It is the translation of any document from one foreign language to another, which must be done by a certified (also known as sworn) translator. A certified translator is a translator who graduated with a Degree in Translation from the Faculty of Law (UDELAR) or the University of Montevideo (UM) and has been awarded the corresponding accrediting certificate.
Official translations are legally valid to be submitted to any public or private organization (ministries, courts, consulates, etc.). You may need an official translation when presenting certain documents, for example, financial documents (balance sheets, sworn statements, bank registration certificates), legal documents (contracts, by-laws and articles of association, letters rogatory, powers of attorney, judgments), civil status documents (birth, marriage and death certificates) or documents related to education (degrees, diplomas, schooling), among others.

In Uruguay, there are only certified translators for the following languages: German, French, English, Italian, and Portuguese.
If you require a translation in another language, you will have to hire an language expert recognized by the Uruguayan Association of Certified Translators. A language expert is a person who has demonstrable knowledge of a particular language (e.g., Chinese, Farsi, Russian, etc.) and can therefore assist the sworn translator in their work, co-signing the translation with them.

To provide you with the most accurate quote, please tell us:

• Your deadline: Knowing your timeframe helps us determine availability and potential rush fees.
  Document details:
• Document type: Is it a business report, marketing brochure, legal contract, etc.?
• Service needed: Do you require translation, editing, or proofreading?
• Document length: The word count or page count helps us estimate the workload.

This guide explains how to get your documents legalized for use in Uruguay or abroad. The process depends on where your document comes from and where it's headed.

1. Foreign documents from countries part of The Hague Convention:

• Authentication: Get the document stamped by the issuing office in the foreign country.
• Apostille: Have the document apostilled by the designated authority in that country (often the Ministry of Foreign Affairs). You can find a list of member countries online (https://www.wipo.int/hague/en/)

2. Foreign documents from countries not part of The Hague Convention:

• Origin: Get the document stamped by the issuing office in the foreign country.
• Foreign Ministry: Get it legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the issuing country.
• Uruguayan Embassy/Consulate: Have it legalized by the Uruguayan embassy or consulate in that country.
• Uruguayan Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Finally, get it legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Uruguay.

3. Documents to be submitted abroad

• Issuing Authority: Get the document stamped by the issuing authority in Uruguay.
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Have the document legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Uruguay. You can choose between an Apostille (if the receiving country is part of the Hague Convention) or legalization.

Translation:
Once legalized, you'll likely need the document translated into Spanish by a sworn translator in Uruguay. They'll add their official stamp and signature to both the translation and the original document.

For documents to be submitted abroad:

• The legalization of the translation may be required before the embassy or consulate of the country where the document will be submitted.
• We recommend contacting the relevant consulate for more details.

Important Note:
Legalization can take time, so plan ahead. There are also associated fees, so check the costs before you start.
For more details, please visit the websites of the Uruguayan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Hague Conference on Private International Law.

In any professional relationship, trust is of the utmost importance. We understand that your documents are important and confidential so to provide you with complete peace of mind, we can sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) to ensure your documents are always protected.