A: General information
Sworn or certified translation is largely dependent on the specific rules of each country. Broadly speaking, a sworn translation is a professional translation recognised as such by a competent authority. The translator affixes their seal to and signs the translation and the original to certify that the translation is a “true copy”. The certification process and the competent authority varies from one country to another. The translation is generally accompanied by a signed declaration, attesting that the translator possesses the necessary competency in the source and target language and that the translation is an exact reproduction of the original document, or by a seal on the actual document.
To put it another way, a sworn translation is a translation carried out by a translator who has sworn an oath or pledge before a court. They certify a document to declare it is true to the original (or copy of the original) by adding wording such as “true and accurate translation of the original” accompanied by their seal then dating and signing it. The addition of these different elements gives a document its official validity.
This type of translation is requested for a variety of different documents: pleadings or documents to produce in court, affidavits, notarial deeds, administrative documents (birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce judgements, etc.), diplomas, contracts and the like.
While in some instances it may be possible to send documents to us electronically, the certified versions will always be returned to you by post or courier.
An expert translation must be registered on the current list of legal experts held by an Appeal Court.
B: Important to know
IMPORTANT: In France, translators only registered on the list of a TGI (High Court) cannot provide sworn translations.
A TGI keeps a list of translators and interpreters in order to have interpreters and translators available around the clock for a very precise reason: to deal with cases involving non-French speakers.
For a translation to be “a true and accurate copy of the original”, in France it must be accompanied by the original and the translation must bear the following:
- the translator’s signature;
- the translator’s seal;
- the translation’s registration number (a distinct number for each translated document) accompanied by the wording “ne varietur”.
So, for example, a sworn translation might bear the following information, summarised here in French:
Je soussigné [nom du traducteur]. Traducteur expert près la Cour d’appel de [siège de la Cour]. Certifie que la traduction qui précède est conforme à l’original en langue [nom de la langue] visé ne varietur sous le numéro [numéro de l’original]. Fait à [lieu] le [date]. Signature exempte de légalisation SIRET n° [n° de SIRET du traducteur]
A sworn translation therefore has an official status when it bears the sworn translator’s stamp or seal. It is recognised by courts and administrative authorities and is required for the drafting of a variety of civil documents involving documents from overseas.
Photocopies of a translation can only be sworn to be “true and accurate copies of the original” by the translator.
⇒ In France an “expert translator” can be sworn for one or more languages, but always working into the French language.
Following the introduction of a new procedure, in some cases the signature of a sworn translator must be legalised (at the town hall). In this case the translation will incur an extra step and take longer to provide.
However, for all translated and sworn documents into French intended for overseas, the signature legalisation procedure is not necessary.
