Why Spanish-language documents need careful translation
If your company is based in Spain or another Spanish-speaking market, the papers you submit for a China trademark — power of attorney, certificate of incorporation, registry extract — are almost always in Spanish. CNIPA works in Chinese, so each document must be translated, and several Spanish-specific details decide whether the translation is accepted without a query. A double surname handled as a single name, a Nota Simple filed where a Certificación is expected, or an entity form rendered inconsistently can all send the file back.
Below are the Spanish points we handle most, so you know what to prepare before filing.
Which documents usually need translating
Foreign applicants generally need to translate:
- Poder notarial (power of attorney) — mandatory unless you have a business presence in China; it appoints your China agent.
- Certificado de constitución / escritura de constitución — the certificate of incorporation showing the exact registered name and legal form.
- Certificación del Registro Mercantil — the commercial registry extract confirming the entity and its standing.
- Priority documents — if you claim Paris Convention priority within six months of an earlier filing.
- Documentos de cambio de denominación o domicilio — name or address change certificates.
- Actos de cesión o licencia — assignment or licence deeds when relying on prior rights.
Our general guide to translating corporate documents for a China trademark covers the rules that apply to every language. The notes below are specific to Spanish.
Spanish entity forms and how they are rendered
Spanish company names carry a legal-form suffix that must be translated consistently:
- S.L. (Sociedad Limitada) — a private limited company; noted as 有限责任公司.
- S.A. (Sociedad Anónima) — a public limited company; noted as 股份有限公司.
- S.L.U. (Sociedad Limitada Unipersonal) — a single-member limited company.
- S.A.S. (Sociedad por Acciones Simplificada) — used in some Latin American jurisdictions.
- S.C. (Sociedad Civil) — a civil partnership, common for professional firms.
Whatever the form, the registered name before the suffix is kept as filed, and the suffix is noted in Chinese. The form on the poder, the certificado, and the application must match — "Industrias García, S.L." on one document and "Industrias García, S.A." on another is a classic mismatch that draws an office action.
Nota Simple versus Certificación
Spanish applicants sometimes supply a Nota Simple from the Registro Mercantil, an informal registry excerpt. For trademark filings we recommend the Certificación, the formal extract, because it states the registered particulars with the registry's certification. The Nota Simple can omit details an examiner wants. If you only have a Nota Simple, tell us early so we can flag the gap rather than discover it at examination.
Transliterating Spanish names into Chinese
Spanish names raise two transliteration issues that do not appear in English:
- Double surnames — a name such as "María García López" carries two surnames (García from the father, López from the mother). Both are part of the legal name. A Chinese transliteration must preserve both; dropping the maternal surname changes the identity on the register. We keep both surnames and the given name in a single consistent form.
- Particles — "de", "de la", "del" and similar connectors belong to the surname and must travel with it (for example, "Ramírez de Arellano"). Splitting the particle off distorts the name.
Accents matter too: "José", "Ñoqui", "Perú" carry meaning differences that should survive into the transliteration notes, even though Chinese characters cannot reproduce the accent marks themselves.
The power of attorney in Spanish
The poder should name your China agent exactly and state a clear scope — filing, prosecution, and registration. Spanish phrasing such as "apoderado" versus "representante" can be read differently by an examiner, so we render the authority in Chinese without ambiguity. Keep the original Spanish and the Chinese translation side by side in the filed set.
Apostille and certification
Spain is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, and China acceded in 2023, so for most Spanish public documents an apostille replaces the older two-step legalisation. The precise path still depends on the document type and the year it was issued, so confirm the current requirement for your papers in our by-country reference and the what to notarise guide.
The translation statement (ordinary translation, not sworn)
CNIPA requires a Chinese translation of any Spanish-language document, accompanied by a translation statement attesting completeness and accuracy, with the translator or agency details and a date. Spain uses traductores jurados (sworn translators), but China does not require that specific qualification; a professional translation with a statement is what is filed. We deliver the Spanish-to-Chinese translation with the statement attached and ready to submit.
How we handle Spanish translations
Our Spanish-to-Chinese work is done by translators working in intellectual-property contexts, not generalists. For each client we keep a glossary so the applicant name, legal form, and key goods terms are rendered identically across the poder, the certificado, and the application. Before filing, we cross-check the transliterated applicant name against the mark you intend to register, because a mismatch is one of the quieter causes of refusals.
Translating the goods and services list from Spanish
The specification of goods and services is itself translated from your Spanish filing. Spanish terms such as "servicios de venta al por menor" or "software descargable" must be mapped onto the Chinese accepted vocabulary and the correct Nice class. A literal translation can drift outside what CNIPA accepts, producing a correction notice. We align the Chinese wording with classification practice rather than translating word for word.
Notarial wording and signatures
Spanish documents often carry notarial wording and handwritten signatures. These do not need translating word for word, but the substantive particulars — name, legal form, registry data — do. We translate the particulars and note the notarial form so the examiner sees the document is properly executed.
Legal name versus trade name
In Spanish markets the registered company name can differ from the brand you actually use. For a trademark filing, translate the registered name as the applicant; if you want the brand protected, that is a separate mark decision covered in our Chinese-name guide. Mixing the two on one form is a frequent source of office actions.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to translate my Spanish company documents into Chinese for a China trademark?
Yes. CNIPA examines filings in Chinese, so any Spanish-language document must be submitted with a Chinese translation and a translation statement.
What is the difference between a Nota Simple and a Certificación for CNIPA?
A Certificación is the formal registry extract with the registry's certification; a Nota Simple is an informal excerpt that may omit details. We recommend the Certificación for filings.
How do you transliterate a Spanish double surname into Chinese?
Both surnames are preserved as part of the legal name — for example, both García and López — so the register entry matches the Spanish company record.
Is an apostille enough for Spanish documents in China?
For most Spanish public documents, yes, an apostille replaces legalisation after China's 2023 accession. Confirm the path for your specific document in our by-country reference.
Can I file my Spain trademark in Chinese characters?
You can adopt a Chinese-character mark, and many Spanish brands do. Whether you need one is a strategy choice covered in our Chinese-name guide.
How long does a Spanish-to-Chinese translation take?
A standard filing set is typically turned around in a few business days, faster when the glossary is already established for a returning client.