Certified translation or sworn translation, what’s the difference?
If you’re from another country but want to live, work or study in the US, you’re likely to have foreign-language documents that will need to be translated to facilitate everyday life.
Administrative tasks like opening a bank account or getting a driver’s license often require official translations. You may have transcripts or a diploma to translate for your application for study abroad or as proof of professional qualifications in a job search. Likewise, if you’re preparing paperwork to request permanent residency or visas, or planning to get married, you’ll also need some documents translated.
It shouldn’t surprise you that these translations must be done in a certain way for them to be accepted by the requesting party. Otherwise, you run the risk of the document being refused, losing the money invested, and wasting time spent on the first round.
If you’ve done some searching online but aren’t sure whether you should opt for a sworn translation or a certified one, read on to find out how to obtain a translation that fits the needs and the requirements of your individual circumstances.
First things first: Legal Systems
A reminder of the legal system of the country for which you need to obtain a translation will guide the choice or preference between a certified or a sworn translation.
Civil law countries:
In France, Belgium and Switzerland, there is a procedure in place to authorize specific translators to provide certified translations. These professionals are thereby granted this right after taking an oath before a court of law.
The term “sworn translation” applies to this context, and in these countries, only sworn translators can produce translations of official documents.
Common law countries:
If you’re in the US, the UK or Australia and have a document in French that you need translated into English, your translator should follow the rules for providing a certified translation.
In addition to being familiar with—and adhering to—the requirements and expectations of this very particular type of translation, they should also (of course!) be qualified and experienced professionals.
Regardless of the legal system or country, the requestor will likely be a public, or governmental, agency. In the case of study abroad or a job search, the intended recipient will generally be a private entity like a university, for-profit exchange program, or a company. Private entities may have different requirements, so always confirm their expectations before proceeding.
More on Certified Translations
Let’s take a closer look at what constitutes a “certified” translation.
The old-school linguist in me has dusted off my Webster’s to check the definition, but for the sake of you, dear reader, I’ll include a link.
Reading closely, we find that the adjective pertains to something that has “earned certification”. It should also be “genuine” or “authentic”.
So, a certified translation is:
Performed by a person who has earned a certification, and who is competent to carry out this task.
Genuine, or actually produced by the translator in question,
Authentic, meaning that it conforms to an original so as to reproduce essential features.
Going one step further in our word research, we see that “certification” refers to either the act of certifying, or the state of being certified. Since a statement can be certified, we deduce that a translation can, too.
Therefore, the translation of your official document also must be “certified”, which entails the translator attesting that he/she has personally performed the work, qualified to do so, and that the translation is conform.
Beyond these basics, the conventions and rules of how a certified vs. a sworn translation is executed and presented will differ according to the country or the requesting entity.
Pro tips:
1. Consult translators whose native language is the one you need the document translated into.
2. Choose a translator who knows what the expectations and customs are for certified translations in the country in which you’ll be submitting yours.
Follow these two guidelines TO STACK the odds in your favor!
The AMC quality guarantee:
Personally, you can rest assured when working with me, because I have a degree in translation and more than ten years experience in the field. Moreover, I learned the ins and outs of certified translation, a specialized area, thanks to CPD.
That’s why I can ensure quality when providing this service for all your official translation needs — and make this part of your administrative paperwork a breeze.
Request a certified English translation of a French-language document:
View my page Focus on Certified Translations outlining what you’ll need to receive a quote for translation of your official document from French into English for use in the United States.
you’re in the right place WITH MY certified translation service!
Do you have an English-language document that must be translated into French for use in France?
Don’t fret! Check the Aix-en-Provence Cour d'appel directory and contact a translator on that Court-Appointed Translators list.
