Professional English-to-Spanish certified translations are generally accepted for procedures in Chile unless the receiving institution expressly requires a particular translation or certification modality. The service is intended for documents issued in English that must be submitted in Spanish to Chilean public authorities, courts, universities, companies and other institutions.
Our translation services can be ordered from Chile or from abroad. Documents are received electronically, translated in mirror format, sent to the client for review and delivered as a certified PDF signed with an Advanced Electronic Signature under Chilean Law N° 19.799.
When a procedure requires an additional formality, the same service can be upgraded to online notarisation or to a hand-signed notarised translation. A different institutional translation service is required only in the limited cases where the applicable procedure expressly requires a translation issued by the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a Chilean consulate or another specifically designated service.
Certified Translation Services for Documents Used in Chile
The service covers official, public, private, commercial, technical, academic and immigration documents originally issued in English and required in Spanish for use in Chile.
Each translation is prepared by a qualified professional translator and includes the complete content of the original document, including tables, seals, signatures, handwritten annotations, validation pages, apostilles, legalisation certificates, reverses and annexes, whenever they form part of the submitted document.
The final translation is issued with a Certificado de Traducción (Certificate of Translation) confirming completeness and accuracy, the translator’s professional details and an Advanced Electronic Signature that protects the integrity of the PDF.
Which Type of Certified Translation Is Required in Chile?
In Chile, a certified translation with an Advanced Electronic Signature is the standard option. Additional formalities are incorporated only when the receiving institution expressly requires them.
| Requirement | Appropriate Service |
|---|---|
| No special formality is required | Certified translation with Advanced Electronic Signature |
| Notarisation is required, but no handwritten signature, physical appearance or physical original is requested | Online notarised certified translation |
| A handwritten signature, physical original, in-person notarisation or apostille of the translation is required | Hand-signed, notarised, certified translation |
| The procedure expressly requires a translation issued by the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs or another designated official service | The expressly required institutional service must be used |
The notarised options do not replace the certified translation. They add the specific notarial formality required by the receiving institution.
Important Exception for the Registration of Foreign Civil-Status Records
Foreign birth, marriage and death certificates submitted specifically to register in Chile a civil-status event that occurred abroad require the translation modality established by the Chilean Civil Registry.
When the foreign certificate is issued in a language other than Spanish, the translation must be obtained from the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs or prepared through the corresponding consular channel, subject to the applicable legalisation requirements.
This is a limited exception connected to the registration in Chile of a birth, marriage or death that occurred abroad. It does not apply merely because the document is a birth, marriage or death certificate.
For other purposes, those same certificates may be submitted with a professionally certified translation unless the receiving authority expressly requires a different modality. Possible uses include court proceedings, employment, education, municipal procedures, tenders, inheritance matters and other administrative procedures in Chile.
Apostilles and Legalisation of Documents Issued Abroad
A certified translation does not replace the apostille or legalisation of the original foreign document. When the applicable procedure requires an apostille or legalisation, that formality must be completed for the original document before the final translation is prepared.
The apostille, legalisation page, consular certification and any related seals or signatures form part of the document and must also be translated into Spanish.
- Send every page in its original order.
- Include the apostille or legalisation certificate.
- Include reverses containing seals, signatures or annotations.
- Do not crop validation codes, margins, signatures or stamps.
- Use a clear PDF or a complete, high-quality scan.
Corporate and Commercial Documents
English-language corporate documents are frequently required in Spanish for company formation, representation, commercial operations, banking, regulatory procedures and legal matters in Chile.
- Articles of Incorporation.
- Bylaws and company statutes.
- Certificates of Good Standing.
- Board resolutions and shareholders’ resolutions.
- Powers of attorney.
- Commercial contracts and agreements.
- Financial statements and corporate reports.
- Company registration certificates.
- Supporting documents for operations before Chilean institutions.
Tender and Procurement Documents
Complete tender files can be translated from English into Spanish for submission in public or private procurement procedures in Chile.
- Corporate background documents.
- Technical proposals.
- Commercial proposals.
- Experience certificates.
- Manufacturer’s declarations.
- Compliance and eligibility certificates.
- Annexes, schedules and supporting evidence.
Large tender files are evaluated according to their volume, format, complexity and delivery deadline. Tables, annexes and repeated sections are reviewed before the quotation is issued.
Certificates of Origin and Product Documentation
Certificates and supporting documents for products imported into Chile may require translation into Spanish for review, validation, customs procedures, regulatory compliance or commercial use.
- Certificates of origin.
- Certificates of conformity.
- Manufacturer’s certificates.
- Product specifications.
- Import and export documents.
- Customs documentation.
- Declarations of compliance.
- Safety, composition and testing certificates.
Technical Reports and Quality Control Documents
Complete technical and quality files can be translated while preserving their structure, terminology, tables, measurements, inspection results and supporting annexes.
- Product quality control reports.
- Inspection reports.
- Laboratory reports.
- Technical specifications.
- Quality assurance documents.
- Manufacturing and testing records.
- Product validation reports.
- Complete technical quality reports.
- Health authority and regulatory documents.
Technical terminology is translated based on the document’s context. Units, numerical values, test results and references are reproduced without altering the source information.
English-Language Documents Submitted to SERMIG
Documents issued in English do not require translation into Spanish when submitted in residence applications before the Chilean National Migration Service (SERMIG). Under SERMIG’s official document criteria, only documents issued in a language other than Spanish or English must be accompanied by an authorised translation. Therefore, an English-language document should not be translated solely for submission to SERMIG.
Academic Documents and Municipal Driving Licence Procedures
Educational documents can be translated for universities, professional institutions, employers, public bodies and municipalities in Chile. The required certification modality depends on the express requirements of the receiving institution.
- Academic transcripts.
- School and university certificates.
- Diplomas and academic degrees.
- Course descriptions and study programmes.
- Certificates of enrolment or completion.
- Documents used to demonstrate prior studies before a Chilean municipality.
- Educational documents required when applying for or validating a driving licence.
Civil, Judicial and Administrative Documents
- Birth certificates.
- Marriage certificates.
- Death certificates.
- Divorce judgments and court decisions.
- Driving licences and driving records.
- Municipal documents.
- Documents submitted before courts, the Judiciary or administrative authorities.
- Documents issued by or submitted to the Chilean Internal Revenue Service (SII).
- Customs and regulatory documents.
What Is Included in the Certified Translation?
- Complete translation: all relevant text is translated without omissions.
- Mirror formatting: the translation closely follows the original document’s layout and structure.
- Tables and technical content: numerical values, columns and headings are reproduced accurately.
- Seals and signatures: they are translated or identified through technical descriptions.
- Apostilles and legalisation pages: they are included in the translated file.
- Illegible content: it is identified without inventing information.
- Certificado de Traducción (Certificate of Translation): the translation includes a statement confirming that it is complete and faithful to the source document.
- Professional identification: the translator’s name, qualifications and contact details are included.
- Advanced Electronic Signature: the final PDF is signed after the client approves the translation.
Advanced Electronic Signature under Chilean Law No. 19,799
The final certified translation is signed with an Advanced Electronic Signature. This identifies the signer, links the signature to the document and makes it possible to detect subsequent changes to the PDF.
The signed PDF can be verified electronically and delivered immediately by email. This allows the complete service to be ordered remotely, including by clients who are not physically located in Chile.
The translation is certified by the professional translator through the Certificado de Traducción (Certificate of Translation), and the final PDF is signed with an Advanced Electronic Signature. The electronic signature does not replace the apostille or legalisation of the original foreign document when that separate formality is required.
Online and Hand-Signed Notarised Translations
Most procedures in Chile can be completed with a certified translation signed electronically. When the receiving institution expressly requires notarisation, the service can be adapted to the required formality.
Online Notarisation
Online notarisation is appropriate when the procedure requires a notarial statement or notarisation but does not require a handwritten signature, physical appearance, physical original or apostille of the translation.
Hand-Signed Notarisation
A hand-signed notarised translation is prepared when the receiving institution requires a handwritten signature, an original physical document, in-person notarisation or an apostille of the translator’s signature.
The appropriate modality is determined from the express requirement of the receiving institution. The standard notarisation service has an additional cost of CLP 30,000. For assignments exceeding ten translated pages, the notarial certification cost is included in the quotation.
Rates and Delivery Times
Standard 24-Hour Service
The minimum rate for one certified page from English into Spanish is CLP 25,000. The standard delivery time is generally within 24 hours of order confirmation and receipt of the initial payment.
Discounts may apply from the second page depending on the amount of text, format, repetition and complexity of the document. Blank pages or pages containing very little text are evaluated separately.
For high-volume assignments of approximately 50 pages or more, the rate may be reduced to approximately CLP 15,000 per page when the files are clear, the format is manageable, and the delivery schedule allows the work to be planned appropriately.
Same-Day Urgent Translation
Same-day service has a reference rate of CLP 30,000 per page. The order must normally be confirmed before 1:00 p.m., and availability depends on the number of pages, the document format and the current workload.
Before accepting an urgent assignment, the complete file is reviewed to confirm that the requested deadline can be met.
Can the Translation Be Ordered from Outside Chile?
Yes. The service can be completed remotely from any country. The client sends the documents electronically, receives the quotation by email, reviews the translated version and receives the final certified PDF without travelling to Chile.
- Send the complete documents in PDF format.
- Identify the institution in Chile that will receive them.
- Indicate the purpose of the procedure.
- Confirm whether the original document has an apostille or legalisation.
- Indicate the required delivery date.
Translation and Certification Process
- The client sends the complete documents as clear PDF files or high-quality scans.
- The files are reviewed to confirm the number of pages, format, apostilles, legalisation pages and required certification modality.
- A quotation is issued with the price and delivery time.
- After acceptance, the client pays 50% of the agreed amount.
- The document format is reconstructed, and the complete translation is prepared.
- The translation is sent to the client for review and approval.
- Necessary corrections are made when they concern names, numbers or other details appearing in the source document.
- After approval, the client pays the remaining 50%.
- The final translation is certified with the agreed modality: Advanced Electronic Signature, online notarisation or hand-signed notarisation.
- The certified translation is delivered by email.
Payment Terms
- Payment is made by bank transfer.
- 50% is payable when the assignment begins.
- The remaining 50% is payable upon the client’s approval of the translation.
- The Advanced Electronic Signature is included in the agreed translation price.
- The applicable notarial modality is confirmed in advance. The standard notarisation service has an additional cost of CLP 30,000.
- A VAT-exempt invoice or receipt can be issued for the service.
Request a Quotation
To receive a quotation, send the complete documents and indicate the issuing country, the receiving institution in Chile, the purpose of the procedure, the number of pages and the required delivery date.
It is also important to indicate whether the document has an apostille or legalisation and whether the receiving institution has requested notarisation, a handwritten signature, an original physical document or another express formality.
Héctor Milla Guerrero
Telephone and WhatsApp: +56 9 9848 8392
Business hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Email: hector@traduccionescertificadas.cl
Héctor Milla is a professional liaison translator and interpreter trained at the American School of Translators and Interpreters (EATRI) and holds a Master’s Degree in Education from Universidad Central de Chile. He is also a Certified Professional Coach trained by the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
He is member 2660 of the International Association of Professional Translators and Interpreters, IAPTI.
Traducciones Certificadas operates commercially through Sociedad de Profesionales Polyglot SpA. The translation service is provided under the professional responsibility of Héctor Milla Guerrero, while the company is legally represented by Cristofer Milla. The company issues VAT-exempt invoices or receipts for translation services.