Translations

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As a professional translation agency, we are the partner you can count on!

Translation makes the World go round

Translation is more than just transferring words from one language to another: It involves accurately conveying content, tone, and technical terminology – tailored to the target audience and culturally appropriate. Whether it’s a technical document, certificate, or marketing material, we translate your texts professionally into numerous languages, taking both linguistic nuances and subject-specific requirements into account. Our native-language translators have expertise in a wide range of specialist fields and work according to high quality standards – optionally in compliance with ISO 17100 if required. The result: texts that are convincing both in language and content.

Certified translations online

Order certified translations of common documents such as birth or marriage certificates quickly and easily in our online store Shop-Translation.

Your questions – Our answers

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us!

What is a certified translation?

Certified translations are translations that are done by sworn or authorized translators. They’re usually needed by government agencies like the registry office or the naturalization office.

They differ from normal translations in the following ways:

Certification note confirming the completeness and accuracy of the translation
Stamp and signature of the translator
Fixed connection by means of an eyelet, stapling, or sealing with the source text or a copy thereof

Are my translations from abroad recognized in Germany?

In theory, translations made by a translator sworn-in abroad should be recognized in Germany if they have appropriately overauthentication or legalization.

In practice, however, it turns out that many German authorities do not accept certified translations from abroad. It is often pointed out that certified translations of certificates and documents must be produced by a translator who is sworn or authorized in Germany for the respective language.

Unfortunately, this often means that translations have to be made and paid for twice if they have already been done abroad.

Are my translations made in Germany recognized abroad?

Certified translations issued in Germany for use abroad require preliminary authentication and overauthentication by the Higher Regional Court and often need to be legalized by foreign consulates and embassies before they are valid abroad. Some consulates and embassies only accept their own translators accredited by the respective consulate or embassy.

If you plan to use translations abroad, we advise to contact the receiving agency beforehand and clarify the requirements for recognition of the translation from Germany there.

Some countries accept certified translations from Germany without further ado. Please check with the relevant authority whether they accept translations certified in Germany before you have preliminary or additional certification of your certificates carried out. This can often save you a lot of time and money.

What is an apostille/legalization and how do you obtain one?

Eine Apostille/Legalisation ist eine zusätzliche Echtheitsbestätigung einer ausländischen Urkunde. Dabei bestätigt eine Apostille/Legalisation die Echtheit der Unterschrift und ggf. des Siegels des Unterzeichners sowie dessen Befugnis zur Ausstellung der Urkunde. The Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents (Apostille Convention) is in force between Germany and many countries. However, Germany has objected to the accession of some countries. You can find a detailed list at the Auswärtiges Amt and in our article on apostilles, legalization, and certifications.

The authorities of the country in which the document was issued are responsible for issuing it, i.e. German authorities for German documents and, for example, Ukrainian authorities for Ukrainian documents.

Further information on apostilles and obtaining documents from abroad can be obtained from the relevant embassies and consulates. We have already prepared this for many languages – select your language from the overview of our working languages! For an apostille relating to German documents, please contact the relevant authority directly. For documents from registry offices, this is usually the respective regional council or district government.

Do you have any further questions? Please feel free to contact us!

By phone on +49 (0) 711 995 222 20

or by email to mail@resartus.de.