Certified vs Sworn Translation
A certified translation is accompanied by a signed statement from the translator or agency attesting that it is complete and accurate. A sworn translation is produced by a translator formally authorised by a state authority, and carries legal force in that country by itself. The distinction is jurisdictional, not a matter of quality.
What is a certified translation?
A certified translation is a translation delivered with a signed certificate of accuracy naming the translator or agency, the languages and the document. It is the standard requirement in countries without a sworn-translator system, such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.
What is a sworn translation?
A sworn translation is made by a translator who has been appointed or registered by a public authority and who signs and seals the work in that official capacity. Brazil, Spain, France, Germany and much of continental Europe and Latin America operate such systems. The translator's authority, not a separate notarisation, is what gives the document effect.
In Brazil the role is the sworn public translator and commercial interpreter, registered with a state commercial board. In Spain it is the traductor jurado appointed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The titles and appointing bodies differ by country, and a sworn translator's authority is generally valid only in the country that appointed them.
Which one does your document need?
Ask the receiving institution, not the sending one. The rule follows the destination country and often the specific body: a US university, a Brazilian registry office and a Spanish court each have their own requirement. Guessing is what causes rejected filings and lost weeks.
- US immigration, universities, most employers → certified translation
- Brazilian courts, registries, public bodies → sworn translation
- Spanish, French, German official use → sworn translation by a locally appointed translator
- Contracts between private companies → usually neither is required
Is a notarised translation a third category?
It is a separate step, not a separate quality. Notarisation authenticates the signature on the certificate — the notary confirms who signed, not that the translation is accurate. Some authorities ask for a certified translation plus notarisation; others ask for an apostille on top.
Side by side
| Certified translation | Sworn translation | |
|---|---|---|
| Who produces it | Any qualified translator or agency | A translator appointed by a state authority |
| What accompanies it | Signed statement of accuracy | Official signature and seal |
| Legal force | Accepted where certification is the standard | Legal effect in the appointing country |
| Typical countries | US, UK, Australia, Canada | Brazil, Spain, France, Germany, Italy |
| Cross-border validity | Depends on the receiving body | Usually limited to the appointing country |
Frequently asked questions
Can a sworn translation be used in the United States?
Usually it is accepted, since it exceeds what US bodies require, but the receiving institution decides. US requirements are normally satisfied by a certified translation with a statement of accuracy.
Does a certified translation expire?
The translation itself does not, but some institutions require a document issued or translated within a recent window — commonly three to six months. Check the receiving body's rule before reusing an old translation.
Do you need the original document to certify a translation?
A clear, complete scan is normally sufficient for the translation itself. Some authorities require the translation to be bound to a certified copy of the original, which is a requirement of the receiving body rather than of the translator.
Not sure which one you need?
Tell us the document and who will receive it. We will tell you what that body actually requires before you pay for anything.
Request a quote