Certified Sworn Translations

Certified, Official and Sworn Translations

Sworn translations are official, certified translations that are acceptable by a legal jurisdiction in the USA, Europe and other countries. They are always carried out by a sworn translator, following a precise protocol that may vary from country to country. They are required for official documents, destined for public administrations, universities, notaries or courts. Those public bodies always require their documents in the official language of their country.

If you have to deliver a document to the USA or UK and it is not written in English, you need a sworn translation in English

How to recognize a Sworn Translation

In principle, a sworn translation always includes these 3 elements:
- The fully translated text,
- The original or a copy of the original text,
- The legend or the translator’s oath.

All pages of the translation should be signed and sealed by the translator. Furthermore, the last page, at the bottom, should include a legend or an oath of the translator declaring that the sworn translation is a complete and faithful reproduction of the original.

Certified Sworn Translations in UK

In the UK there is no such thing as a sworn translator. For instance, anybody can go to a notary or a Commissioner for Oaths and declare that "to his true knowledge and understanding the translation is faithful and exact". Translations required by the Home Office (visas, residence permits, family allowances) must be carried out by a professional translator member of the Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL) or the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI). In practice, also universities and official bodies of the United Kingdom require them.

Certified Sworn Translations in USA

In the United States, a sworn translator doesn’t exist either. The regulation for each State is different. In principle, anybody can carry out the translation if he or she adds a sworn declaration or affidavit, a requirement that slows down and complicates the process.

Tips ans tricks

In practice, if you need a sworn translation form English into Spanish, the best option is to carry out the translation with a native Spanish sworn translator, since it will be accepted without any problems in the UK, Ireland and Unites States, and the process will be cheaper and faster.