"Certified translation" does not mean the same thing in every country. There is no EU-wide sworn translator status. Each country runs its own system, and a translation certified in one jurisdiction is not automatically accepted in another. Before you order a certified translation, the only question that matters is: which authority will receive the document, and in which country?
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Here is how the systems differ, and what we can provide for each.
United Kingdom. There is no state register of sworn translators in the UK. Courts, universities, and government bodies accept translations certified by a member company of the ATC (Association of Translation Companies) or by translators with recognised professional credentials. Alafranga Europe Ltd is an ATC member, so our certification is the standard accepted route for UK filings.
Turkey. Official submissions require a sworn translator (yeminli tercüman) registered with a Turkish notary, and in most cases notarisation of the translation. Some documents also need an apostille for use abroad. We provide sworn translation through our translator network in Turkey, with notarisation and apostille handled on request. One honest caveat: sworn status in Turkey is tied to a specific notary office, and requirements can vary by receiving institution. We confirm the exact requirement with you before starting.
Germany. German courts and authorities generally require a translator authorised by a German regional court (beeidigter or ermächtigter Übersetzer). A UK or Turkish certification is often not sufficient for court filings. For documents that must be filed in Germany, we work with court-authorised translators in Germany. For an apostilled Turkish notarised translation, acceptance depends on the receiving authority and the document type; some accept it, some do not. We check before we quote.
France, Spain, Italy and other EU countries. The same national logic applies. France requires a traducteur assermenté registered with a Court of Appeal. Spain requires a traductor jurado appointed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Italy uses a court-based asseverazione procedure. Where a local sworn translator is mandatory, we arrange one through our network rather than presenting our own certification as something it is not.
Apostille. For many document types, a Turkish notarised sworn translation with an apostille under the Hague Convention is accepted across EU member states. This is often the fastest and most economical route for personal certificates, company registry documents, and powers of attorney. Whether it is sufficient for your case depends on the receiving authority. Tell us where the document is going and we will confirm.
▮And the majority of business content: no certification needed at all. Technical files, user manuals, CE documentation, commercial contracts, compliance materials, software and marketing content do not require sworn translation in any EU country. What they require is accurate, terminology-consistent professional translation with documented quality control. That is our core work, and it is where certification questions simply do not arise.
▮The practical rule: Do not order a certification level you do not need, and do not accept one that the receiving authority will reject. Send us the document and tell us where it is going. We will tell you exactly which route is valid, what it costs, and how long it takes. If the honest answer is that you need a locally sworn translator we cannot provide, we will tell you that too.
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