Sworn translation

A sworn translation is needed when translating official documents and they are going to be submitted to an official organism, like the Embassy of one country or the Ministry. These sworn translations are carried out by sworn translators appointed normaly by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The sworn translation is an accurate translation of the original text. These texts must have the signature and the corresponding stamp of the sworn translator to be completely valid, and also the certification of the sworn translator in which he/she states that his/her translation is complete and accurate translation of the original document, to his/her understanding. Therefore, this document needs to be on paper, since the signature and stamp of the translator must be on it.

The translator, in these translations, translates the document and, at the same time, legalises it with his/her stamp and signature, acting as a Notary.

The documents that need a sworn translation usually are birth certificates, marriage certificate, divorce sentences, passports, family books, driving licenses, criminal history records, etc. A sworn translation is also needed when translating an academic certificate and university degrees in order to validate them in another country.
Furthermore, we need a sworn translation when translating agreements, title deeds or annual accounts of a company.

Usually, certificates need the legalization of documents, that is to say, the Apostille de La Haye. This procedure is only for countries who have signed the Hague Apostille Convention and consists of the only procedure to legalisation. A paper is put on the document and it explains the authenticity of the said document. In the most cases, it is necessary to translate of this "Apostille de la Haye" in order to validate the documents. 

Sworn translation.