FAQ – Frequently asked questions and answers

1. You send us the documents to be translated electronically, preferably as a PDF file.  The best way to do this is to use our contact form or attach the relevant documents to your e-mail message.  
2. Based on your submission, we will prepare a non-binding offer for you.
3. After written confirmation of the order, we will send you an invoice for the requested translation service by e-mail. After receipt of payment, you will receive the translation electronically by e-mail and the original document by post. You are also welcome to collect and pay for the translation in person by arrangement.

A certification is an official attestation of the correctness of a signature or a copy by an authorised authority (official certification) or a notary (public certification). 

Certification of certificates for foreign countries (Apostille/Legalisation)

A certified translation is required for numerous official purposes at home and abroad, both in business transactions and on a private level. Examples of this in business transactions are: company documents such as shareholders’ agreements, annual reports, extracts from the commercial register, documents relating to company takeovers, purchase agreements, notarial deeds.  Examples of translations of personal documents are: ID card, passport, identity card, professional card, driver’s licence, letter of reference, birth certificate, certificate of ancestry, baptismal certificate, marriage certificate, other civil status documents, divorce decree, death certificate, will, contract, marriage contract, employment contract, sales contract, notarial deed, police clearance certificate, certificate of good conduct, registration certificate, residence permit, application documents, documents for professional recognition. 

In Germany, only translators who are publicly sworn / sworn in / authorised or recognised by the respective regional courts are permitted to carry out certified translations. A prerequisite for the swearing-in of a translator is appropriate training and qualification in order to also guarantee the necessary quality. Our translation agency has this qualification, of course. 

With a certified translation, an authorised translator certifies the accuracy and completeness of a translation with the original document / source document and with their stamp and signature. 

Certified translations into German are accepted by German authorities.  

For use abroad

If you want to use a document or certificate from a German authority abroad, e.g. for setting up a company, for cooperation projects or for personal purposes, e.g. if you want to work abroad, get married, adopt a child or buy a property, you also need a certified translation into the respective foreign language. Additional requirements may be imposed by the foreign authority for the recognition of this certified translation abroad: 

Apostille: With an apostille, the authenticity of the signature of the authorised / publicly sworn or recognised translator is confirmed by the respective competent district court. It applies to all countries that have acceded to the 1961 Hague Convention. 

You have the option of obtaining the apostille yourself at the competent district court. If you need assistance with this, please feel free to contact us. We will provide you with expert support and advice on the process and the fees and service costs involved. If you wish, we can also obtain the apostille from the district court on your behalf.

Legalisation: For all other countries that are not party to the Hague Convention, you will need “legalisation”. In the case of certified translations, the legalisation confirms the authenticity of the signature of the authorised / publicly sworn or recognised translator. This requires a preliminary certification, which is also issued by the competent district court.  The certified translation together with the preliminary certification by the competent district court is submitted for legalisation to the embassy or foreign mission of the country for which you need the document. 

We are also happy to support and advise you in this process. If you wish, we can also take care of these official procedures for you.     

In addition, please note that some states require an additional certification by the Federal Office of Administration after the pre-certification. Further information can be obtained from the Federal Office of Administration.

You intend to use a certified translation abroad. It is possible that you will also need an over-certification for this certified translation.

Over-certification is issued by the respective German regional courts. It is a form of confirmation that the translator is authorised / publicly sworn or recognised in Germany to produce certified translations. This means that the certified translation can be recognised and used by foreign authorities on site.

Overauthentication can be issued in various forms, the two most common being apostille and legalisation.

The apostille is used for countries that have acceded to the Hague Convention.

Legalisation is required for countries that are not part of the Hague Convention. Before a legalisation can be issued by the foreign representation in Germany, the signature of the authorised / publicly sworn or recognised translator must be confirmed in advance by the respective district court.

If you are not sure whether and in which form you need the certification, it is advisable to enquire about this directly with the target authority abroad or with the foreign representation in Germany, as the requirements on the part of the countries and the various authorities can be very different, so that no general statement can be made.

If you have any questions in this regard, please do not hesitate to contact us. We have many years of experience in the field of certified translations and over-certification of translated documents.

Certified translations should be translated in full, including all annotations, stamps and signatures, as the authorised / sworn or recognised translator certifies the accuracy and completeness of the source document with the target text or translation with his/her stamp and signature.

In exceptional cases, “excerpted translations” may be made. If, for example, a family book is to be translated from a foreign language into German and the original document contains extensive notes on the handling of the family book, only the relevant text passages with the personal details can be included in the translation. In this case, the translator must indicate in the translation that the document in question is an “excerpt translation”.

If you do not require a certified translation, for example for your own use or perusal, individual sections of a document or certificate can also be translated. The only thing that should be clarified here is how sensible this is.

In the case of a certified translation, the translator authorised for the respective language certifies the accuracy and completeness of a translation with the source or original text. This means that the translator translates the document completely into the target language, including all annotations, stamps, signatures and attachments. Otherwise, there is a risk that the authority concerned will not recognise the document submitted.

In exceptional cases, “excerpted translations” may be made. If, for example, a university certificate is to be translated from a foreign language into German and the original document contains extensive internal university information on the enrolment procedure, which is irrelevant for the informative value of the university certificate, only the relevant text passages with the graduate’s achievements can be included in the translation. In this case, the translator must indicate in the translation that the document in question is an “excerpt translation”. However, stamps and signatures must be noted in the translation.

If you do not require a certified translation, for example for your own use or perusal, individual sections of a document or certificate can also be translated. The only thing that should be clarified here is how sensible this is.

Unfortunately we do not offer a flat rate for translations. Because as individual as each client and each of their concerns is, they also receive their fair price, specially tailored.

The following applies as a basic principle: As a rule, we calculate translations by lines of 55 characters in the target language. The price per line depends on the language combination to be translated, the subject area, the intended use (e.g. publications) and the deadline requested.

Quantity discounts are possible here, as are fixed or flat-rate prices. The minimum rate for a certified translation is EUR 42.00 plus VAT. For a non-certified translation we charge a minimum of EUR 35.00 plus VAT.

For the calculation of your special translation request, please send us a scanned copy of the relevant document by e-mail. The best way to do this is to use our contact form or attach the relevant documents to your e-mail message. On this basis, we will prepare a non-binding offer for you, also taking into account your scheduling requirements. If you agree with our proposal, you will receive an invoice from us for this translation service after your written order confirmation. After receipt of payment, we will send you the documents both electronically and by post to your address.

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An authorised / publicly sworn / certified translator is entitled to produce certified translations.

In Germany, only translators who are publicly sworn / sworn in / authorised or recognised by the respective regional courts are permitted to carry out certified translations. A prerequisite for the swearing-in of a translator is appropriate training and qualification in order to also guarantee the necessary quality. Our translation agency has this qualification, of course.