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Frequently asked questions about translation & certification.

A certified translation from FÜD is produced by a sworn, court-authorised German translator and accepted by German authorities and courts nationwide, at a binding fixed price from €59 per document including certification and postage. These answers cover turnaround, the apostille — which the competent authority issues, not the translator — confidentiality and how certification works. Anything specific to your case, we are glad to clarify in person.

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Price, turnaround, process and recognition – briefly explained · with references to the law and official sources · examples from daily practice · open points we clarify in person

DIN EN ISO 17100registered · Reg. 7U517

Court-authorised translatorsCertification note · attested

ConfidentialGDPR-compliant · NDA on request

Price up frontbinding fixed price

Short & clear

Answers to the questions we hear most.

FÜD editorial team · kept current

Here, in one place, is what clients ask most often – about price and turnaround, the certified translation, the apostille, and quality and confidentiality. For your specific case we are glad to advise you in person – on working days you usually get a reply within 60 minutes.

Costs & quote

What does a translation cost?

The price depends on volume, language direction, field and deadline. As a guide, professional translations start from € 0.89 per standard line; after a brief review we name a binding fixed price. How the price is made up is shown in our price overview.

Do I get a binding fixed price?

Yes. Before the order starts you receive a binding fixed price with no unannounced extra costs – and, for ongoing needs, a framework quote with a dedicated contact.

Is there a free sample translation?

For larger or ongoing projects we offer a free sample translation on request, so you can check style and terminology in advance.

Process & turnaround

How does an enquiry work?

You upload your document or describe the project briefly. We review volume, field, deadline and – where needed – the required certification, and name a fixed price. Once you approve it, a suitable specialist translates; you receive the result in advance as a PDF. On working days you usually get a reply within 60 minutes.

How long does a translation take?

Manageable documents are often ready within a few working days; by 24-hour express faster where feasible. For large volumes we coordinate teams and keep terminology consistent through translation memories.

Do you offer express translations?

Yes. For urgent orders there is an express translation; feasibility depends on language, volume and field and is confirmed bindingly in advance.

How do I upload documents securely?

Through the encrypted form on the relevant service page. A clearly legible scan or a PDF is usually enough; sensitive content is treated confidentially and only for the agreed purpose.

Certification & recognition

What is a certified translation?

A certified translation is produced by a court-authorised (sworn) translator who confirms its accuracy and completeness with a stamp, signature and certification note. Authorities, public offices and courts require it for foreign-language documents.

What does “court-authorised” mean – and is it the same as “sworn”?

For written translations the correct term is court-authorised translator (in German, ermächtigter Übersetzer; under state law also “sworn” or “publicly appointed”). “Sworn” in the strict sense refers above all to interpreters, who render spoken language in court. We provide the qualification that matches your case.

Is the translation recognised nationwide in Germany?

Yes. A translator authorised by a German court may issue certified translations that are recognised before all authorities and courts nationwide – regardless of the federal state in which the authorisation was granted.

Do you need my original document?

For the translation itself a clearly legible scan is usually sufficient. Whether the certification should refer to the original, a certified copy or a scan depends on the requesting body – we note the reference accordingly.

Apostille & use abroad

What is an apostille and when do I need one?

The apostille confirms the authenticity of a public document for use in states party to the Hague Convention. Whether your target authority requires it is something we clarify in advance.

Does the translation agency issue the apostille?

No. The apostille is issued by the competent authority or court in the country of origin – not by the translation agency. We advise which body is responsible for your type of document and in which order apostille and translation make sense.

Quality, confidentiality & languages

Do you work to a quality standard?

Yes. The Fachübersetzungsdienst is DIN EN ISO 17100 certified (DIN CERTCO, Reg. 7U517). Professional translations are produced by qualified, native-speaker translators, on request under the four-eyes principle.

How do you ensure confidentiality?

Assigned specialists are bound to secrecy; data is processed only for the agreed purpose in line with the GDPR. On request we sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) and handle the order without machine translation or AI.

Which languages and fields do you cover?

over 70 languages and more than 70 fields – from law and technology to medicine and academia. An overview is given on our languages and fields pages.

Do you also provide interpreters?

Yes. For appointments at court, a notary, an authority or at conferences we arrange suitable interpreters – consecutive or simultaneous, on site or by video.

Whether a translation is accepted is decided at the receiving end.

So: the right form of certification, the correct terminology, and a binding price named up front.

Answers in depth

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