When do you need a certified translation?
People often come to me with questions about certified translations. The process of getting official documents approved can be long and excruciating and it’s rarely ever clear what a certified translaiton is and when you need it. To help you find the answers, I’ve written a blogpost with some general information about certified translations, when you need them and their cost.
Simply put, a ‘normal’ translation almost always suffices. The most important reason to request a certified translation at The Apiary Language Solutions is when an authority or employer explicitly asks for a certified (also called sworn) translation. In those cases, you’ll have to request an official certified translation.
A certified translation is more costly than a ‘regular’ translation, so it is worth your time to doublecheck whether a regular translation would be sufficient.
Can’t find the information you’re looking for? Send me a message, I’d be happy to help you along!
What is a certified translation?
A certified translation, also called a sworn translation, is a translation made by a certified or sworn translator according to the correct procedures and guidelines. In the Netherlands, certified translators are registered in the register for certified interpreters and translators (Register voor Beëdigde Tolken en Vertalers - Rbtv). On this website, you can check whether the translator you want to work with has a valid registration. You can find me in the register under my personal name, Laura van Oeveren or under registration number 40044.
The registration of a certified translator needs to be renewed every five years. This is done by following relevant courses and education. Registered translators have sworn an oath in court to do their work honourably and to their best capabilities. If they don’t adhere to this oath, they risk losing their registration and reputation as a translator. These are only a few of the reasons why certified or sworn translations are more pricy to produce than regular translations.
For a large part, you can trust that certified translators are trustworthy translation partners. However, it doesn’t always ensure good quality, so it’s still good to doublecheck!
More requirements for certified translations
Apart from the maker being certified, sworn translations are different from ‘normal’ translations in their appearance as well. These are some of the characteristics of a certified translation:
- The format of the original document is replicated as much as possible, either by making an exact duplicate or in the form of plain text
- Every page is provided with a stamp and the initials or signature of the translator
- The translation is inseparable from the source document
- Every element is translated, even the visual, non-textual elements
When do you need a certified translation?
In most cases, you won’t need a certified translation. The translation of your website, a marketing campaign or your latest book are all examples in which it’s unnecessary to pay significantly more for a certified translation. In these cases, all you need is a translator who is invested in the subject, context and audience of your text.
A certified translation is relevant when you deal with official documents. Usually, the receiving party explicitly asks for the documents to be certified translations. For example when you move to the Netherlands for work or study. You might have to prove that your earnings or savings will cover your rent or mortgage when you want to rent or buy a house. And your (new) employer may also need several official documents to assure that you are allowed to work in the Netherlands. In those cases, a certified translation provides your employer or landlord with some security.
Examples of cases in which you need a sworn translation:
- Official documents such as birth and marriage certificates
- Diploma’s, grade lists and certificates
- Legal documents such as decisions and summons
- Documents that are issued by the government
- Deeds by notaries
- Wary companies :)
A regular translation usually suffices when the receiving party does not ask for it, when the translation has no ‘official’ purpose and when doesn’t act as proof. Do check this beforehand! When a normal translation would have sufficed, you save money by not requesting a certified translation. Are you unsure what you need? Send me a message and I’ll help you to assess your situation!
What are the costs of a certified translation?
The price you pay for a sworn translation is higher than the price you pay for a regular translation. This is because the translator needs to fulfill all the abovementioned requirements.
As the contents of certified translations are varied, I don’t usually work with a standard rate per word. When you request a certified translation, I will often ask some extra questions and provide an estimate range. When you provide me with the actual documents for translation, I will give you a quotation with a more defined price.
When you request a certified translation at The Apiary Language Solutions, a scanned digital version of the endresult is always included. You can use this to easily hand over you documents to the authority or company that asks for the translation.
Shipping costs or come and pick your translation up for free!
Do you live in or near Leiden? You can often come to collect the document yourself. This saves on shipping costs!
When you need the paper version of the end result and you cannot come to pick it up, I can send it to you by post. In this case, the shipping costs will be added to the invoice.
Curious what you’ll pay for your translation?
Do you want to know what you’ll pay for your sworn translation by The Apiary Language Solutions? Send me a message on Whatsapp, or send me an email. I’ll send you an indication or quotation as soon as possible!
Thank you for your time and have a great day!
I hope this article was helpful to you. Do you have a question or do you want to talk to me about this article? Cool, let’s connect!
Or read more about me and the way I work in my introductory blogpost.
