot in Spain, then you should also get your marriage certificate translated in English posthaste. Foreign marriages are recognized easily by the US government. It means that you’ll face no resistance from the USCIS with a certified translation of marriage certificate. It’s vital to translate marriage certificate from Spanish to English to make your wedding recognized here.
In this article, we’ll explain how to translate marriage certificate to Spanish and ensure it was translated accurately. Even minor mistakes in translation can lead to grave consequences. So, if you marry the love of your life in Spain, make it official with an error-free, USCIS-approved wedding certificate translation.
Common Mistakes in Translated Marriage Certificates
You may wonder what makes even an official translation of marriage certificate invalid sometimes. In a lot of cases, translation errors make the USCIS reject someone’s visa/residency application. Experts have stated this on multiple occasions that a poor-quality, difficult-to-read, or poorly-translated copy of your marriage certificate will make the USCIS reject your petition. Similarly, if you’re an American citizen who was married abroad, you must produce an accurate copy of your foreign marriage license.
Here are some of the most common mistakes that happen in wedding license translation. Such mistakes stem from people attempting to self-translate their marriage certificates.
- Being unfamiliar with the cultural differences between Spain and the US when translating your marriage license
- Not double-checking vital details, such as names, dates, etc.
- Changing the format of the marriage certificate that would render it invalid
- Trying to rectify any spelling mistakes in the original wedding certificate
- The document bearing illegible words that might have been eroded with time
- Failing to proofread the finalized translated marriage license or asking a professional translator to go through it
- Not keeping copies of the original marriage certificate in the Spanish language
That’s why we’ll explain in this blog why hiring certified translators can help you avoid these mistakes.
The Need for Certified Translation of Wedding Certificate
At this point, you may wonder why it’s even necessary to translate your marriage license. Well, here are a few compelling reasons why you should get your wedding certificate translated in English after coming back from your nuptials in Madrid or Barcelona:
- When you’re moving from America to Spain with your wife
- If you married a Spanish citizen in the US and now want to immigrate on the basis of a spouse visa
- If you are going through a divorce in Spain and need to present your marriage certificate issued by the US government
- If you live in Spain and want to add your life partner to your health insurance policy
- If you’ve been offered a job in Spain or another Spanish-speaking country and you’re planning to relocate along with your family
Next, we’ll discuss how to obtain the certified translation of marriage certificate documents after you’re done tying the knot in Spain. This process will help you get the translation done in no time.
Translating a Marriage Certificate: A Step-by-Step Process
Hopefully, you now understand the gravity of not getting an error-free translation of your certificate of marriage. To bring the point home, let’s review a simple case study (not marriage-related). A student in Agra (India) got her degree certificate, and her first name, “Baby,” was mistakenly translated as the word in Hindi for a baby (showing that the translator accidentally translated the student’s name). Embarrassing mistakes like this one will happen when you don’t hire professionals for document translation services.
If you want to get an accurate translation of your Spain-issued marriage certificate, then you will follow these steps. This is how you get an accurate translation of your wedding license:
Choose Reliable Translators
Get in touch with NAATI-certified, USCIS-approved translators who are proficient in English and Spanish. These individuals must specialize in marriage license translation.
Provide Your Documents
Give a physical copy of a digitally scanned copy of your English-language certificate to the translator. It’s important for the certificate to be legible so they can read what’s written on it. You may send them your certificate via email or online submission form.
Provide Necessary Information
You should also tell the translator the context of this translation. Why do you need this translation done of your marriage certificate? When do you need this translation delivered? Also, share your contact info with the translation agency and provide additional documents if necessary.
Check Quote
The translation service provider will give you a quote. You may ask for quotes from different agencies or choose the one recommended by your family members. The price is usually below $30 for a single-page document.
Wait for the Process
Single Spanish is a very popular language, the translator won’t take much time working on your marriage license. It’ll take 24 hours at most for the translation to be done.
Get the Accuracy Certificate
The translator will provide you with the English-to-Spanish version of your wedding certificate. You’ll also get a translation accuracy certificate bearing the translator’s name and signature. It’ll verify the translator’s identity and vouch for the veracity of the Spanish-language marriage license.
How to Ensure Accuracy in Marriage Certificate Translation?
Data from 2023 dictate that 27,000+ marriages took place in Spain in which one person was a foreigner. The very same survey shows that, in 5,750+ marriages taking place in 2022, both spouses belonged to a country other than Spain.
If you’re one of the couples that got hitched in Spain recently, you have to ensure that your certificate of marriage is translated accurately. Here’s how you can ensure accuracy:
- Thoroughly review the translated certificate on your own
- Ask a bilingual friend to proofread the Spanish marriage certificate
- Match this certificate with the original one to make sure the formatting is intact
- Look for misspellings or misinterpretations to make sure the crucial details are all there
- Examine the text to make sure all the terminologies have been translated into Spanish without a discrepancy or inconsistency
- Ensure that all the seals present in your original English-language certificate also appear here
- Get a translation accuracy certificate from the translator and have this translation notarized (not a mandatory step; just for extra verification)
Follow these easy, simple tips to get your Spanish-language wedding certificate translated into English.
Conclusion
The best way to ensure accuracy in wedding certificate translation is to hire a professional to get the job done right. Whether you need certified passport translation, birth certificate translation, a translation of your relative’s death certificate, or any other document for the sake of immigration or other purposes, it is important to get in touch with certified professionals to make sure the translation is done accurately.
A professional translator has ample experience in this field and has translated multiple marriage, death, divorce, birth, adoption, etc. certificates before. They can provide an error-free translation for you so your marriage in Spain is recognized in countries like the US or the UK. Contact TranslateSwift to get started with the translation process. Certified, reliable wordsmiths working at this agency will provide an error-free translation within 24 hours at a modest sum. Happy matrimony to you and your partner!
FAQs – Marriage Certificate Translation
Can I get a copy of my Spanish marriage certificate online?
Yes, you should simply visit the Ministra de Justicia’s website and order a copy of your certificate. It has become much easier to obtain copies of these documents digitally from the Spanish government.
Can foreigners marry in Spain?
Two individuals can get married in Spain even if none of them are Spanish citizens or residents. The laws for marriage in Spain are flexible, so you and your partner can have a wedding in Spain as two American citizens.
What does the term “notario” mean in Spain?
In Spain, the term “notario” is a notary public who can verify documents and certify translations. So, you may have to get your marriage certificate translation notarized by this individual in some cases.
