Spanish birth certificate translation to German — certified and accepted by German authorities
The clerk at the "Standesamt" (Registry Office) examines your documents, nods at the crisp certification stamp, and stamps your marriage file without hesitation. No questions. No second appointments. No explaining to your guests why the ceremony is delayed.
- ✓ Certified by court-appointed sworn translators (vereidigter Übersetzer)
- ✓ Guaranteed acceptance by "Standesamt", "Ausländerbehörde", and all German authorities
- ✓ Spain and Latin America expertise — we know the difference
- ✓ Pay on invoice with Klarna — receive first, pay later
Officially certified — guaranteed acceptance
Every translation is completed by a court-appointed sworn translator (gerichtlich vereidigter Übersetzer) and carries the official Beglaubigungsvermerk required by German law. Our certified translations meet the formal requirements for recognition by authorities and institutions across the EU. Select "PDF & original by post" when ordering — authorities typically require the printed original with stamp and signature.
Accepted by:
What you need to know: Spanish birth certificates in Germany
Spanish-language birth certificates come from over 20 countries, and German authorities treat them differently depending on where they were issued. Understanding these distinctions before you order saves time, prevents rejected applications, and keeps your bureaucratic appointments on track.
Spanish birth certificate types we handle
- Certificado de Nacimiento The official term used in Spain for birth certificates issued by the Registro Civil
- Acta de Nacimiento Standard format across Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, and most Latin American countries
- Extracto de Partida de Nacimiento Extract version containing essential data only, common in some regions
- Literal copy (Copia Literal) Complete registry entry with all annotations and marginal notes
- Multilingual standard form (Formule A) EU standardized format that may not require translation in some cases
- Handwritten registry entries Older Spanish and Latin American documents with cursive script — our translators are experienced with these
Spain vs. Latin America: the critical difference
This is where many people make costly mistakes. The requirements differ significantly depending on whether your birth certificate comes from Spain or a Latin American country.
Birth certificates from Spain (EU member)
Under EU Regulation 2016/1191, Spanish civil status documents generally do not require an Apostille when used in Germany. However, you still need a certified translation unless your document is issued as a multilingual standard form (Formule A). Some German authorities may still request an Apostille in specific cases, so check with your local office if you are unsure.
Birth certificates from Latin America (Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, and others)
For documents from Hague Convention member countries in Latin America, the rules are strict. You must obtain an Apostille from the issuing country before the document can be used in Germany. This means getting the Apostille in Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, or wherever your birth certificate was originally issued. The Apostille authenticates your document for international use, and without it, German authorities will reject your application.
Apostille services
We do not provide apostille services. If you need an apostille on your translation (for use outside Germany), you must request it from the regional court ("Landgericht" or "OLG") responsible for your translator. Our translations come fully certified with the Beglaubigungsvermerk, stamp, and signature required by German authorities.
Common mistakes to avoid
After thousands of Spanish-German translations, we know which errors cause the most problems at the "Standesamt" and "Ausländerbehörde":
- ✓ Do not translate the Apostille separately. It must be included with the main document translation.
- ✓ Do not use a non-sworn translator. Translations without official certification are immediately rejected.
- ✓ Do not submit the translation without attaching a copy of the original document. Authorities require both.
- ✓ Do not assume Spain and Latin America have the same requirements. They do not.
Common use cases for Spanish birth certificate translation
German bureaucracy requires your translated birth certificate for more situations than you might expect. Here are the most common scenarios where our Spanish-German translations make the difference between smooth processing and frustrating delays.
Marriage registration at the "Standesamt" (Registry Office)
You have the venue booked, the guests invited, and the date set. Then the "Standesamt" tells you they need your certified birth certificate translation weeks before your appointment. Without it, they will not schedule your wedding. Imagine calling your family in Spain or Mexico to explain that the ceremony is postponed because of paperwork nobody mentioned until now.
We see this scenario constantly. The "Standesamt" requires complete documentation before they will even book your ceremony date, and a birth certificate translation that looks unprofessional or lacks proper certification creates immediate problems. Our translations arrive with the full Beglaubigungsvermerk, the translator's official stamp, and clean formatting that signals "this is official" the moment the clerk sees it.
Residence permit application at the "Ausländerbehörde" (Immigration Office)
Your appointment at the "Ausländerbehörde" is scheduled. You have taken time off work, gathered every document on the list, and prepared for the most bureaucratic morning of your year. Then you discover that your birth certificate needs a certified translation, and your appointment is in five days.
The "Ausländerbehörde" expects complete documentation at your appointment. Missing documents mean another appointment, another month of waiting, and another morning spent in the immigration office. With express service, we can deliver your certified translation within 24 hours (Monday to Friday), giving you time to review it before your appointment.
Citizenship application at the "Einbürgerungsbehörde" (Naturalization Office)
After years of living in Germany, learning the language, paying taxes, and building a life here, you are finally applying for citizenship. The "Einbürgerungsbehörde" has the most stringent document requirements of any German authority, and they examine every detail. Your birth certificate translation needs to be perfect.
This is not the moment for a translation that looks like someone scanned it in their basement. The naturalization office reviews your entire file with care, and a professional, properly certified translation reflects the seriousness of your application. Our court-appointed translators understand what German authorities expect, and every translation meets those standards.
Name change procedures
Whether you are reverting to your maiden name after divorce, adopting a spouse's name, or correcting an error in official records, the "Standesamt" or "Bürgeramt" needs your original birth certificate translated. Name change applications require proof of your registered birth name, and that proof must come in certified German.
These procedures often have strict timelines, especially when connected to divorce proceedings at the "Familiengericht" (Family Court). A delayed translation means a delayed name change, which affects everything from your ID documents to your bank accounts.
How it works
Order online, receive by email and post. No office visits required, and considerably less waiting than you might expect from anything involving German bureaucracy.
Upload
Take a clear photo of your Spanish birth certificate or upload the PDF. A smartphone photo works perfectly — we enhance the image quality on our end. If your document includes an Apostille, include that too. Select Spanish as your source language and German as your target language.
Translation and certification
A court-appointed sworn translator (vereidigter Übersetzer) personally translates your document. They apply their official stamp showing their court appointment and registration number, add the certification clause (Beglaubigungsvermerk), and sign the translation. This is what makes it legally valid for German authorities.
Delivery
Receive the digital PDF by email within 3-4 business days (24 hours with express, Monday to Friday). When you select "PDF & original by post," the signed and stamped original follows by priority mail. Most German authorities require the printed original, so we recommend this option.
What your certified translation includes
Every translation carries the full legal weight required by German law. When you receive your document, it includes:
- ✓ Complete German translation of your Spanish birth certificate (and Apostille if present)
- ✓ Official certification clause (Beglaubigungsvermerk) confirming accuracy
- ✓ Sworn translator's signature with full name and title
- ✓ Official stamp showing court appointment and registration number
- ✓ Date and location of certification
- ✓ Copy of your original document attached
This certification has permanent legal validity in Germany. Unlike some countries that require recent translations, German authorities accept certified translations regardless of when they were made.
Frequently asked questions
It depends on where your document was issued. If your birth certificate is from Spain (EU member), you generally do not need an Apostille under EU Regulation 2016/1191. However, you still need a certified translation unless the document is a multilingual standard form. If your birth certificate is from a Latin American country like Mexico, Colombia, or Argentina, you must obtain an Apostille from the issuing country before we can translate it for use in Germany.
A sworn translator is officially appointed by a German court to produce legally valid translations. This court appointment (Vereidigung) authorizes the translator to certify that a translation is complete and accurate. Only translations by sworn translators are accepted by German authorities for official purposes. Our translators hold this official status and include their court registration details on every certified translation.
No. German authorities including the "Standesamt," "Ausländerbehörde," and "Einbürgerungsbehörde" only accept translations made by court-appointed sworn translators. A translation without proper certification will be rejected, and you will need to obtain a new one before your application can proceed.
No. When your birth certificate includes an Apostille, we translate both as one complete document. The Apostille is part of the authentication and belongs with the main document. Upload your birth certificate with the Apostille attached, and we handle it as a single translation.
Certified translations have permanent legal validity in Germany. Unlike some countries that require translations to be recent, German authorities accept certified translations regardless of age. The translation remains valid as long as the original document itself remains valid and accurate.
Most German authorities require the printed original with the physical stamp and signature. We recommend selecting "PDF & original by post" when ordering. You receive the digital PDF first for your records, and the signed original follows by priority mail for submission to authorities.
Yes. Older birth certificates from Spain and Latin America often contain handwritten entries in cursive script. Our Spanish-German translators are experienced with these documents and can decipher historical handwriting styles. Upload a clear photo or scan, and we handle the rest.
Standard delivery is 3-4 business days. Express service delivers within 24 hours (Monday to Friday) for an additional fee. Express is available for most language combinations including Spanish-German. The digital PDF arrives by email first, with the printed original following by post if you selected that option.
Yes. When you choose Klarna invoice at checkout, you receive your translation first and pay later. This lets you review the completed translation before payment. Check it first, pay later.
Related documents you may need
Many processes that require a birth certificate translation also need other documents. If you are getting married in Germany, the "Standesamt" typically requires your marriage certificate translation from any previous marriages. For identity verification, you may also need a passport translation or identity card translation. We translate all civil status documents with the same certified quality.
Get your certified translation now
Upload your Spanish birth certificate and see your exact price in one minute. Most translations are ready within 3-4 business days, with express delivery available when you need it faster. Court-appointed sworn translators. Guaranteed acceptance by German authorities.
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