Copywrite Colombia Official Translations

Official Translators in Colombia

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Official Translations

What are official translations?

Ed Goodson - Official Translator, Manager of Copywrite Colombia, official translation agency
Ed Goodson – Official Translator, Manager of Copywrite Colombia, official translation agency

Official translations are documents translated and certified by an official translator, complete with their signature and official stamp. In Colombia, official translators must possess a stamp and resolution number issued by one of three authorized entities: Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Universidad de Antioquia, or the Colombian Ministry of Justice.

Previously, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cancillería) kept an official translator registry and recognized their signatures. However, Resolution 10547 of 2018 discontinued this practice. Since then, a certification from any of the approved institutions suffices. Additionally, official translators in Colombia can register their signatures with local notaries, who verify their credentials—essential for document legalization or apostilles through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Apostille and Legalization Requirements in Colombia

Official translators are regulated by each country’s specific laws. Generally, the translator’s signature and stamp fulfill local requirements.

However, in Colombia, translations needing apostilles or legalization by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs require prior authentication of the translator’s signature at the registered notary. This process is commonly known as “signature authentication” or “notarizing the translation.”

Key Features of Official Translations

Documents submitted to institutions must be translated by an official translator, certifying legality, accuracy, and validity through their signature and stamp.

Official translations guarantee authorities that documents are accurate, legally valid, and prepared by qualified translators. Unofficial or “simple” translations lack these formalities.

Essential Components of an Official Translation:

  • Header: Clearly stating “Official Translation.”
  • Official Translator’s Stamp: Including translator’s name, resolution number, issue year, and authorized languages.
  • Signature of Official Translator: Original signature at document end; initials may be used on each page for lengthy translations.
  • Seal Descriptions: Detailed explanations of any original legalization seals, verified for authenticity.
  • Translation Number: Each translation must have a unique, sequentially assigned number.

Important Information

These elements are essential for translations to be legally valid and recognized internationally. Official translations should be submitted along with the original document or a digital copy when presented to institutions.

Requirements may vary between institutions, but in most cases, digital copies bearing the translator’s signature and stamp are sufficient.

Your Trusted Source for Official Translations

At Copywrite Colombia, we recognize the significance of precise, high-quality official translations for legal, academic, and business purposes. We offer certified English-Spanish and Spanish-English translations at competitive rates, ensuring smooth and successful processes.

Conveniently located across Colombia

At Copywrite Colombia, we understand that notarizing the translator’s signature is a critical step for apostilles or legalization with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. That’s why we have convenient offices in eight strategic locations: Barranquilla, Bogotá, Bucaramanga, Cali, Cartagena, Chía, Medellín, and Pereira. These locations facilitate quick, secure collection of translations and streamline notarization, apostille, and legalization.

Find an Official Translator for Other Languages

For translations in languages beyond English and Spanish, please consult our Directory of Official Translators in Colombia, which lists qualified translators not affiliated with our agency.

Languages Covered by Official Translators in Colombia

Official translators in Colombia cover languages including:

For languages not listed, first translate into an available language.

The growing need for Official Translations

Today’s globalized world sees unprecedented cultural and commercial exchanges. Technology connects people, businesses, and institutions globally, breaking traditional barriers.

Traveling, studying abroad, and international employment opportunities are increasingly common. To facilitate these activities, documents must meet each country’s specific translation and legalization requirements.

For Colombians, this typically means officially translating Spanish documents for international acceptance.

How we can help

Whether traveling internationally, studying abroad, or managing overseas legal processes, our experienced translation team ensures accurate, reliable, and confidential document translations.

We respect your time, delivering promptly according to agreed deadlines to avoid delays. Your documents are handled securely and professionally.

Contact us today for pricing or with any questions you may have.