Sworn translation
Sworn / Certified translation
- What it is
- A translation made by an authorised translator and having official force
- Who does it
- A sworn or accredited translator on an official list
- How it differs
- From an ordinary translation — by its legal force and the translator’s liability
- Where to have it done
- Most often in the country where the documents are filed
- When to have it done
- After the apostille has been added, so that the stamp is translated too
In plain words
A sworn translation is a translation made by a translator who holds official authority and is entered in the register of the competent body. Such a translation has legal force: the translator certifies it with their signature and seal and is liable for its accuracy.
The difference from an ordinary translation is fundamental. An agency may translate the text brilliantly, but without the translator’s official status the document will not be accepted. Systems differ between countries: in some there are sworn translators attached to the courts, in others translators accredited with ministries or consulates, and in others notarial certification of the translator’s signature is required.
Two practical rules. First: the translation is done after the apostille — otherwise the stamp will be left untranslated and the set will be returned. Second: confirm where exactly the translation must be made. Many countries accept only translations made by their own sworn translators, and a translation made at home will prove useless.
When a sworn translation is needed
What to check
- Official status
- Entry in the register
- Authority for the required language pair
- Completeness, including stamps
- Translation of the apostille
- Consistent spelling of names
- Signature and seal
- Certification wording
- Binding with the original or a copy
- Where to have the translation done
- Timelines
- Cost per page
The right sequence
- 01Receive the document
- 02Add the apostille
- 03A sworn translation of the whole document
- 04Check the spelling of names
- 05Submitting the documents
What you need to know
- An ordinary agency translation is often not accepted
- The whole document is translated, including stamps and the apostille
- The spelling of names must match the passport
- Requirements for where the translation is done differ by country
- The translator is liable for accuracy
Common mistakes
- Translating a document before the apostille
- Ordering the translation in the wrong country
- Using an ordinary translation instead of a sworn one
- Allowing inconsistencies in the spelling of names
- Translating only the main part rather than the whole document
What this means for a BRIDGES client
We fix a single spelling of names according to the passport in advance and make sure it matches in every translation in the set. It is a small detail that regularly causes additional requests and lost weeks.
Frequently asked questions
01 /How does a sworn translation differ from an ordinary one?
By its legal force. It is made by a translator with official authority who is entered in the register and is liable for its accuracy through their signature and seal.
02 /Can I use an ordinary translation agency?
Often not: the receiving authority requires an official translation. Sometimes a translation with notarial certification of the translator’s signature is accepted.
03 /Where should the translation be done?
Most often in the country where the documents are filed. Many countries accept only translations by their own sworn translators.
04 /Translate before or after the apostille?
After. Otherwise the apostille will be left untranslated and the set will be returned for correction.
05 /Do the stamps need to be translated?
Yes, the document is translated in full, including seals, stamps and the apostille. A partial translation is a reason for refusal.
06 /What should be done about different spellings of a name?
Bring all documents to a single spelling according to the passport. Inconsistencies raise questions about identification.
See also
Read next
This material has undergone editorial review by BRIDGES.
Need translations for your application?
We will tell you where and in what form to have the translation done so that it is accepted first time.