trámite
nounCEFR B1
What does “trámite” mean in English?
administrative step or procedure
administrative step or procedure (no English single-word equivalent); pl. los trámites = the required paperwork steps
Example sentences
Para renovar el permiso de residencia, hay que completar varios trámites administrativos que pueden llevar semanas si no se aporta la documentación correcta desde el principio.
To renew the residence permit, you have to complete several administrative procedures that can take weeks if the correct documentation is not provided from the start.
El último trámite que me falta por hacer es presentar el certificado de antecedentes penales, y entonces podré solicitar la autorización definitiva.
The last procedure I still have to complete is submitting the criminal record certificate, and then I will be able to apply for the final authorisation.
Le recomendamos que realice todos los trámites necesarios con suficiente antelación, ya que los plazos de resolución son a menudo más largos de lo previsto.
We recommend that you complete all the necessary procedures well in advance, as resolution times are often longer than expected.
How to use it
El trámite (masculine) is the administrative step or procedure that must be completed as part of an official process — there is no single-word English equivalent. Plural los trámites = the paperwork / administrative steps. Key collocates: realizar trámites (to carry out procedures), trámite obligatorio (mandatory step), trámite previo (prerequisite step). At B1 it often appears in frustration contexts alongside expressions like burocracia or papeleos. The accent is obligatory: trámite, not tramite.
Common mistake
The accent on trámite is critical: trámite (procedure) vs tramité (I processed, first person preterite of tramitar) — two different words. Los trámites is nearly always plural when referring to a bureaucratic process. Do not translate trámite as 'paperwork' alone — papeleo covers the frustration angle; trámite is the specific official step.