DEEN
Upload Document
certified translations - professional certified translator English German and 75 more languages

Home › Certified translation

Certified translation services for German authorities.

A certified translation is produced by a sworn, court-authorised German translator and carries a certification statement, stamp and signature – so German authorities, courts and universities accept it nationwide, including for procedures abroad. You upload your document and receive a binding fixed price — standard certificates from €59, longer texts from €0.89/line — with the paper original by post and a PDF in advance.

  • Certification note & stampwith signature
  • Accepted by authorities & courtsnationwide
  • Names per ICAOtransliteration
  • 4.6 · Trustpilot
Customer servicePrices 0800 3333-3433

Sworn, authorised translators · certification statement, recognised nationwide · fixed price incl. shipping · 24-hour express where feasible

DIN EN ISO 17100registered · Reg. 7U517
Recognised nationwideunder state law
Price up frontfixed price incl. shipping
24-hour expresswhere feasible

In short

What a certified translation is — and who recognises it.

Reviewed by specialists · FÜD editorial team · kept current

A certified translation confirms the accuracy and completeness of a document against its original. What gives it legal standing is the certification statement, added by a sworn, court-authorised translator (in German, ermächtigter Übersetzer).

Whether it is accepted in the individual case is decided by the receiving office. We check its formal requirements in advance — whether a particular form, the original or an apostille is needed — and, if an office raises a formal objection within the agreed scope, we correct it free of charge.

Who it's for

When you need a certified translation.

Most people reach this page because an office in Germany has asked for a foreign-language document in German — or a document from Germany for use abroad. A certified translation covers both.

For a registry office or authority

Birth, marriage and death certificates, certificates of good conduct and registration certificates for the registry office (Standesamt), the immigration office or a naturalisation file — issued abroad, they need a certified German translation with names transferred exactly as in your passport.

For recognition of qualifications

School and university diplomas, transcripts and reference letters that a credential-evaluation body (ZAB / ENIC-NARIC), a university or an employer requires as a certified translation before a foreign qualification can be recognised.

For use abroad

German certificates, contracts, powers of attorney and rulings that have to be presented to an authority, court or partner in another country — in certified form, and often with an apostille that the competent authority issues on the original.

For courts, notaries and business

Commercial-register extracts, contracts and court decisions where legal terminology, dates and stamps have to be precise. We assign a translator authorised for the language and field you actually need.

Step by step

How a certified translation gets from your document to the counter.

The same four steps apply whether the receiving office is a registry office, an immigration authority or a court abroad. Knowing them in advance is what keeps a submission from being sent back for a formality.

1 · Send the document

Upload a clear scan or photo of the original. The translator works from what the office will see — front and back, stamps, seals and marginal notes included.

2 · Fixed price up front

After a brief review you receive a binding fixed price and a deadline. Standard certificates are usually a flat fee per document; longer texts are priced per standard line, from € 0.89.

3 · Certified translation

A sworn, authorised translator renders the text, matches every name to your passport, and adds the certification statement, stamp and signature required for a certified translation.

4 · PDF & hard copy

You receive an advance PDF and the signed, stamped original by post — the form most authorities require for the file.

Who may certify

Who is allowed to issue a certified translation.

Only someone empowered to do so: a translator authorised (in German ermächtigt, regionally also called beeidigt, vereidigt or öffentlich bestellt) by a Regional or Higher Regional Court. The label varies from one federal state to the next, but it means the same court-conferred authority. For written documents the correct term is a sworn, authorised translator; "sworn/appointed interpreter" strictly refers to spoken interpreting.

That authority is valid nationwide under Section 142 (3) ZPO — you do not need a translator from your own federal state. In legal terms the result is an "attested translation" (under state law). We assign your document to a person authorised for the target language, following the DIN EN ISO 17100 process with a second-person revision.

24,845 people are currently listed in the official interpreter and translator register of the German judicial authorities — court authorisation is a clearly defined qualification, not a claim. (Source: Landesjustizverwaltungen, as of 6 August 2026.)

Which office requires what

Document, authority, certification & apostille — at a glance.

Whether a certified translation is enough or an apostille is also needed depends on the document, the requesting authority and the destination country. This is the overview we work from — in case of doubt, the requesting authority decides.

Which authority requires a certified translation and when an apostille is also needed
DocumentTypical authorityCertified translation?Apostille for use abroad?
Birth, marriage, death certificateRegistry office (Standesamt)Yes — authorised translatorOften — from the issuing office
Residence permit, visa, citizenshipImmigration office (Ausländerbehörde)YesRarely (domestic use)
School / university diploma (recognition)Credential evaluation (ZAB / ENIC-NARIC)YesDepends on country / university
Driving licence (exchange)Driving-licence authorityYes (usually)No
Certificate of good conduct (abroad)Destination authority abroadYesYes — via the competent authority
Commercial register, contracts, rulingsCourt / notaryYesDepends on country

Apostille order — a common mistake

If your destination requires an apostille, the order matters: first the apostille on the original (or the certified copy), then the translation — including the apostille text. Translating first and apostillising afterwards often means the apostille has to be translated in a second round. The apostille itself is issued by the competent court or authority — the FÜD does not issue apostilles. It replaces the more cumbersome legalisation among the signatory states of the Hague Apostille Convention; China joined in November 2023. We check in advance what your destination country requires.

Two shortcuts are worth knowing before you order. Between EU member states, Regulation (EU) 2016/1191 abolishes the apostille for many civil-status documents (birth, marriage, life certificates) and offers multilingual standard forms that can remove the need for a translation altogether. For documents from outside the Hague Apostille Convention, full legalisation through the German mission abroad may apply instead. The receiving office decides which route applies — we check with you before anything is ordered.

One document. One fixed price. A translation accepted without a follow-up query.

If an office raises a formal objection within the agreed scope, we correct it free of charge — so one authority appointment does not turn into two.

Form & recognition

What has to appear on a certified translation.

Reviewed by specialists · FÜD editorial team · kept current

The certification statement is not free text — it is shaped by state law. The authorising court requires the translator to certify the accuracy and completeness of the translation and to give the place, the date and their position; the statement must be signed and stamped. In this form, the translation is presumed correct and complete — with counter-evidence still admissible.

If one of these details is missing, it is not a cosmetic flaw: registry, probate and civil-status offices reject the document and the process starts over. We check every statement before delivery against Section 142 (3) ZPO and against the requirements of the court that granted the authorisation — because the stamp wording and certification formula differ from one federal state to the next. Stamps, marginal notes, apostille text and handwritten additions are translated too; a translation that renders only the running text is an incomplete document.

Common pitfalls

Why offices send a certified translation back — and how to avoid it.

Most rejections have nothing to do with the quality of the language and everything to do with form. These are the recurring reasons a submission comes back — and how a sworn, authorised translation avoids them.

Why certified translations are rejected and how the FÜD prevents it
PitfallWhy it goes wrongHow the FÜD solves it
Name spelled differently than in the passportTransliteration from Arabic, Cyrillic or another script is improvised, so the translated name diverges from the ID — and the document is refused.Names are transliterated by the rules and matched exactly to your passport spelling, character for character.
Not a sworn, authorised translatorA fluent friend or an online tool produces the text; it carries no certification statement and is not accepted by German authorities.Every certified job is done by a translator authorised by a German court, with stamp, signature and certification statement.
Stamps, seals and back page omittedOnly the front is translated; the office cannot see the seal or the marginal notes it needs to verify.The whole document is rendered — including stamps, seals, apostilles and handwritten notes — described where they cannot be reproduced.
Missing apostille or legalisationThe translation is perfect but the underlying foreign document was never authenticated, so it has no legal footing.We flag in advance whether an apostille or legalisation is required and translate it too once you obtain it.
Only a PDF, no hard copyMany offices keep the stamped paper original for the file; a screen copy is not enough.You receive an advance PDF and the signed, stamped hard copy by post as standard.

The rule behind all five

A certified translation is a legal act, not just a language service. It succeeds when the form is right: the correct translator, the whole document, passport-matched names, the right authentication and a physical original. Get those right and the content takes care of itself.

Use cases

Certified translations: three typical cases from practice.

Document type, target country and the requesting office decide the terminology and the form of certification. Three common jobs — from the starting point to the result.

Registry office & family

Birth & marriage certificate for a Standesamt

Starting point
For a marriage or naturalisation, a foreign civil-status certificate is needed in German — with the name in its original spelling.
Process
An authorised translator renders the certificate and transfers the name exactly as in the passport; the certification statement makes it ready for the office.
Result
A certified translation the registry office accepts, its name spelling identical to the ID — no follow-up query.

Recognition & careers

Diploma & transcript for recognition

Starting point
A professional applies to a German employer or a credential-evaluation body and needs a diploma, transcript and reference letters rendered accurately.
Process
Degrees, subjects and titles stay in the original with an explanatory equivalent; terminology is handled by a specialist in the field.
Result
Documents an evaluation body can place correctly — without misrepresenting a foreign qualification.

Law & trade

Contract & power of attorney for use abroad

Starting point
A German company signs a contract with a foreign partner; legal form, deadlines and terminology must be precise — and an apostille is often required first.
Process
The apostille goes on the original, then the certified translation includes the apostille text; a legal specialist checks the terminology.
Result
A contract that is legally readable abroad without replacing German legal institutions with foreign ones.

24-hour express

Certified translation in 24 hours, when it has to be.

When a deadline is tight, a 24-hour express certified translation is possible after we confirm feasibility. You receive the certified translation digitally as a PDF within 24 hours; the signed and stamped original follows by post. For larger volumes we coordinate teams so the deadline still holds.

The clock is honest: the 24-hour deadline starts once the documents are complete, we have confirmed feasibility, you have placed the order and the payment condition is met. The postal run is separate from the digital completion. Whether the digital PDF alone is enough or the paper original is required is decided by the receiving office — we clarify that with you in advance.

Rare languages are the exception: for them, availability of an authorised translator — not the price — is the limiting factor. We check availability before promising a date and say so openly when a language needs lead time. All languages →

Quote & price

What does a certified translation cost?

We review volume, field, language direction and file condition and name a binding fixed price. Standard certificates are usually a flat fee per document; longer texts are priced per standard line — certification, advance PDF and postal delivery included.

Binding fixed price
from € 0.89 / standard linestandard certificates at a flat fee per document
Price up front · no unannounced extra costs
Professional translation✓included
Certification by an authorised translator✓included
Advance PDF✓included
Postal delivery of the original✓included
Quality assurance & final check✓included

A standard line is 55 characters incl. spaces; the exact fixed price depends on volume, field, language combination, file condition and deadline. A required apostille is issued by the competent court or authority and is not part of our service. How the price is made up →

Request a quote

FAQ

Certified translation — frequently asked questions.

Do I need a certified translation?

In most cases yes: authorities, registry offices and courts accept foreign-language documents almost exclusively as a certified translation by a sworn, authorised translator. For private use a standard translation is often enough — we tell you which you need before you order.

Who may issue a certified translation in Germany?

Only a translator authorised (in German ermächtigt, regionally also beeidigt) by a Regional or Higher Regional Court. That personal authority is conferred by the court under state law (see Section 142 (3) ZPO) and is valid nationwide — you do not need a translator from your own federal state.

What has to appear on a certified translation?

The certification statement is prescribed by law: a confirmation of accuracy and completeness, the place and date, the translator's position (authorised by which court, for which language) and their signature and stamp. If one is missing, registry, probate and civil-status offices reject the document — we check every statement against Section 142 (3) ZPO before delivery.

Do I also need an apostille?

Sometimes, for use abroad. The apostille confirms the authenticity of the original and is issued by the competent court or authority — the FÜD does not issue apostilles. We advise whether your destination country requires one and deliver the translation in a recognisable form.

Is a translation certified in my home country valid in Germany?

Not automatically. A German authority generally requires a translation certified by a translator authorised in Germany. One certified abroad may need an apostille on the certification itself, or may not be accepted at all — check with the receiving office before you order.

What does a certified translation cost?

Standard certificates are usually a flat fixed price per document; longer texts are priced per standard line (55 characters incl. spaces) from € 0.89. Certification, the advance PDF and postal delivery are included. We name the exact price after a brief review. How the price is calculated →

How fast can I get it — is there a 24-hour express?

After we confirm feasibility, digital completion within 24 hours is possible. The deadline starts once documents, our confirmation, your order and payment are complete; the postal run is separate. You receive the PDF in advance and the sealed original by post.
Diploma uploaded in the morning, fixed price by midday, the certified translation as a PDF the next day — the original followed by post. The university accepted it without a single query.
★★★★★

Katharina R. · master's certificate, recognition · express

Documents

Certified translations by document type.

Services

Interpreter serviceRevision serviceWeb content translationScientific translation

Specialist fields

Chemical & pharma translationMarketing translationFinancial translatorTechnical documentation

Documents

Contract translationPassport & ID translationCertificate of no impedimentCertified certificate translation

Languages

Certified English–German translationUkrainian to German translationRomanian to German translationArmenian to German translation

Next

Where to go next: services, fields, documents and languages.

Certified & fields

Certified translation onlineMedical translationProfessional translation overview

Languages

Certified German translationItalian–German translationArmenian to German translation

Document types

Translate a marriage certificateDivorce certificate translationAcademic certificate translationStudent discountTranslation office LuxembourgCertified translation for GermanyAll languagesCV & résumé translation

Work with us

A native speaker with a field? Become an authorised translator.

Our certified translations are accepted by German authorities without queries because native-speaker specialists produce them — people who bring, beyond the language, German at C2 level, a proven specialist field, and — for certified work — court authorisation as a sworn translator. If that describes you, we work continually with authorised translators, employed or freelance.

The path

German to C2, plus a field

A second native language is your starting capital; the market rewards what you build on top. German at C2 — the level at which you read a German ruling or medical report without hesitation — is the real gate, because certified work means rendering official German with precision, not just understanding it. Add a field you can defend (law, medicine, technology, finance) and its terminology. That combination, not language alone, is what a registry office or a court actually relies on.

Why it holds up

Authorisation, and the expertise behind it

For certified translations you apply to the competent Regional Court (Landgericht) to be authorised under state law. And certified documents are exactly where a specialist earns their place: names, dates, place and authority names, stamps and marginal notes are where precision prevents the errors that would otherwise cause rejection — and the confirmation of accuracy is signed at the end by a person, under their own name. For the broader choice of service model, see our agency, freelancer and machine translation comparison.

Introduce yourselfAbout the FÜD
Upload document Prices