Chile Forum

I'm trying to find out what a reasonable price would be for getting two documents translated from Spanish to English. The documents are a birth certificate and a marriage certificate. What should I be looking at paying ballpark figure? I presume I'd need to go to Santiago? (I'm in Curicó)

And what makes a translation "official"? What qualification does a person need to perform this type of job? How can I be sure it is legit for the a passport application?

It's rather frustrating that all British passport applications needs to go via the US these days and they will only accept documents in English. I'm in the process of applying for a British passport for my 2 year old. She was born while I was here. I didn't register her birth at the consulate. It says that this isn't important, but it's proving to be a pain since all of her documentation is in Spanish. It might have been a bit easier to register her birthday at the British consulate (even if it does seem a bit pricey). At least I'd have the documents in English.

And what makes a translation "official"? What qualification does a person need to perform this type of job? How can I be sure it is legit for the a passport application?

I work as a translator in Chile and from my experience "official translations" are a rather ambiguous field. I don´t translate into English, but for example in case of "official" Spanish-German translations the German Embassy will provide a list of translators they cooperate with. Only translations of these translators will be accepted for visa and passport purposes. So you might want to check with the British Embassy first.

You could also ask at the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, I know they provide official translations (at least from English to Spanish).

http://www.minrel.gob.cl/prontus_minrel ... t/home.php

If they don´t translate into English, you should find a qualified translator among those associated in the Chilean Translation Association COTICH.

http://www.cotich.cl/?pagina=verconteni ... u=7&lng=es

With this search engine you can find translators in Chile by language and specialty.

Good luck!

ingrambr wrote:I'm trying to find out what a reasonable price would be for getting two documents translated from Spanish to English. The documents are a birth certificate and a marriage certificate. What should I be looking at paying ballpark figure? I presume I'd need to go to Santiago? (I'm in Curicó)

And what makes a translation "official"? What qualification does a person need to perform this type of job? How can I be sure it is legit for the a passport application?

It's rather frustrating that all British passport applications needs to go via the US these days and they will only accept documents in English. I'm in the process of applying for a British passport for my 2 year old. She was born while I was here. I didn't register her birth at the consulate. It says that this isn't important, but it's proving to be a pain since all of her documentation is in Spanish. It might have been a bit easier to register her birthday at the British consulate (even if it does seem a bit pricey). At least I'd have the documents in English.

It was over 2 years ago but I remember getting both birth certificate and marriage certificate translated by Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores (http://www.minrel.gob.cl/prontus_minrel ... 154032.php). First we needed to have the certificates 'legalised' by the Registro Civil and Minesterio de Justicia but I think that's because we were in Temuco. I guess if you ask the British Embajada en Chile or Minesterio de Relaciones Exteriores they will let you know what is required before they translate. I recall it being quite pricey for the translation. Perhaps around the 50mil pesos.