Sworn Translation
Services
When a court, consulate or public authority requires an officially authorised translation, a sworn translation may be needed. It is produced by a translator authorised under the rules of the relevant jurisdiction and is normally signed and, where applicable, stamped or otherwise formally certified. Requirements vary by country and receiving authority, so we confirm the required format before work begins.
What Is a Sworn Translation?
A sworn translation is a translation carried out by a translator who has been formally authorised (by a court, ministry, or government-approved body) to produce translations that have the same legal effect as the original. The translator signs and stamps the translation and, in many countries, adds a formula stating that the translation is true and complete. Authorities then recognise the translation without further validation.
How It Differs from Certified Translation
In the US and UK, most institutions are satisfied with a certified translation—a translation accompanied by a statement of accuracy from the translation provider. But in countries such as Spain, France, Italy and Germany, authorities often require a sworn (sometimes called official or authorised) translation that can only be issued by a government-recognised translator.
We handle both scenarios:
You are submitting in a country that requires a sworn translator → we route your job to an in-country sworn linguist.
You are submitting in the US/UK/Canada → we provide a certified translation that meets immigration, academic or legal requirements.
When You Need a Sworn Translation
You will typically be asked for a sworn translation when the target authority wants to remove doubt about the accuracy of a foreign-language document. Common cases include:
Court filings, judgments, summonses, and witness statements
Civil status documents: birth, marriage, divorce, death certificates
Adoption, guardianship or custody documents
Power of attorney, notarial deeds, wills
Company documents: articles of association, certificates of incorporation, shareholder resolutions
Education and professional documents to be recognised abroad
Immigration and nationality applications with non-local documents (e.g. Spanish nationality, French nationality, Italian citizenship, residence permits)
Our Sworn Translation Process
01
Document review
We check the issuing country, target country, and receiving authority.
02
Jurisdiction match
We assign an authorised/sworn translator from the jurisdiction where you’ll submit (for example: Spain → traductor-intérprete jurado; France → traducteur assermenté; Italy → traduzione giurata at court).
03
Terminology and formatting
We reproduce stamps, seals, letterheads, and references so the authority can compare source and target.
04
Signature + stamp
The translator signs and stamps the translation. If the country requires an additional court oath or registry entry, we arrange it.
05
Delivery
We deliver a digital copy (PDF scan of the sworn original) and, where required, a hard copy by post/courier.
06
Optional legalisation/apostille
If the authority asks for legalisation of the sworn translator’s signature, we can coordinate it with your notary or consulate.
Sworn Translators & Sworn Interpreters
Some proceedings require not only a sworn translation of your documents but also a sworn interpreter to attend a hearing, police interview, notarial act, or marriage ceremony. We supply:
Sworn / court-registered interpreters (on-site or remote)
Interpreters able to interpret the oath and sign the procès-verbal / minute
Interpreters familiar with criminal, civil, family, and commercial proceedings
Why Authorities Insist on Sworn Translation
Legal validity – the translator’s authority is recognised by the state.
Traceability – the translator can be identified and, in many countries, is registered.
Uniformity – documents look the way clerks, registrars and judges expect them to look.
Anti-fraud – the stamp/seal makes forgery harder.
Countries & Systems We Cover
Because sworn translation is not uniform worldwide, we maintain separate workflows for key jurisdictions:
Spain (MAEC-recognised sworn translators) – for Registro Civil, nationality by option, marriage in Spain.
France (Cour d’appel–sworn translators) – for prefecture, OFII, court, notaire.
Italy (traduzione giurata / asseverata at court) – for use with public administration, universities, marriage.
Germany (beeidigter/ermächtigter Übersetzer) – for courts and authorities.
Belgium, Netherlands, Portugal and Latin America – local sworn/official translators.
US/UK clients filing abroad – we supply the sworn translation from the destination country, even if you’re based in the US.
Global Translation Coverage in 80+ Languages
With a worldwide team of expert translators, we offer accurate and reliable translation services in over 80 languages. From all EU languages to major world languages — we support every need with precision.
Why Choose USCIS Official Translation
Authorised linguists in-country – we don’t “approximate” a sworn translation; we use local sworn translators where the state requires it.
Legal-document experience – we work daily with immigration, nationality, corporate and court-related matters.
Fast turnaround – many single-page documents are delivered in 1–2 working days, subject to jurisdiction.
Confidentiality & secure sharing – compliant upload portal, NDAs on request.
Support for law firms & public bodies – batched jobs, PO-based billing, recurring assignments.
Multilingual coverage – Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, German, Dutch, Arabic, Russian and more.
How This Connects to Our Legal Document Translation Service
Sworn translation is one of the ways we ensure your legal documents can actually be used by the receiving authority. If you’re working with contracts, court papers, corporate filings or immigration records, see our main Legal Document Translation page for wider coverage (non-sworn, certified, notarised, with or without apostille).
Choose Your Translation Service
Clear pricing for professional human translation. Select the service that matches your timeline and certification requirements.
Standard Translation
$24.45 per page
Professional human translation for general, business, and personal documents.
Includes:
- Professional human translator
- Proofreading and QA review
- Clean document formatting
- Digital delivery (PDF)
- Standard turnaround
Delivered digitally in PDF format. Ideal for everyday use with clear, accurate results.
Rush Translation
$34.99 per page
Priority translation with faster turnaround for urgent documents.
Includes:
- Priority translator assignment
- Faster delivery times
- Professional human translation
- QA review and formatting
- QA review and formatting
Fast-track your order with priority handling and quicker turnaround times.
Sworn Translation
$79.99 per page
Professional human translation for general, business, and personal documents.
Includes:
- Official sworn translator certification
- Signed and stamped translation
- Legal / court / embassy use
- Priority handling
- Delivery options available
Includes official certification for legal, court, and embassy submissions where required.
FAQs: Sworn Translation
What is the difference between sworn, certified and notarised translation?
A sworn translation is produced by a government-authorised translator and is legally valid on its own. A certified translation is accompanied by a statement of accuracy from the translator or agency. A notarised translation concerns the signature of the person certifying the translation, not the translation quality itself. Some procedures need one, some need two. Send us the requirements and we will match them.
Do I need the translation to be sworn in the same country where I will submit it?
Often yes. Many authorities prefer or explicitly require a translation done by a translator sworn in their country. That’s why we maintain in-country sworn resources.
Can I receive the sworn translation by email?
Many authorities now accept a scanned, signed-and-stamped sworn translation. However, courts, notaries and some consulates still insist on the paper original. We can courier it to you.
How long does it take?
Simple civil-status documents are usually ready in 1–2 working days, while multi-document court bundles can take longer depending on jurisdiction and complexity.
Do you also provide sworn interpreters?
Yes. We can provide sworn interpreters for hearings, notarial acts, police interviews and immigration appointments — on-site or remote.
Will my translation be accepted for Spanish / French / Italian nationality applications?
Yes — we follow the format and authorised-translator requirements those authorities publish and use in practice. If your authority has sent you a specific wording or form, send it to us and we will integrate it.