What are the differences between a sworn translator and a regular one?

If you’ve ever dealt with cars imported from abroad, you’ve certainly encountered the requirement of having the purchase agreement and registration document translated by a specialist authorized for this purpose. You may wonder where this requirement comes from? In this article, we will try to explain the differences between sworn and regular translation.

Translation of documents carried out by an authorized person.

Sworn translation, also known as certified translation, can only be performed by an individual who has passed a special state examination and has been sworn in by the Minister of Justice. The services of a registered specialist are necessary if we require translations of official, legal, or administrative documents. These may include birth certificates, diplomas, notarial deeds, as well as purchase agreements – for example, those made when importing a used car from abroad between its previous and new owner. Sworn translations are authenticated with a seal and signature, and in the case of online orders, an electronic signature. They are also recorded, and the specialist bears legal responsibility. Only such documents can be submitted to various offices or public institutions, such as the department of motor vehicles.

When is a stamp not required?

For regular translations, the requirements mentioned above are not imposed. They are usually commissioned for various practical texts (instructions, promotional materials, newspaper articles, emails), as well as literature, and can be carried out by any person working in this profession. It is worth noting that there should be no differences in quality between these two services. Sworn translations are by no means “better,” more substantive, or grammatically more correct than regular ones. The same level of commitment is required from individuals providing both services – however, additional formal requirements must be met for sworn documents.

On our website, certified translations of vehicle documents are carried out by experienced sworn translators. We encourage you to check out our full range of services and the languages ​​in which we operate.