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Certified translation, legalisation and apostille - what's the difference

22655 Views 2 Liked Posted on: 20 February 2020

You are plannig a trip abroad and are told that your documents need to be legalised or apostilled? You will need a certified translation done by a sworn translator.

 

Sworn translations have an official status

 

This type of translation is also called a certified translation. Note that a sworn translation is only valid if it has been done by an sworn translator, accredited by the court of appeal in France, the Landgericht in Germany or appointed by the court or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for other countries.

Sworn translations are therefore very important both in France, Germany, Spain and abroad. The sworn translator's seal and signature attest to the validity of the certified translation.
That’s why you need to look for agencies such as ACSTraduction which guarantee you a certified translation that is valid before the authorities in France, Germany, Spain and abroad.

Certified translation, Official translation, Sworn translation - all these terms are often used as synonyms. They refer to the same type of translation done by a sworn translator.

 

Legalisation is an important step - and often required

 

In France / Within the European Union

If your certified translation is required in France, the signature of the sworn translator does not need to be legalised and you can give the certified translation directly to the authority requesting it.

 

Abroad

If your certified translation will be used outside the European Union, the signature of the sworn translator may need to be legalised. This depends on both the recipient of the translation and their requirements. It’s a good idea to find out the requirements before requesting a certified translation done by a sworn translator.
Legalisation is a procedure that must be completed by a sworn translator who will have their signature authenticated beforehand before a Notary Public or a Mayor. The legalisation of the signature is usually required if the certified translation is intended for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Consulate or the Embassy. Each country has different regulations depending on the country of the original document, you need to check with the receiving authorities whether a legalisation step is required.
As such, it is necessary to pass on this information when you contact translation agencies.

 

The Apostille is a type of simplified legalisation - often required abroad

 

It is generally advisable to have your documents apostilled before having them translated by a sworn translator. You should check with the foreign institutions that require the certified translation first. Here are some examples of documents that can be apostilled:

  • - birth, marriage and death certificates;
  • - extracts from criminal records;
  • - wills and judgments;
  • - tax returns;
  • - school and/or university diplomas, certificates.
  •  

When the legalisation of the signature of the sworn translator is complete, you will have two options regarding the apostille:

[1] If the receiving country signed the Hague Convention (Convention signed on 5 October 1961 abolishing the requirement of legalisation for foreign public documents) and if you are going to a country where both the original and the translation will be required, you will need to present the original and its certified translation to the apostille service of the court of appeal or legalisation bureau to which the person who legalized the signature of the sworn translator is attached.

[2] If the receiving country has not signed the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961, you should turn to the legalisation office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then to the consulate or embassy of the foreign country concerned, and provide the original document and its certified translation.

 

You can contact translation agencies like ACSTraduction who provide their customers with certified, legalised translations and also certified translations of apostilles done by a sworn translator. We advise you to contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the embassy or consulate for any information concerning the steps to be taken and the supporting documents to be provided.

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