What administrative acts require sworn translations?
When translating official documents, accuracy is key. In many situations, it is necessary to have these acts translated to another language so that they are recognized and accepted by presiding authorities.
This is where sworn translations come into play. Indeed, sworn translations play an essential role in guaranteeing the validity and authenticity of administrative documents internationally.
So, when do you need a sworn or official translation? Here are the main administrative acts that might require a sworn translation.
Sworn translation: definition
Before summarizing the different administrative acts that may require a sworn translation, it is important to understand just what it’s all about.
A sworn translation, also called a certified or official translation, is a translation done by a sworn translator or a translator authorized by the presiding authorities. This type of translation is generally required for official documents, legal documents or any other document that requires legal weight or official recognition.
A sworn translator is a professional authorized by a country’s legal or administrative authorities to certify a translation’s accuracy. This is a translator who has sworn an oath in court and is recognized as a linguistic authority in his or her specific language pair.
When a document requires a sworn translation, a sworn translator translates the original text to the target language and then places his or her signature, stamp or official seal on the translation, thus certifying that the translation is an accurate reproduction of the original. This certification gives the translated document legal weight and official recognition in the destination country.
A sworn translation for birth certificates, marriage certificates and death certificates
Several administrative acts may require a birth, marriage or even death certificate, especially in the following cases:
- Obtaining identity documents which requires providing a birth certificate to prove your nationality and identity;
- A civil marriage which requires presenting a birth certificate and marriage certificate to prove your civil status and establish information about the spouses;
- A divorce which requires a marriage certificate;
- A will which requires a death certificate;
- Signing an insurance policy which sometimes requires a birth certificate.
Birth certificates, marriage certificates and death certificates are legal and administrative documents which certify important facts and events in a person’s life. However, for these documents to be valid and used abroad, they need to be officially translated by a sworn translator who certifies the translation’s accuracy and authenticity.
In many countries, presenting birth, marriage or death certificates is necessary to carry out different administrative procedures such as obtaining visas, applying for a passport, registering a marriage or opening a bank account. An official translation of these documents is thus required for these formalities to be correctly accepted and processed.
A sworn translation for official identity documents (passports, identity cards, drivers’ licenses)
Passports, identity cards and drivers licenses must be officially translated when they are used in countries that use a different language.
Indeed, to obtain a visa or immigrate to a foreign country, a sworn translation of identity documents such as a password or identity card may be required. This allows presiding authorities to verify the holder’s identity and correctly process his or her request.
In certain cases, an official translation of identity documents can also be necessary to open a bank account, carry out international financial transactions or obtain financial services in a foreign country.
Finally, a sworn translation of official identity documents can be obligatory when accepting a job in a different country or studying abroad. To apply for a job abroad, a potential employer may need a sworn translation of identity documents to verify the applicant’s identity and professional qualifications. Likewise, it’s possible that universities and educational establishments require a sworn translation of identity documents for international students.
A sworn translation for contracts and legal documents
In several countries, contracts and legal documents must be translated to a country’s official language to be considered valid. When a legal document needs to be used in a country with a different official language, a sworn translation is necessary to comply with legal requirements and guarantee the document’s validity.
These legal requirements didn’t come into being by accident. Contracts and legal documents often have complex legal terms and specific legal provisions. An official translation guarantees that these terms and provisions are translated accurately, thus preserving the document’s intent and original meaning.
In international business and business transactions, it is common to work with partners or clients with different nationalities and languages. A sworn translation of contracts and legal documents facilitates clear and precise communication between the parties, thus avoiding any confusion or misunderstanding.
A sworn translation for financial documents
Financial documents contain detailed information concerning transactions, declarations and financial accounts. It is essential that this information is accurately translated to avoid any misunderstanding or incorrect interpretationof financial information.
This type of documents is often used to verify financial compliance, the accuracy of declarations and financial transactions. A sworn translation guarantees that financial information is presented transparently and verifiably, thus facilitating audits and verification processes.
When conducting international financial transactions, financial institutions can indeed require a sworn translation of financial documents to evaluate solvency, regulatory compliance and the dependability of business partners.
A sworn translation for diplomas
Diplomas contain detailed information on an education, specializations, grades and academic achievements of the holder. A sworn translation guarantees that all this information is correctly transmitted in the target language, thus letting institutions and employers understand and accurately evaluate an academic career.
An official translation for these diplomas can be useful both for job seeking and for studying abroad.
To homologate your diploma abroad, a sworn translation is generally required to better compare and evaluate the foreign diploma with respect to local norms and criteria.
