Sworn translator
Sworn translations are now required by many countries. From the United States to Canada, a sworn translation is now necessary. With that, this article aims to provide information about sworn translations, who is a sworn translator, how to get certified translations, and all of the other important things about translators and interpreters that the client should know about.
What is a Sworn Translation?
A sworn translation, by definition, is an officially accepted document sworn as an official translation made by a professional translator or translation agency and bears the signature and seal of the translator. When a translation is considered as an official translation, the competent authority of the processing individual can recognize the translation as legitimate.
Every country has a different concept of what a sworn translation is and whether or not the concept of a sworn translation exists over a certified translation as well as any other kind of translators and interpreters.
Documents are turned into official documents through different ways, depending on the laws of the country. Hence, what is a sworn translation in one country is not necessarily accepted in another country. There may be a need for more documentation or more certification in order for one document to be considered as such among countries. The concept of a sworn translation may be considered as a technical concept but it is very straightforward once you find out the difference between what is authorized in your country and what is recognized in another. The sign and the seal requirements, however, seem to be a common part of the requirements to prove the accuracy of the documents.
The sign, seal, and signature are the bread and butter of the translator’s professional life. If you are looking for a sworn translator or is in need of the services of one, you should make sure that you check out the article
Sworn Translations based on different countries
As stated above, different countries require different sworn translations or certified translations depending on the need. Before hiring a sworn translator, you should know if a sworn translation is actually allowed in the country that you are going to use it.
To begin, let us look at some of the different countries and the different interpretations of a sworn translation.
Australia
For the most basic kind of translation, as in for personal use or maybe even out of sheer curiosity, there are document translations that can be done in many languages. Basic translation services are available for this specific kind of need. If you have a personal letter that needs translation services, you do not need to engage the service of those who work in a big New York translation firm or get certified translations, all you need is to get an individual to translate what you need.
In the United States, some individuals often do a translation project to ensure that they are using the right language or replying using the right languages. The most common translation projects that individuals have requested from translation companies are those in Spanish to English. There are basic translators available online that any user may use. Since these basic document translations do not need any kind of quality control, the translators you engage need not have any certification or issue any certification.
What kind of papers would not just need basic translation?
Any kind of document that does not have a legal purpose or that needs to be submitted to someone else can already prosper with basic translation. Private correspondences, private communications, and the like are examples of papers that no longer need to be certified translated by an expert.
Canada
Canada is also another country that has very strict requirements when it comes to their translation. In Canada, in order for the translation to pass from a mere document to an official document, the translations must pass the standards of the Canadian Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters Council or the CTTIC. A translator, whether a sworn translator or a certified translator, must undergo a standard translation examination before he is even considered as any kind of translator.
United States
The United States does not have its own concept of sworn translation. Individuals who want to use sworn translations would still need to present a notarized or a certified translation. A notarized translation is different from a sworn translation concept in other countries but it is considered as one and the same in the US.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is not different from the United States in terms of the concept of a sworn translation. Officially, they also have no concept of a sworn translation nor are sworn translations recognized in the UK. However, it is officially accepted for document processors to accept a notarized translation and a certified translation. The document must bear the signature and seal of the individual certified translator and it falls under the concept of a legal translation in the UK.
France
A country that is known for loving their natin language, France is a good business for those in the translation industry. In France, the sworn translations are called “traduction assermentee”. The process in France is very strict. It is usually done by a certified translator or a sworn translator who have personally taken an oath before the court. The translators are to be approved by the court to give translations within the language indicated.
Mexico
Mexico is another country that also has some good use for a sworn translator. Persons who want to be registered as a sworn translator in Mexico are required to undergo a specific process. The aspiring translators are required to undergo rigorous oral and written examinations. Only those who have passed the rigors of the oral and written examination are called an official translator or a “perito traductor oficial”.
Italy
In Italy, the translators must go to the Court in order for the document to have accuracy and be considered as the status of an original document. The court authorities require the presence of the sworn translator to attest to the accuracy and the technical quality of the translation. The translation company that you hire for your certified translation needs in Italy must be able to present their sworn translators or their sworn translator in Italian Courts.
Why Does A Sworn Translation Matter?
To make your birth certificate official in another country.
Sworn translators may already have a template for your translation needs. If you already have a target language, for example in the case of birth certificates, the sworn translators often already have a certified document that is related to the target language. They can easily get a quote for you and provide you with professional translation. The translation agency will also be able to translate your document in the language you prefer and provide you with the translated legal version in no time.
To give your document better legal value.
One of the things about translations that you need to know more about is the fact that you need a translator to get your documents translated and give them higher legal value. The certification that bears the translation services and services of the notary show authorities that the document is legitimate.
For example, if you have a Spanish birth certificate that you want to get recognized, you need a quality translation to make sure that the document is legitimate in the eyes of the authorities who are authorized to review the documents.
What documents often require a certified translation from a foreign language?
There are many different kinds of jurisdiction that require a professional to translate them in another foreign language.
- Title deeds;
- Business and organisation statutes;
- Business technical documentation;
- Full medical history;
- University syllabus;
- Research papers;
- Commercial contracts; and
- Annual reports and balance sheets of companies.When you are faced with any of the above documents, it rests on you to make sure that you will get them properly translated in the right language that you want them processed. You should get documents to translate and the company you contact should be able to give you a signed page of the certificate of translation, to show that they were the ones who provide the service to translate the documents that you present.
Can I get sworn translations anywhere?
As stated above, you may not get legal sworn translations everywhere. The documents that you want translated should be translated by one whose services and signature bear the legal right to translate documents.
When a foreign jurisdiction is going to process the documents that you submitted and they are using different languages, you should get a sworn translation service to provide you with the right translated documents that will also come with certificates on the service you got, the language translated from, the languages translated to, the contact you have had with the request, who signed the certificate, and the notary who has knowledge about the signing. This is often provided for on a separate page and you should not miss this requirement.
Is a certified translation done by sworn translators?
Yes, a certified translation is often done by sworn translators who are well versed in many languages. They are certified or licensed depending on the jurisdiction that legally covers them. It is often the task of the sworn translators to ensure the accuracy of the documents that they present to their client.
Is there a University degree that is about translation?
It depends on the jurisdiction that you want to get certified as a translator. Generally, a university degree is not required for you to give a translation service. While anybody can actually translate, even a software or artificial intelligence, not every translator is able to be considered as a sworn translator.
Contact your courts of justice or a simple Google search can show you if your jurisdiction requires that you should have a University degree.
Is a certified translation a sworn translation?
A certified translation is the same as a sworn translation in some jurisdictions. Some jurisdictions only require court appearance in the presence of a Judge or Justice. Some require that the translator should testify in open court about the legitimacy and accuracy of the translations.
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You need to contact a translation company that you can trust. A sworn translator is someone who can translate your document but other than that the sworn translator should be someone that you are sure that you can trust. It is always up to you to make sure that your translation agency has complied with all of the requirements that you submitted.