Sworn translation

In France, the translators must be an official sworn translator, who then stamps and signs the translation.

In the French territory, sworn translators are authorised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, subject to passing a test administered by the Tribunal de Grande Instance (TGI) and taking an oath before the French court. If the client requests a French sworn translation, we contact our trusted local translator, who is on the official list of sworn translators. The translator certifies that the content of the translation is accurate and true to the original text. If the client requests a sworn translation by a translator living in a country other than France (which, for convenience, could also be the client’s country), we manage the sworn translation procedure in that country and validation/legalisation for use in France. In France, apostilles are issued by the authorities indicated here: https://assets.hcch.net/docs/e7b31b40-450f-42d6-bb53-95e02f8e9976.pdf.

In Germany, the translator must be an official a sworn translators (beeidigter Übersetzer), who then stamps and signs the translation. Sworn translators are appointed by the regional courts (Landgerichte). If the client requests a sworn translation by a translator in Germany, we contact our trusted local translator, who is on the official list of sworn translators. The translator certifies that the content of the translation is accurate and true to the original text, exclusively for translations in the language combinations authorised by the regional court. If the client requests a sworn translation by a translator living in a country other than Germany (which, for convenience, could also be the client’s country), we manage the sworn translation procedure in that country and validation/legalisation for use in Germany. In Germany, the apostille is issued by the Prefecture or by the Public Prosecutor’s Office, according to jurisdiction: the Prefecture issues apostilles for documents issued by public bodies, such as municipalities, ministries, universities, local health authorities, social security institutions, chambers of commerce and the Revenue Agency. The Public Prosecutor’s Office issues apostilles for documents authenticated by notaries, certified copies of notarial deeds, court-sworn or court-certified translations and criminal record certificates.

In Greece, sworn translations are produced by: the Certified Translation Service of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, lawyers who are familiar with the source and target language of the document, graduates of the Ionian University, members of the Panhellenic Association of Professional Translators who graduated from the Ionian University, as well as graduates of other EU universities with a degree in translation – duly certified by the Greek Ministry of Education.

• If we refer to Translation Service of the Greek Ministry for Foreign Affairs, an appointment is arranged to deliver the documents and communicate the required language combination, the deadlines and any special requirements. The documents are translated and certified by translators registered as official translators of the Greek Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The ministry certifies the authenticity of the translators’ signatures, then stamps and attaches the translation to the original to create a single set of documents.
• If SMG’s trusted local translator is a lawyer who knows the source and target language of the translation, the PM communicates the required language combination, the deadlines and any special requirements. The lawyer translates the text and certifies it by stamp and signature.
• If SMG’s trusted local translator is a graduate of the Ionian University, a member of the Panhellenic Association of Professional Translators who graduated from the Ionian University or a graduate of other EU universities with a degree in translation duly certified by the Greek Ministry of Education, the authorisation requires that the sworn translation be the translator’s own work, to which they affixed a personal seal.

If the client requests a sworn translation by a translator living in a country other than Greece (which, for convenience, could also be the client’s country), we manage the sworn translation procedure in that country and validation/legalisation for use in Greece. In Greece, the apostille is issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If the public documents come from a country that is not a signatory state of the Hague Convention, they must be validated by the Greek consular authority in the country of origin or by the consular authority of that country in Greece and subsequently by the Validation Department (KEPAE) of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Greek Validation Department of the International Relations Service of Thessaloniki (Y.DI.S).

In Italy, the sworn translation procedure is called asseverazione (Court certification), in which a single stapled ‘dossier’ is created consisting of the original (or a certified copy) followed by the translation and, finally, the sworn statement. If the translation is carried out in the jurisdiction of a Court that has its own official list of authorised sworn translators (Ruolo dei traduttori giurati del Tribunale), we contact one of the translators on this list and arrange an appointment at the competent court for the presentation of the translation and the original document. A court official signs and stamps the translation and the sworn statement. If the translation is carried out in the jurisdiction of a Court that does not have its own official list of authorised sworn translators, as it is the case at the Court of Brescia, we assign the translation to one of our own trusted translators and arrange an appointment at the competent court for the presentation of the translation and the original document. A court official signs and stamps the translation and the sworn statement. If the client requests a sworn translation by a translator living in a country other than Italy (which, for convenience, could also be the client’s country), the PM manages the sworn translation procedure in that country and validation/legalisation for use in Italy. In Italy, the authority responsible for the legalisation or the issue of apostilles is the Prefettura U.T.G. (Territorial Government Office) for documents issued by municipalities and schools, while the authority responsible for deeds signed by notaries, court clerks and court officials is the Public Prosecutor’s Office (Procura della Repubblica). Documents issued by the chambers of commerce are legalised internally.

In Portugal, sworn translations are produced directly by the translator by stamp and signature before a notary, an official of the Chamber of Commerce, a lawyer or a solicitor pursuant to Decree-Law No 237/2011 of 30 August. If the client requests a sworn translation by a translator in Portugal, we contact a notary, a Chamber of Commerce, a lawyer or a solicitor who works in the vicinity of the translator and arrange an appointment for the presentation of the translation and the original document. The translator makes a sworn statement that the translation is accurate and true to the original. The statement is certified and stamped by the public official and thus assumes legal validity. If the client requests a sworn translation by a translator living in a country other than Portugal (which, for convenience, could also be the client’s country), we manage the sworn translation procedure in that country and validation/legalisation for use in Portugal. In Portugal, apostilles are issued by the Prefecture or by the Public Prosecutor’s Office, depending on territorial jurisdiction: the Prefecture issues apostilles for documents issued by public bodies, while the Public Prosecutor’s Office issues apostilles for documents authenticated by notaries, certified copies of notarial deeds and court-sworn or court-certified translations.

In Spain, sworn translations can only be produced by sworn translators (traductores jurados) approved by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation (MAEC, Ministerio de Asuntos exteriores, Unión Europea y Cooperación), duly stamped and signed.

In the Spanish territory, all sworn translators hold an identification card (tarjeta de crédito) with name and surname, identity card or passport number, translator/interpreter identification number, nationality, authorised language combinations and date of registration. If the client requests a sworn translation by a translator living in Spain, we contact our trusted local sworn translator. The translator certifies that the translation is accurate and true to the original by stamping and signing a certificate of authenticity.

If the client requests a sworn translation by a translator living in a country other than Spain (which, for convenience, could also be the client’s country), we manage the sworn translation procedure in that country and validation/legalisation for use in Spain. In Spain, apostilles are issued by various authorities (government office of the Supreme Court, notaries or Ministry of Justice) depending on the type of document, which is clearly illustrated in the guide published by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs on its website.

In the United Kingdom, translators can notarise translations before a Notary Public (for local use), which can then by legalised by the foreign Commonwealth Office (for use in another country). If the client requests a sworn translation by a translator living in the United Kingdom, we identify a Notary Public who works in the vicinity of the translator and arrange an appointment for presenting the translation and the original document, to which is attached a sworn statement by the translator. The Notary Public certifies the translation by stamp and signature. If the client requests a sworn translation by a translator living in a country other than the United Kingdom (which, for convenience, could also be the client’s country), we manage the sworn translation procedure in that country and validation/legalisation for use in the UK. In the UK, apostilles are issued by the Milton Keynes Foreign Office.