Due to Brexit, going on a year abroad has become a lot harder for UK students. What once was a simple process is now a long and complicated battle with bureaucracy.

The first step is to determine if you need a visa, and if so, what type. Spanish University programmes only require student visas, which are easily obtained. Charity work, volunteering, or online work have no visa requirements if they last up to 90 days in any 180-day period, because UK citizens are free to travel to the Schengen area (which includes most EU countries, including Spain) without a visa. However, if you are planning on carrying out an internship, or any form of unpaid work (which lasts for more than 90 days), you will need an internship visa, or visado de prácticas, to do so. This type of visa can be quite difficult to get and can take upwards of 3 months to be approved.

For a number of reasons, including the slow pace of bureaucracy, it is important to start the application process earlier than you think. In the wake of COVID-19, even the wait for a visa appointment can take a few months, so it is vital to be organised as early as possible.

There are a few things you need in order to apply for an internship visa, these include:

• Two completed and signed National Visa Application forms
• Two recent colour photos with a white background (similar to a passport photo)
• Original passport and a photocopy of the photo page
• A letter of acceptance from the Spanish company
• Residence Authorization for Internships (Law 14/2013 DA 18a), provided by the Spanish company
• Health insurance covering the stay in Spain
• Proof of financial means for accommodation and living costs (84€)

More information can be found on the Spanish Consulate’s website. Some elements of this list, however, are quite unclear. For example, at least 5 months’ worth of recent bank statements are needed as proof of financial means. Furthermore, it is important to double check your documents and their specific requirements before your appointment to ensure your visa is processed as quickly as possible.

The trickiest part of the whole process is applying for the Residence Authorization for Internships.  Even though the Spanish company has to submit this application, there are still a number of documents you have to fill out. The list of documents required is similar to that above, but a specific form (EX04) is needed. This can be found on the Consulate website, or via the link below.

http://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/MANCHESTER/es/Documents/Autorizacion%20de%20residencia%20para%20practicas.pdf

This authorization is the most vital part of the internship visa application, as it gives you the right to carry out unpaid work in Spain. This element, however, can take the longest to be approved. Because of both Brexit and the lengthy process of bureaucracy it can take up to 3 months to receive the official approval, so it is essential to start this process early.

Once the Residence Authorization for Internships has been approved and all of the documents needed have been checked and accepted, it can take up to 10 days for the visa to be processed. After you have received your visa, which is now a page in your passport, you are free to travel on your year abroad. Despite being a long, and sometimes challenging process, having a Spanish visa allows you to immerse yourself in the culture by living and working in the country. It is definitely worth waiting for.

When getting together all of your documents for Immigration and Nationality procedures, it can get confusing as to what exactly needs to be done with each document. One aspect that confuses many people is the difference between legalising a document and apostilling a document. How can you differentiate between which of the two needs to be done? We’re going to look into exactly what each of these terms means and how we can choose between them.

Legalizing and Apostilling

What is the Hague Apostille and when to apostille documents?

An Apostille is a special certificate that authenticates an original public document. They can only be issued and be valid in countries that are a part of the Apostille Convention. The certificate confirms that the signatures, stamps or seal of an original document are genuine. This process is done so that these public documents will also be genuine in other countries that are a part of the Convention. You will need an Apostille if your document is considered as a public document. This can include the following types of documents: a birth, marriage or death certificate, a judgment, an extract of a register or a notarial attestation. Once the Apostille is complete and sent back to you, your document will then be recognised as a foreign public document. Bear in mind, however, that if your original document is to be translated, then your apostille may need to be translated too. It’s always important to check with the receiving organisation all of the necessary steps to undertake. You can send for an apostille to be created on the Hague Apostille website: https://www.hagueapostille.co.uk .

What is legalisation and how should I do it?

Similar to the apostille, legalisation is the process where a document issued with the signature and seal of a Notary is then authenticated by the Foreign Office and/or the Embassy/Consulate of the country where the document will be used. This process is mainly used in countries that are not a part of the Apostille Convention and is therefore the alternative for these countries to show legal validity of your document. A document can be legalised by going on your country’s government website. For example, UK residents would apply at the following website: https://www.gov.uk/get-document-legalised .

Can I apostille a sworn translation?

The document that must be apostilled is the original public document in its original language. The steps you must take to have the apostille in the target language are as follows:

1. Have your original public document apostilled in the same language and country as the document. The apostille will usually be added to the end of the document
2. When you want to get the public document translated by a sworn translator, also send them the apostille. A sworn translator is approved to translate apostilles and it will have the same validity in the country of the receiving party.

NOTE: If the translation is completed by a translator registered in a different country rather than the country of the receiving party, the document will be required to also be legalised.

Are there any documents that cannot be apostilled?

The requirements for obtaining an apostille state that the document must be a public document or any other document that has been certified by a solicitor or notary as a true copy. The document should be notarised and the seals and signatures must be originals. If a document fails to meet any one of these requirements, then it would be unable to be apostilled. The question that should be asked next is if you could get a document legalised if it doesn’t meet the Apostille requirements? The straight-forward answer to this would be no. This is because the document should still be notarised and bear original seals and signatures. However, legalisation requirements can differ between each individual country, so it would be worth verifying with the receiving party of the document.

Artificial intelligence, machine learning, algorithms and all manner of different technology play an extremely important and increasing role in almost every industry out there. It’s true that technological advances have helped many sectors become more profitable and more efficient, and for years people have discussed the idea of machines and technology replacing humans. But could this become a reality? In the translation industry at least, it is far from likely.

The benefits of technology and AI in the translation industry

Artificial intelligence refers to technology that can ‘think’, make decisions and act as if it were a human. This can be very useful for many sectors, as it’s time efficient and reduces shortfalls due to human error. The use of AI in the context of translation comes in the form of Machine Translation (MT), a system that automatically translates source text inputted by a human (such as Google translate) and Computer Assisted Translation (CAT) which is a tool used by professional translators to help them with their work. Machine Translation is useful for looking up the odd word, or for individuals to quickly translate something informally, for their own understanding and not for publication. For example, you may be in a foreign country and seen sign you don’t understand, or not know how to ask for something in a ship, so you might quickly type it into Google Translate on your phone to get a translation. CAT tools are useful for professional translators as they allow us to translate quicker and more efficiency. By using CAT tools, we can build glossaries which will be helpful throughout the project and for future projects in the same specialised area or for the same client in order to maintain consistency. CAT tools can store and ‘remember’ what a professional translator has inputted as a translation for a word or phrase previously in the project, and if this word or phrase is repeated, the CAT tool will insert the translator’s original translation to save him/her time.

The shortfalls of technology and AI in the translation industry

Although MT tools more often than they should be by corporations (to cut the cost of contracting a translator), they shouldn’t be used for this as they can’t replicate the work of professional human translators. AI can only ‘learn’ by collecting data and following the rules set out by human programmers.  It can only repeat and follow what humans have already done. It does not have the capacity to make creative decisions, rationalise, understand cultural references, nuances, and differences, or even understand register or style. This is why professional human translators are so essential, because they have the cultural knowledge and awareness to understand the context of the source text and make informed, appropriate decisions based on cultural awareness, morality, intuition and creativity. We know that translation is not just transferring words in one language into words in another, which is all Machine Translation is capable of. As we have seen, CAT tools are very useful for professional translators, however they will never replace them as they are designed to be a tool utilised by translators, to facilitate their work.

We can’t deny that technological advances and AI have hugely aided many industries, the languages industry being no exception, however it is important to remember the need for human workers to ensure the highest standard of output. Technology is not here to replace us; it is here to help us

It was without a doubt that Brexit meant there would be more obstacles in the way of being able to live abroad as a British citizen. As of 1^st January 2021, there are so many more steps and forms that need completing if you plan on staying in an EU country for more than 90 days. It’s so easy to accidentally miss a couple of these steps, so this article is here to make sure you remember which documents you need to translate in order to register in Spain.

Which documents need translating into Spanish?

There are two key documents that you need translating for your Spanish registration: a criminal record certificate and a medical certificate. When submitting the documents to the Spanish Consulate, the original English versions must also be notarised and legalised with an Apostille. You may also be asked for further documents to be translated, such as a birth certificate or documents similar to this, but this is something that you should check with the Spanish Consulate of your jurisdiction.

The British criminal record certificate actually has a different format to the Spanish version, and it includes special terminology only someone specialised in the field will most likely understand. The same goes for the medical certificate, as it needs to include the international health regulations. The British birth certificate also has a different format to the Spanish version. Due to the fact that these legal documents have such complex language within their field, it is important to get it translated by someone who is familiar with these fields of specialisation. Sworn Official Translators are experts in legal terminology, so it would be most wise to get the documents translated by a Sworn Translator to ensure accurate translations.

What is Sworn Translation?

Sworn translation is the translation of any official document that requires the signature, stamp or seal of an authorised translator. The original document and a specific format have to be respected, in order for it to be considered an official document in its own right.

Where to get your documents translated?

CBLingua has over 17 years’ experience in sworn translation, and a large team of qualified sworn translators, who appear on the official list of sworn translators and interpreters named by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of 2021.

To sum everything up, the two documents which you definitely need translating into Spanish are a criminal record certificate and a medical certificate, both apostilled. You may need other documents, such as a birth certificate also translating, but always check with your Spanish Consulate exactly which translated documents you will need. Make sure you get the documents translated officially by reliable Sworn Translators. Don’t forget to allow good time to get the documents translated so that you have them ready in time for your visa appointment. You want to be sure that you have all the right documents as you arrive at your appointment, as you don’t want to be turned away for not being prepared with all of your documents, plus you will still be charged the price for the visa application.

What is an official translator?

An official translator is one who is a member of a recognised professional translation body and is certified for their specific language pair (for example, Spanish to English). These bodies include associations such as the Institute of Translation and Interpreting in the UK. In order to become a member of one of these organisations and therefore become an official, or certified, translator, a translator must pass a test, be up to date with fees, and meet the continuous personal development requirements in order to remain certified and a member of the association. This means these official translators are certified and recognised as qualified and competent enough to be a reliable, official translator. However, for certain translation requirements it is essential to contract a sworn translator, like those at CBLingua.

What is a sworn translator?

A sworn translator has all the qualifications of a professional translator, such as a university degree in translation, but has additional qualifications and accreditations enabling them to complete legal translations that are accepted by official authorities and can be used for official purposes, such as residency applications, visas, studying abroad, working abroad, making business deals etc. A sworn translator has completed training and assessments in order to be accredited by relevant legal federal authorities, such as the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation meaning that their translations can be signed and stamped by them, rendering the translation legally valid before all relevant government and public authorities. This is necessary for the translation of any legal documents, contracts, certificates, letters etc. that are to be used for any bureaucratic or official processes. At CBLingua we are accredited sworn translators meaning we have the training, expertise and legal accreditation and validation necessary to translate official legal documents, granting the translations legal validity.

What is the difference between the UK and Spain with regards to official/sworn translation?

The UK is a common law country in which, whilst there are many official translators and translation bodies, there is no such thing as a sworn translator. However, in countries such as Spain, France and Germany, established networks of sworn translators exist, in which sworn translators are appointed and accredited by the relevant government authorities, granting their signatures and seals the power to legalize a translation of an official, legal document.

If you need any type of legal or official translation completing, CBLingua’s team of over one hundred and fifty translators can help you, as we are sworn translators in more than twenty-five different languages, with over seventeen years of experience accredited by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, as well as the American Translators Association.

What is the role and requirements of a professional translator?

A professional translator needs a variety of skills to be able to produce accurate, reliable, high quality translation work. Of course, they must have an excellent command of at least two languages (their native tongue and the other languages they translate), including grammatical and linguistic knowledge. They also must be knowledgeable in the field of translation they work in, such as medicine, or the legal sector. They must consistently and actively keep themselves informed and up to date about the field, by taking courses, reading etc. At CBLingua we have professional translators who specialise in legal translations are trained and qualified as sworn translators, meaning a translation bearing their signature and stamp, which have been validated by authorities such as the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, is valid before public authorities, such as consulates and embassies. CBLingua has a team of translators with knowledge in a vast range of other sectors, such as medical, commercial, financial, web, technical, scientific, touristic etc. Whatever your translation requirements may be, CBLingua is sure to have professional translators who are specialised, experienced and qualified to meet your specific needs.

Professional translators must also have a deep cultural and social awareness of the culture of the languages they work with in order to fully understand all manner of texts in order to make appropriate translation choices. Furthermore, they must keep to date with trends and emerging concepts in the translation sector and be dedicated and organised in order to meet deadlines. At CBLingua we have translators in over twenty-five languages who have over seventeen years’ experience in this, meaning our professional translators have excellent cultural and linguistic awareness, as well as a profound understanding of the translation industry. 

CBLingua moves with the times

At CBLingua we are always looking to do what’s best for our clients and keep up to date with the rapid technological, linguistic and cultural advancement of this modern world. We operate using an online platform for us of translators and clients alike, and electronic signatures, to facilitate and speed up the translation process in order to be able to offer our clients accurate translations completed by professional translators in a short space of time.