Sworn and notarized translation - pros and cons

When preparing a package of documents, our clients very often ask themselves the question - do notarized translation or sworn translation. Unfortunately, there is very little information on this topic. We tried to understand this difficult question.

In state organizations of foreign countries, when applying for a residence permit, work or national visa, family reunification, and admission to a foreign university, you will be required to translate documents. In the list of documents on the websites of embassies and state bodies of the EU countries, they ask for a translation with different wordings: “certified translation”, “official translation”, “special translation”, “translation at the embassy”, “licensed translation”, “judicial translation”, “ sworn translation."

A notarially certified translation

On the territory of Ukraine, translation activities are not subject to licensing and are not under the control of the Ministry of Justice, as is the practice in the Schengen countries. In our country, a notary public with his signature and seal confirms the originality of the signature, the linguistic orientation of the translator, and identifies his personality. The notary is not responsible for the accuracy of the translation. If the list of documents indicates that it is necessary to provide an “official translation”, “a licensed translation”, then you definitely need a notarized translation. To receive it, contact the translation agency.

Sworn translation

There is no sworn translation institution in Ukraine. In turn, in EU countries, they are increasingly demanding that our fellow citizens provide a sworn or judicial transfer. This is especially true in Italy, France, Poland, Slovakia. A sworn translator in the EU countries is endowed with the powers of a notary and is fully responsible for the work done, including before the court. Such a translation can be used as evidence in litigation. To become a sworn translator, for example in Poland, you must pass very sophisticated exams in legal theory and language practice. Such a translator has its own seal and has access to the national registry. The seal of the sworn translator shall indicate his full name, translation language pair, registration number under which the translator is registered in the registry.

If the list of documents that you are preparing for the embassy or for traveling abroad indicates the need for a judicial or sworn translation, contact the Etalon translation agency and we will be able to provide such a translation as soon as possible. A sworn translation is a full guarantee that your documents will be accepted and go through the process of processing “painlessly” and quickly.