Sworn Translation Services

Sworn translations are commonly required for birth certificates, marriage certificates, academic records, contracts, court papers and immigration documents going overseas, where the translation is treated as a legal instrument in its own right. Espresso Translations works with certified translators in the United States and with sworn translators in the countries that appoint them: we provide certified translations for filings in the United States, Canada and the rest of the common law world, and provide sworn translations wherever a court or a ministry appoints the translator. Whether the file is bound for a European authority or for USCIS, it is written by a professional translator, never by machine, and revised by a second linguist under ISO 17100. Ask for a quote and one comes back within the hour.

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Translation of your documents with standard turnaround times.

Professional translation services with an attached certification of accurary, signed, stamped and on company letter-headed paper. Hard copies can also be requested.

Professional translation services regarded as having formal status by relevant authorities. Hard copies are included. Please indicate the country you need the translation to be sworn in in the Project Brief section.

Translation of your documents with faster turnaround times. Please indicate in the Project Brief section how quickly you would need them.

The conversion of audio or video content into a translated written form. We also offer same-language transcriptions. Please indicate if time-stamps are required and at what intervals in the Project Brief section.

The conversion of video audio into foreign-language subtitles. We also offer same-language subtitles. Delivered as an SRT file as standard. Please indicate in the Project Brief section if a different file type is required.

Voiceover recordings in foreign languages. We can either translate your script into other languages or you can provide a foreign-language script. Please provide speaker preferences (gender, accent etc.) in the Project Brief section.

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What is a sworn translation? A sworn translation is a translation made by a translator who has taken an oath before a court or government authority in the country where the document will be used, which gives the translation the standing of the original there. Common law countries appoint nobody to do this and use a certified translation instead. Espresso works in 150+ languages under ISO 17100, with a second linguist on every file: $55 per sworn page in 7 to 14 working days, $30 per certified page of up to 250 words in 24 to 48 hours.

Do You Need Sworn Translation Services or Certified Translation for USCIS?

There are two types of translation formats, certified translation and sworn translation, and each is tied to a different legal system. Common-law countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Ireland use the standard of certified translation. This is done with a signed statement from the translator or translation agency, and a court appearance is not required. In most civil law countries — such as Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Brazil, Portugal, Poland, and Greece — sworn translation is the normal format. It must be performed by an authorized person who is appointed by a court or a government official to take formal oaths and to make a translation legally equivalent to the original.

Whether you are filing a USCIS immigration document, submitting to a US court, a US university, or any US government agency, you need a certified translation, not a sworn translation. USCIS regulation 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) only requires certification of accuracy, not a sworn oath, so a sworn translation is not required for USCIS applications, and it is also more expensive than a certified translation. These certified translations for USCIS are what the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services will accept, ensuring USCIS acceptance of your documents.

You must use a sworn translator when you need to send a document to a court, government office, consulate, or any official institution in a civil law country such as Italy, France, Spain, Germany, or Brazil. There, the translation is not just a signed certification statement; it is a legal instrument in its own right, because these institutions require proof of the translator’s authority.

What Is a Sworn Translation and Who Is a Sworn Translator?

A sworn translation is an official translation of an official document, performed by a translator who, before a government official or court of law, takes an oath that the translation accurately, fully, and exactly transfers the information in the original. This oath gives the document the same effect as the original in the country where the translator is authorized. It is different from a standard certified translation, because the sworn translator is held civilly and criminally liable for the accuracy of the translation — it is a true word-for-word translation, produced by human translation rather than machine translation.

A sworn translation has three inseparable parts: the Sworn Oath Statement, the Original Document, and the Translated Document. On each page of the translation, the translator signs, affixes an official stamp or seal, and physically joins the three parts into one package — the “three-part bundle.” If any part is missing or detached, the bundle is illegitimate and will not be accepted as a sworn translation. This is why sworn translations are usually supplied as printed originals rather than digital PDFs.

The sworn translator alone is personally liable, civilly and criminally, for the accuracy of the translation. This legal liability is what separates sworn translation from certified translation (which carries only the verifier’s signed translation accuracy statement) and from notarized translation (where a notary public certifies the translator’s identity, but not translation accuracy). A sworn translation holds the legal status of the original in the state or territory where it is submitted.

How do sworn translation rules differ from country to country?

Each civil law country sets its own sworn translation requirements. Below are the document translation needs of the top five most-requested countries for English-language clients.

Italy – Traduzione Giurata and Traduzione Asseverata (Sworn Legal Translation)

Sworn translation in Italy is called traduzione giurata (asseverata). The translator must be formally registered in the CTU Registry at the relevant court or the local Chamber of Commerce. In the presence of a notary or Italian court official, the translator signs each page, affixes revenue stamps, and swears an oath before the court. This sworn legal translation is required for use in Italian courts and municipalities, by Italian notaries, and for some Italian dual citizenship applications.

France – Traduction Assermentée (Court-Appointed Sworn Translator)

Documents translated for use in France often have to be handled as a sworn translation. These translations may only be produced by a sworn translator registered with a French Court of Appeal. For every document, the translator applies the court stamp and official number, making the document legally enforceable before institutions without further arbitration. You will need a traduction assermentée whenever you submit a document to a French court, prefecture, ministry, civil registry office, or French consulate.

Spain – Traducción Jurada (Ministry-Certified Translator)

In Spanish, sworn translation is called traducción jurada. The authorized, certified translator appears on the official list maintained by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation. A document signed and sealed with the translator’s official stamp and ministry registration number is legally valid without any further court action. In Spain, traducción jurada is needed for documents submitted to Spanish courts, universities, embassies, civil registries, and immigration authorities.

Germany – Beglaubigte Übersetzung (Court-Sworn Document Translation)

In Germany the work is done as a sworn translation (beglaubigte Übersetzung). Sworn translators are appointed by the state court or the administration, and the rules differ from one German state to the next. The appointed translator produces the translation, adds an official stamp naming the authority that appointed them, and signs it. German courts, government offices, immigration authorities, notaries and universities each set their own requirements, so the translation is prepared to meet what the receiving office asks for.

Brazil – Tradução Juramentada (Sworn Official Document Translation)

The Brazilian sworn translation is called tradução juramentada. The translators, known as Tradutores Públicos, are registered with the Junta Comercial of each Brazilian state. The translator signs each page and adds their official data and the state stamp, turning the translated document into an official document for use in Brazil. With tradução juramentada, foreign-language documents can be presented to the Brazilian judiciary, government institutions, company registries, and more.

Which documents need a sworn translation?

Sworn translations of official documents are required throughout the civil law world for personal, academic, legal and immigration records — and our expert translators with legal expertise translate legal, academic, medical, technical, and business documents. When the same record is filed for official purposes in the United States or another common law country, it is handled as a certified translation instead: we produce certified and sworn translations side by side, so the format follows the destination rather than the document.

Personal and Civil Status Records

These documents include birth certificate translation, marriage and death certificates, divorce decrees, adoption records, passports, and national identity cards.

Academic and Professional Qualifications

Diplomas, transcripts, academic documents, language qualifications, and professional qualifications — often needed alongside credential evaluation services for foreign institutions.

Legal Documents and Commercial Contracts

Court judgments, contracts, certificates of incorporation, powers of attorney, company statutes, and notarial deeds. This is where it helps to work with certified translators who specialize in legal translation.

Immigration and Residence Documents

Residence permits, documents required for the visa procedure, and civil status documents required by foreign immigration authorities.

How do you get documents officially translated, and how long does it take?

You get a document officially translated by following the sworn translation process, which runs in four steps: send it in and say which country and institution it is going to, it is assigned to a translator authorised for that route, the translation is sworn and stamped, and the bundle is couriered out. A sworn translation is more than translating your document — it must be sworn — so sworn translation turnaround is longer than certified translation: a certified page of up to 250 words comes back in 24 to 48 hours, while a sworn page takes 7 to 14 working days because it involves official authorization procedures, an appearance before the court officer the destination country names, and a physical certification process. How long it takes depends on the destination country, court requirements, and courier delivery.

Step 1: Translation Quote and Document Upload

Email your document to Espresso Translations for a translation quote and specify the location (country and institution) where the document will be submitted. This is crucial, because sworn translation requirements vary among Italy, France, Spain, Germany, and Brazil. Make sure every edge of the document is visible so the text can be translated accurately.

Step 2: Assignment to an Authorized Sworn Translator

A professional sworn translator with the right credentials is assigned to translate documents in your country combination (CTU in Italy, Court of Appeal in France, Ministry accreditation in Spain, state court appointment in Germany, or Junta Comercial in Brazil). The translator will accurately translate the document in the same format and reproduce every entry exactly as in the original.

Step 3: Oath and Official Certificate

After completing the mandated oath form, the translator applies the official stamps and fees where required, signs each page, and assembles the three-part bundle with the official certificate. This must be performed locally, in the destination country, by an authorized translator.

Step 4: Physical Delivery of the Certified Translation

The signed translation is delivered abroad by courier service. Most civil law institutions require a stamped original bundle, though a digital copy can usually also be provided for reference.

How much does a sworn translation cost?

Sworn translation services start at $55 per page, covering the translation itself, liaison with the destination country for the oath or intake, and the relevant certification paperwork. Depending on the country, additional costs may apply: duty stamps (for example, the Italian marca da bollo), court appointment fees, and courier costs for physical delivery. Sworn translation takes no longer than 7–14 business days, as court appointments and oath procedures must be arranged in advance. By contrast, an affordable certified translation for USCIS and other common-law institutions starts from $30 per page and is usually completed in 24–48 hours.

If you need a certified translation, send your request to Espresso Translations for a precise free quote based on your type of document, language pair, country, and required turnaround time. Then upload your document and follow our process to get a high-quality, accurate translation in many language pairs, delivered on time without compromising quality. We understand the importance of every translation project, and our professional, official translation services ensure documents meet the highest standards whatever your translation needs.

Do you also need an apostille, a notarization, or legalization?

Sometimes translating a document into or out of a foreign language is not enough. Some countries and institutions also require the document to be apostilled, notarized, or certified by a solicitor in addition to the sworn translation.

Hague Apostille and International Authentication

A Hague Apostille is a government certificate that verifies the signature of an official on a document under the Hague Convention of 1961, so the document can be accepted internationally. An Apostille may also be required when a sworn translation is needed in another country that requires both translation and authentication of the original. Espresso Translations coordinates Hague Apostilles and document legalisation abroad.

The Correct Order of Apostille and Sworn Translation

For documents submitted in another country, the correct order matters. An Italian document, for example, must first be apostilled in Italy before the Spanish sworn translation is prepared. Likewise, a US-issued document submitted in France may need a US Secretary of State Apostille before the French traduction assermentée is completed. Espresso Translations can advise you on the correct process for your specific country combination.

Notarized Translation and Solicitor Certification

At times, a notarized translation can substitute for or accompany a sworn translation. A notary public in the United States notarizes the translator’s signed declaration to certify the identity of the person who signed it. In the United Kingdom, a solicitor may certify a document for certain administrative or legal purposes. Espresso Translations provides notarized and solicitor-certified documents for clients who need multi-country solutions.

Why do some countries require sworn translation and others do not?

The difference between countries that require sworn translation and those that do not comes down to their legal systems. Countries based on Roman law include most of continental Europe (Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Portugal, Greece, and Poland) and much of Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, and Argentina). In these systems, official translation is performed by people who bear personal responsibility before a judicial official and whose work is specially authorized by the State. In common law nations such as the USA, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Ireland, and Singapore, a qualified bilingual professional can instead sign a declaration of accuracy to certify a translation — the model of certified translation.

The country where the translated document will be submitted decides its format, not the country where the original was issued. In the US, a birth certificate must be translated from French into English for USCIS, and that translation should not be sworn. A birth certificate issued in France but returned to a French court must be translated by a translator on the Court of Appeal list, as a traduction assermentée. Other sworn-translation jurisdictions work the same way (for instance, a US diploma submitted to a Spanish university must be a traducción jurada prepared by a Ministry-approved translator). Always check with the institution before you order. Espresso Translations is a translation company that provides certified translations with a signed statement of accuracy, making them trusted certified translations.

When is a certified translation the right format for USCIS?

Anyone filing with USCIS, a US federal or state court, a US university, or Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — or with any authority in a common law country — will need certified translations rather than sworn ones: those systems require a certified translation, which is the translator’s own signed work, with no court hearing, no oath and no state stamp. USCIS asks for complete English translations of every foreign-language document, and translation certification there is done by the translator rather than by a court. Each of those bodies publishes its own requirements and can change them, so verify which type of translation the office you are filing with asks for before the work starts. Certification takes less time to arrange and starts at $30 per page of up to 250 words.

A certified translation includes a signed statement of accuracy on the company’s letterhead that names the certified translator, sets out their competence and declares that the translation is complete and faithful to the original. Most certified translations are delivered by e-mail within 24-48 hours, with hard copies on request. You can visit our Certified Translation Services page to get certified translation services.

Which languages do we sworn-translate?

The languages most commonly sworn-translated from English-speaking countries include Italian, French, Spanish, German, and Portuguese — and we also handle pairs such as Spanish to English and Arabic. Sworn translation is most often required in civil law jurisdictions, where the work is done by sworn translators the state itself appoints, and where native-language-level skill and official authorization (a translation license) are required in the destination country. Documents translated by sworn translators carry the standing of the original in the country whose court appointed the translator, which is why sworn translations can only be performed there and not remotely from the United States.

Espresso Translations is a certified translation company. We provide certified legal document translation services and sworn translations in the languages of Europe and Latin America, with a second linguist revising every file under ISO 17100. For legal documents into Italian, see our Italian Translation Services (translation in Italy). For French and other language pairs, see our French Translation Services. For Portuguese and Brazilian sworn translation, see our Portuguese Translation Services page.

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What is a sworn translation?

A sworn translation is a translation completed by an official, court-authorized translator who swears to an accurate representation of the original document. The sworn translator holds themselves personally liable for the accuracy of the translation.

What is the difference between sworn and certified translation?

A signed statement of accuracy is the requirement for certified translation in common law countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. Sworn translation is used in civil law countries such as Italy, France, Spain, Germany, and Brazil, where a court-authorized sworn translator gives the translation the legal status of the original.

Is it necessary to have a USCIS sworn translation?

USCIS does not ask for a sworn translation. Its own rule, 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3), asks for a complete English translation with the translator’s signed statement of competence and accuracy. See the Certified Translation Services page for documents going to USCIS.

Which countries require sworn translation?

Sworn translation plays a major role in civil law countries when official documents are submitted. In Europe and Latin America, these include Italy, France, Spain, Germany, and Brazil, among others.

What is the three-part sworn translation bundle?

The three-part sworn translation bundle consists of the original document, the translated document, and the sworn oath statement. For the translation to have legal validity, these components must be bound together permanently.

How much does sworn translation cost?

Sworn translation starts from $55 per page. Additional court fees, courier fees, and duty stamps may apply depending on the country.

How long does sworn translation take?

Sworn translation typically takes 7–14 business days, because court appointments and oath procedures must be arranged in advance. A certified translation, which is faster, can be completed in 24–48 hours.

What is the difference between a sworn translation and an Apostille?

A sworn translation is the legal translation of a document’s contents by a sworn translator under oath. An Apostille verifies the official status of a public document for international use under the Hague Convention.