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You hear the phrase “sworn translation” with every document meant for an office, a court or a notary – but who is actually allowed to produce one, and how do you check that the translator is authorised? Sworn translators are appointed by the Slovak Ministry of Justice and kept in a public register. This article explains who a sworn translator is, how the MS SR register works, what a sworn translation must contain, and how it differs from a notarised translation.
Who is a sworn translator
A sworn translator (in Slovak súdny or “úradný” prekladateľ) is a person whom, under Act No. 382/2004 Coll. on experts, interpreters and translators, the Minister of Justice appoints and enters in the register kept by the Slovak Ministry of Justice. They must meet the education, experience and professional-exam requirements for the given language and take an oath.
Only such a translator may produce a sworn (úradný) translation – one that offices, courts and notaries accept as faithful to the original. A plain translation, however linguistically correct, from a “bilingual acquaintance” or an agency without this authorisation is not recognised by the office.
How the MS SR register works
The register of experts, interpreters and translators is public and is kept by the Slovak Ministry of Justice in electronic form. Anyone can search it by language for currently registered translators and verify whether a specific person really holds the authorisation. Every registered translator has an assigned registration number and an official round stamp.
So when you order a sworn translation, you do not have to “take anyone’s word for it” – the translator’s name and number can be checked at any time directly in the state register.
Source: List of translators, Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic · as of 2026
What a sworn translation must contain
A sworn translation is not just text – it is a bound document with precisely defined elements:
- the translation firmly bound to the original or to its certified or plain copy,
- a translator’s clause in which the translator confirms the completeness and accuracy of the translation,
- the official round stamp and signature of the sworn translator,
- the sequential number under which the act is recorded in the translator’s logbook.
Sworn translation, notarised translation and a sworn interpreter
These terms are often confused. A sworn (úradný) translation guarantees the fidelity of the translation – the sworn translator answers for it with their stamp. A notarial certification, by contrast, verifies the authenticity of a signature or that a copy matches the original, not the accuracy of a translation; so for documents for Slovak offices you usually need a sworn translation, not a “notarised translation”.
A sworn interpreter, in turn, provides oral rendering (at an interview, a wedding, a notary) – a separate authorisation. Some professionals are registered as both translators and interpreters; if you need both, we can combine them with a single provider.
Paper and electronic form
A sworn translation exists in two equivalent forms. The paper one is the classic document with a stamp and binding. An electronic sworn translation is a PDF signed with the sworn translator’s qualified electronic signature (KEP) – thanks to the eIDAS Regulation it has the same legal validity and suits cases where you submit the document online.
Which form is accepted varies by office – so always ask first whether the target institution accepts an electronic translation or insists on paper.
Sworn translation and interpreting at Etalon
At Etalon we work with sworn translators entered in the MS SR register – you get a sworn translation the office accepts the first time, on paper or electronically. Details and prices are on the sworn translation page; if the act also needs sworn interpreting, we provide both at once. Send the scans and you get a quote within hours.
Need a sworn translation from a sworn translator?
Send the document scans – you get an exact quote and deadline within hours.
Get a quoteFrequently asked questions about sworn translators
How do I verify that a translator is really sworn?
Search for their name in the public register of experts, interpreters and translators kept by the Slovak Ministry of Justice. Every authorised translator is listed there under a registration number for a specific language.
Can anyone who knows Slovak and a foreign language do a sworn translation?
No. A sworn translation may only be produced by a sworn translator appointed under Act 382/2004 Coll. and entered in the MS SR register. A translation from anyone else is not recognised by the office.
What is the difference between a sworn translation and a notarised translation?
A sworn translation confirms the fidelity of the translation (the translator answers for it with their stamp). A notary certifies a signature or a copy, not the accuracy of the translation. So documents for offices usually need a sworn translation.
Is an electronic sworn translation as valid as a paper one?
Yes – a PDF with the sworn translator’s qualified electronic signature has, thanks to eIDAS, the same legal validity as the paper one. But check in advance whether the target office accepts it.
Does a sworn translator need the original document, or is a scan enough?
A good scan is enough for the quote and the translation itself. The translator binds the translation, as required, to the original, a certified copy or a plain copy – depending on what the office you submit it to requires.
