Official translation in Chile: when is MINREL required?
“Official,” “certified” and “sworn” are not interchangeable terms across countries. Start with the receiving institution’s written instructions to identify the translation service it requires.
Cortés Traducciones is an independent English–Spanish translation practice. It does not issue translations on behalf of Chile’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREL).
The Ministry’s translation service
MINREL operates its own document translation service and states that translations by other public or private institutions also have validity. This does not guarantee that every translation format meets every procedure. If your recipient specifically requests a translation issued through that service, use the Ministry’s process and check its current instructions directly.
A requirement for an “official translation” should be clarified before you pay. Ask which institution or professional may produce it, and what signatures and delivery format are required.
An independent translator’s certification
A private translation can include a signed statement identifying the translator and assignment. FEA may be available as part of that delivery. Neither a court-expert credential nor association membership turns it into a MINREL-issued document.
Where an independent service is appropriate, I can review your English–Spanish document and prepare a quote based on the recipient’s instructions.
Keep authentication and translation separate
An apostille or legalization concerns authentication; translation conveys the text in another language. A signature on a translation does not itself authenticate the foreign original.
Send the whole document package, including any existing authentication pages. Ask the receiving institution about the required order and scope of these steps.
A specific point about immigration
SERMIG’s published temporary residence criteria refer to authorized official translation for documents in languages other than Spanish or English. Do not assume that every English-language document needs translation.
The exact application and any additional institution’s requirements still matter. The general criterion should not be read as a universal rule for every Chilean procedure.
Explore related services and guidance
Official information
Reviewed October 7, 2026. Check current instructions for your procedure.
Before you send your documents
Does a court expert translator replace MINREL?
Not by default. Court-expert registration and the Ministry’s institutional translation service are different. Follow any express MINREL requirement.
Is an apostilled document already translated?
No. Authentication and translation perform separate functions; you may need one, both or neither for the intended submission.
What does “sworn translation” mean in Chile?
The term can refer to different legal arrangements abroad. Share the exact requirement, jurisdiction and recipient so the appropriate service can be assessed without assuming equivalence.
What should I ask the recipient?
Ask who may translate the document, whether it requires certification, FEA, a handwritten signature, notarization or authentication, and whether it accepts electronic delivery.
Have a document for review?
Describe the documents, readers, purpose and any recipient instructions. Start without attachments if needed. You’ll receive a proposal with scope, timing and price before work begins.