Sworn translation

A sworn translator – also known as a certified or court translator – is a language professional who has passed a state examination and is officially appointed by the Ministry of Justice in Poland (or equivalent institution in other countries). This designation grants them the legal authority to translate and certify official documents, including legal, academic, and civil records.

Sworn translators are authorised to provide translations that have legal validity in court proceedings, public administration, and international affairs. Each certified translation they produce is stamped with their official seal and signature, which confirms its authenticity and completeness.

Sworn translators must adhere to strict professional and legal standards, ensuring that each sworn translation is accurate, confidential, and reliable. Their services are essential when documents are being submitted to government offices, notaries, universities, embassies, or legal courts.

You need a sworn translation whenever you’re submitting documents that must be officially recognised by legal or administrative authorities. A standard translation is not sufficient in these cases – it must be certified by a sworn translator to be accepted as legally valid.

Typical scenarios where certified translations are required include:

• Submitting birth certificates, marriage certificates, or death certificates abroad or to Polish authorities

• Applying for visas, residency permits, or citizenship

• Presenting diplomas, transcripts, or educational certificates to universities or employers abroad

• Registering vehicles imported from abroad

• Handling court proceedings, such as divorce or inheritance cases

• Signing business contracts, notarial deeds, or power of attorney documents

A sworn translation guarantees that the target-language version is accurate, complete, and legally binding, offering you peace of mind when dealing with bureaucratic or legal processes.

Turnaround time for a sworn translation service depends on the document’s length, complexity, and target language. Standard documents like birth or marriage certificates can typically be translated and certified within 1 to 2 business days. For larger projects, the timeframe will be agreed upon individually.

We also offer express sworn translation services for urgent needs, ensuring high-quality delivery without compromising accuracy. All certified translations are completed by experienced sworn translators who maintain legal compliance and linguistic precision.

Whether you need a fast legal translation for court or an urgent certified translation for travel, we are committed to meeting your deadlines while maintaining the highest standards of professional translation.

The cost of a sworn translation is determined by several factors, including:

• Number of billing pages (1 billing page = 1125 characters with spaces)

• Source and target language pair (e.g., Polish–English, English–Polish)

• Complexity and formatting of the document

• Urgency of the request (standard vs. express service)

We always provide a transparent, no-obligation quote before starting any project.

Investing in a professional sworn translator ensures that your translation will be legally valid, precisely worded, and accepted by institutions both in EU and abroad.

The key difference lies in legal authority and certification.

A regular translator can provide high-quality translations for general use – such as marketing materials, websites, or internal communication – but their translations do not carry legal power.

In contrast, a sworn translator is legally empowered to certify translations of official documents. Only a sworn translation includes:

• An official translator’s seal and signature

• A declaration of fidelity and completeness

• Acceptance by courts, public offices, universities, and embassies

If you’re dealing with documents that need to be submitted for official purposes, only a certified sworn translator can provide the translation you need. Without this certification, your documents may be rejected or deemed invalid.

Yes.

We regularly translate and certify documents such as:

• Civil records (birth, marriage, death certificates)

• Academic documents (diplomas, transcripts)

• Legal contracts, powers of attorney, and court decisions

• Medical records for travel or insurance purposes

• Corporate and notarial documents

Every sworn translation is prepared with precision, reviewed for accuracy, and delivered with full legal validity, ready to be presented at any official institution, including embassies, foreign universities, notaries, or courts.