Sworn Translation Services UK For Your Official Needs
Do you have a document that you need to be translated and sworn by an accredited translator? We offer sworn translation services of official documents across a number of language pairs. Espresso Translations is a professional sworn translation provider with court-approved translators located around the world.
Request a Quote Now
We’ll get back to you with a competitive quote.
Our sworn translation services company in UK
Our sworn translations are accepted by consulates, embassies, foreign public bodies and legal courts, and are completed by sworn translators that are recognised and approved by government authorities.
If you are being asked by a foreign public entity or court to translate your documents for official purposes, you might need a sworn translation. The requirements differ from country to country, but our sworn translation experts can assist you in understanding exactly what service you need.
We can assist with the translation of a variety of documents, including legal proceedings, contracts, ID documents and visa & immigration files in over 200 language combinations.
Aside from sworn services, we offer additional services such as solicitor certification, apostille legalisation, consultancy and maintaining document formatting. These services ensure that your final documents meet all legal requirements, no matter the jurisdiction.
The below table provides a brief overview of our sworn translation service:
| Accepted By | Consulates, embassies, overseas government authorities, foreign-language public bodies, legal courts |
| Translator Credentials | Translations certified by sworn translators recognized and approved by government authorities |
| Quality Assurance | ISO 17100:2015 Certified |
| Pricing | Fixed-rate pricing starting from £50 (+VAT) |
| Turnaround Time | 48 hours, 24 hours, Same Day Delivery |
| Delivery | Free digital delivery. Postal shipping from £5. |
| Supported Document Formats | PDF, JPG, PNG, WORD, and more |
| Languages | Over 200 language combinations |
| Types of Documents | Legal translation, court proceedings, contracts, ID documents, visa & immigration files, administrative documents |
| Additional Services | Solicitor certification, apostille legalisation, consultancy, maintaining document formatting |
| Area | London, UK, Europe with international coverage |
What are sworn translations and why are they important?
A sworn translation is a translation that’s signed and sealed by an officially-appointed (sworn) translator. In the eyes of the law, sworn translations have the same legal value as the original documents.
Sworn translators are officially recognised by a foreign office or court, meaning they have the authority to translate official documents and swear under oath that the translation is accurate.
Sworn translations are required by many foreign countries, mostly civil law countries such as France, Italy and Spain. Each country has its own rules for sworn translations, so there is no universal standard.
When are sworn translation services required in the UK?
There is no legal requirement for sworn translation services in the UK. Government offices and public bodies in GB only require certified translations.
Sworn translation services might be needed for legal or official documents that will be used for official purposes abroad, such as in a court of law or for visa and immigration purposes.
What are the most requested types of documents?
Some of the most common documents translated by sworn translators are listed below:
- Birth certificates
- Divorce certificates
- Death certificates
- Marriage certificates
- Academic transcripts
- Other personal documents
For the UK Home Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO), you only need a certified translation, not sworn.
UK government-approved translation services
Why is it essential to use sworn translators for specific documents?
Sworn translators are recognised by the authorities of a country to translate and validate legal documents. They usually have to submit their qualifications and undergo a series of tests to be approved as a sworn translator.
A sworn translator only translates into their native language and also ensures that the translated document adheres to the laws and regulations of the receiving country.
What is the sworn translation process and how can I appoint a sworn translator?
The sworn translation process is a little more complex than a certified translation.
- Ask the requesting entity if the document needs to be translated by a sworn translator. We can offer advice if the response is unclear.
- Contact a sworn translation provider. Make sure you verify their credentials to offer such a service.
- The sworn translator will translate the document, attach a signed affidavit and take the translation to be ‘sworn’. This part of the process varies from country to country.
- At this point in the process, you may or may not request that the translation is apostilled.
- You will receive a digital copy of the sworn translation, followed by a hard copy shortly after.
Ready To Get Started?
Send us your project request, and we’ll get back to you within 1 hour with a competitive quote.
We offer professional sworn translations with an affidavit
Some government institutions or courts may ask that as well as an affidavit, an apostille is added to the sworn translation. Espresso Translations offers Hague apostille services in countries that are Hague members.
Why Hague apostille? Effectively, an apostille attests to the authenticity of the sworn translation by verifying the signature of the public official that managed the process.
In other cases, instead of an apostille, you may require the seal of a notary. This is known as a notarized translation.
These types of legalised translation often overlap and many clients struggle to understand the differences. We make it a priority to understand your translation needs and ensure that your documents are legally valid in a given country.
What is the cost of a sworn translation?
In general, sworn translations start from around £50 + VAT. Companies that provide sworn translation services will normally charge you for the translation (per word rate), the affidavit (fixed rate) and any additional duties or administrative fees applied by the court (variable rate). You may also have to incur postage charges for hard copies, which will vary depending on where they need to be delivered.
Several factors affect the price of a sworn translation:
- The language combination
- Administrative fees or duties applied by the court
- Delivery deadline
- Number of words
- File formats
- Specialty (such as whether it’s a medical or legal document)
Our translation company is one of the most competitive in GB and internationally both in terms of cost and the types of official translation services provided.
What do our clients say?
We pride ourselves on excellent customer service, including speedy support and comprehensive guidance from our project managers. Check out our customer reviews:
I recently utilized the sworn translation services offered by Espresso Translations, and I must say that I am thoroughly impressed. From start to finish, the entire process was seamless and efficient.
– David
NHS
The translations provided by Espresso Translations were of exceptional quality. The accuracy and precision with which they translated my official documents were impressive.
– Paul
British Embassy
Request a Quote Now
We will get back to you within 1 hour
Excellent
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a sworn translator?
A sworn translator is a professional translator authorised or accredited by a foreign entity to complete legalised translations of official documents that are considered legally valid.
Sworn translator requirements vary from country to country. For example, an Italian sworn translator needs to register with their local court and provide copies of their qualifications and examination results. This is different to the requirements in Poland or Spain, for example.
Some official translators may specialize in a specific industry, for example, corporate business or legal translation services. These are known as “sworn specialist translators” or “specialized translations”.Â
How to select a reliable sworn translation services provider?
When looking for a sworn translation provider, choose a reputable agency with accreditation or certification of some sort (for example ISO 17100). This way, you can be sure of the accuracy and reliability of the service.
You want to make sure you’re getting an accurate translation, so discuss your requirements with a Project Manager. Sworn quote requests often require some back and forth before the requirements are entirely understood. Make sure the person you are talking to seems to understand what they are talking about.Â
Sworn translations for foreign affairs can feel overwhelming, so you will need someone who can support and guide you through the process.Â
Also, check online reviews to see what past clients have to say and whether they have a translation system in place for quality assurance.
How long does a sworn translation take?
A sworn translation usually takes at least 24 hours and depends on a number of factors such as the length and type of document.
A more specialised translation (such as those concerning legal terminology) will take longer to translate than a birth certificate, for example.
Some time may be required for the bureaucratic elements of sworn translations, for example, getting an appointment with a public official to sign the affidavit or the processing time for the payment of administrative duties and charges.
What is the validity of sworn translations around the world?
The validity of a legal certified sworn translation varies depending on both the country and the purpose for which you need to use it. For example, a sworn translation to be used in a citizenship application may only be valid for a period of 6 months.Â
It’s important to note that a translation that is sworn in one country may not necessarily be valid for another country. As mentioned previously, each country has different requirements, so a translation sworn in Germany won’t be valid in Belgium.
If you are looking for a translation agency to take care of the documents you need to translate, contact us for a quote today.
What is the difference between a sworn and a notarised translation?
Sworn and notarised translations are similar in that they’re both certified translations with an additional seal of approval.Â
With a sworn translation that stamp of approval comes from a government authority, whereas with a notarised translation it’s from a notary public.
In some countries the purpose may be the same, namely to verify the identity of the certified translator. In other countries, a sworn translator may have to have specific credentials in order to be considered ‘sworn’.Â
What is the difference between a sworn and a certified translation?
Sworn translation is often confused with certified translation, but they are in fact different. A certified translation features a statement of truth from the translator but there is no requirement for the stamp of approval by a public body. The translator might hold accreditation with an association such as the Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIL) or the Association of Translation Companies (ATC).Â
While a certified translation is sufficient for use in countries such as the UK and the U.S., other countries may require a higher level of authentication such as choosing from a pre-approved list of selected certified translators or having the legal translator swear on oath in front of a public official.Â