Sworn translation

When you need a translation of official documents with legal force, a standard translation is often insufficient. In that case, depending on a number of parameters, you will need a sworn or legalised translation.

Who issued the original document? What type of document is it? And what country do you need it for? These are a few important parameters for determining what type of certified translation you need. In order to get this sorted out, it is best to contact the authority for which the document is intended. They know whether legalisation is necessary and who should carry out the legalisation procedure. Untranslate will be happy to advise and assist you.

In the case of an ‘ordinary’ sworn translation, the sworn translator (sworn at a Court of First Instance) places his name, personal stamp and/or signature at the bottom of each page of the translated document and adds a sworn declaration. In it he declares that he has translated the text to the best of his knowledge and that the text is a faithful translation of the source document. As such, no corrections or reinterpretations should be made, even in the case of spelling errors or illegible seals. The formatting of the translation must also correspond to that in the source document.

In some cases, a sworn translation is insufficient; a legalisation is required. This means that the sworn translation is presented at a Court of First Instance where the signature and seal of the sworn translator are registered. The clerk of the court checks the translator’s signature and gives the translation a stamp and a declaration of validity (apostille) to prove its legal force. Depending on the type of document and the country of destination, this may be sufficient to consider the translation as a legal document. Countries that signed the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 accept an apostille provided by a Court of First Instance.

If the country of destination is not a contracting party to the Convention, the extended legalisation procedure must be followed. After legalisation at the Court of First Instance, the translation still has to go to one or more higher authorities. The exact process required depends on the type of document.
The competent authority – e.g. the Ministry of Justice or the Chamber of Commerce – then adds additional seals and apostilles to confirm the validity of the translation.

Sworn and legalised translations are always returned inhard copy. In order to validate the documents, both the source document and the translation must bear signatures and stamps. This means shipping costs will also be charged on top of the sworn translation.

The price of a sworn translation depends on the number of words, the level of complexity of the text, the type of sworn translation, the desired delivery date and the language combination. This is why we always draw up a quote for sworn translations based on an analysis of the source documents.

Contact us for more information or request a free quote.