Certified English-to-Spanish translations issued by a professional translator are valid by default for procedures in Chile. The service is intended for documents issued in English that must be submitted to Chilean public authorities, companies, universities, municipalities, courts, immigration authorities, tendering entities, customs agencies and other institutions.
Or language 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 No. 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 or another specifically designated official 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 certification of 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 Foreign Birth and Marriage Certificates
Foreign birth and marriage certificates submitted specifically for registration with the Chilean Civil Registry must be translated through the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
This is a limited exception related to the registration of a foreign civil-status event in Chile. It does not apply merely because the document is a birth or marriage certificate.
A privately certified translation may be used when those same certificates are submitted for other purposes, including immigration procedures before SERMIG, court matters, employment, education, municipal procedures, tenders or other administrative uses 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.
Immigration Documents for SERMIG
Documents issued in English may be translated into Spanish for residence applications and other procedures before the Chilean National Migration Service (SERMIG).
- Police clearance certificates and criminal record certificates.
- Birth and marriage certificates.
- Documents proving family relationships.
- Employment certificates.
- Financial supporting documents.
- Academic and professional records.
- Supporting documents for temporary and permanent residence applications.
- Complete immigration files containing several related documents.
The translation includes apostilles, legalisation pages, seals, signatures and reverses whenever they form part of the file submitted 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. There is no special MINREL restriction for academic documents.
- 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.
- Certificate of Accuracy: the translation includes a statement confirming that it is complete and faithful.
- 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 Advanced Electronic Signature certifies the translation. It 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 notarisation service has an additional fixed cost of CLP 30,000. For assignments exceeding ten translated pages, this additional cost may be 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 has been reconstructed, and the complete translation has been 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.
- Notarial services are quoted according to the required modality.
- 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 No. 2,660 of the International Association of Professional Translators and Interpreters, IAPTI.
Traducciones Certificadas operates commercially through Servicios Lingüísticos Polyglot SpA, legally represented by Héctor Milla Guerrero. The company issues VAT-exempt invoices or receipts for translation services.