English ↔ Spanish — Professional & Certified
Word-for-word English–Spanish certified translations prepared to meet the requirements of immigration authorities, courts, universities, and government agencies. Every translation includes a signed certification statement.
Understanding Certified Translation
A certified translation is more than a word-for-word rendering — it carries an attestation that makes it acceptable to official bodies.
A certified translation is a complete, accurate rendering of a source document into a target language, accompanied by a signed certification statement from the translator. That statement declares, under the translator's professional responsibility, that the translation is faithful to the original in content and meaning.
Unlike a standard translation — which conveys the meaning of a document for general reading — a certified translation preserves every element of the original: names, dates, document numbers, official seals, stamps, and formatting details. Nothing is paraphrased or omitted.
At Meridian Translations, every certified translation is completed by Santiago Pedraza, a professional translator with a University of Malta translation qualification, working exclusively between English and Spanish. The certification statement is signed by Santiago and delivered with your translation.
This format is the standard accepted by immigration authorities, courts, universities, and government bodies. Our translations are prepared to meet the requirements of these institutions — we cannot speak to the internal acceptance policies of any individual body, which may vary.
Common Use Cases
Government agencies, academic institutions, and courts regularly require foreign-language documents to be accompanied by a certified translation before they can be processed.
Immigration authorities — including USCIS in the United States, UK Visas and Immigration, and equivalent bodies in Australia, Canada, and other countries — require certified translations of foreign-language documents submitted with visa and residency applications.
See our USCIS certified translation page for more detail on US immigration requirements.
Courts and legal proceedings typically require that any foreign-language document introduced as evidence or attached to a filing is accompanied by a certified translation. This applies to contracts, birth and marriage certificates, affidavits, and other legal records.
See our legal translation page for court and legal document translation.
Academic institutions frequently require certified translations of diplomas, transcripts, and other educational records as part of the admissions process. The translation must be prepared to the institution's standard before it can be evaluated.
Document Types
We provide certified English–Spanish translation for the personal, civil, and legal documents most commonly required by official institutions.
Certified translations for immigration, nationality applications, and identity registration.
Learn more →Certified translations for spousal visa applications, name changes, and legal proceedings.
Learn more →Accurate certified translations for estate, probate, and administrative proceedings.
Learn more →Academic diplomas and transcripts for university admission, professional licensing, and recognition.
Learn more →Passport and travel document translations for visa applications and identity verification.
Learn more →Language Pair
Meridian Translations specialises exclusively in English and Spanish. This specialisation allows us to maintain the depth of linguistic and cultural knowledge that accurate, certified translation demands.
English-language documents translated into Spanish — for use by Spanish-speaking institutions, government bodies, or individuals in Spanish-speaking countries.
Spanish-language documents translated into English — the language pair most commonly required for immigration filings, academic applications, and legal proceedings in English-speaking countries.
We do not offer translation into or from any other languages. If your document is not in English or Spanish, please contact us and we will advise accordingly.
Simple Process
Three straightforward steps from document submission to certified delivery.
Upload or email a clear scan or photograph of your document. We accept PDFs, JPEGs, and other common formats. We handle all materials with strict confidentiality.
We review your document and provide a clear quote — including cost and estimated turnaround — usually within one business day. No obligation to proceed.
Once you approve the quote, Santiago Pedraza completes the translation and attaches the signed certification statement. Your translation is delivered digitally; printed copies can be arranged on request.
Transparent Pricing
Certified translation is priced per page. Request a quote for an exact figure based on your document.
Includes signed certification statement, suitable for immigration, courts, and universities.
Final pricing depends on document length, complexity, and turnaround requirements. Visit our pricing page for full details.
Translator Credentials
Every certified translation at Meridian is completed by one qualified professional — not outsourced, not machine-generated.
Santiago Pedraza is our certified translator at Meridian Translations. Santiago holds a translation qualification from the University of Malta and works exclusively between English and Spanish. All certified translations are completed directly by Santiago and accompanied by his signed certification statement.
Meridian Translations does not subcontract work to other translators or use machine translation as a substitute for human translation. Documents you send are reviewed, translated, and certified by Santiago personally.
If you have questions about the translator's qualifications or the certification process before placing an order, please get in touch.
Related Services
Depending on your needs, you may also require one of the following services alongside or instead of a standard certified translation.
Contracts, court documents, affidavits, and legal correspondence — translated with precise, field-specific terminology.
Legal translation →Translations prepared in a format suitable for notarization, when required by a receiving authority or institution.
Notarized translation →Certified translations prepared to meet the requirements of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for immigration document submissions.
USCIS translation →Common Questions
A certified translation is a complete, word-for-word translation of a document, accompanied by a signed certification statement from the translator. The statement attests that the translation is accurate and complete to the best of the translator's knowledge. This is the standard format required by immigration authorities, courts, universities, and government bodies.
You typically need a certified translation when submitting a foreign-language document to any official body — including immigration authorities (such as USCIS), courts, universities, or government agencies. Common documents include birth certificates, marriage certificates, diplomas, transcripts, and passports. Check directly with the receiving institution if you are unsure whether certification is required.
Meridian Translations works exclusively between English and Spanish — translating from English to Spanish and from Spanish to English. We do not offer translation into or from any other language.
Turnaround depends on document length and complexity. We provide a clear turnaround estimate with every quote. To get an accurate timeline, send us your document and we will respond within one business day.
Tell us about your project and we'll send you a precise quote — usually within one business day.
