FÜDInsurance & finance
Around Axa, Gothaer, Talanx and Generali: policies, claims and reporting documents, contracts – German ⇄ English, confidential and on time.
Translation Agency Cologne.
Certified document translations in Cologne and the Rhineland by sworn, court-authorised German translators — accepted by German authorities — plus professional translation for local businesses in insurance and finance, media and broadcasting, chemicals, retail and science. From €59 incl. certification and shipping, certified PDF up front and originals by post.
38sworn translators in Cologne for certified documents
50+industries – professional translation & interpreting
60 minfixed-price quote – depending on review effort
ISO 17100certified project management with a quality guarantee
In brief
Certified translation in Cologne for public authorities, professional translation for business.
Looking for a translation agency in Cologne? Do you need a certified translation into German, English, French or another language? Would you like a legal, medical or technical text translated? Our Cologne office works with 38 local translators and interpreters, available whenever you need them. You can also book the Cologne translation service for cost-effective express translations.
Certified versions are produced by sworn translators; they are accepted throughout Germany on the basis of the certification note. For every language and subject our translation service assigns the right specialist; urgent jobs run on an express basis after a brief feasibility check.
Reviewed by subject specialists · FÜD editorial team · continuously updated
Cologne as a business location
Professional translation Cologne: law, technology & medicine.
Insurance hub, media city, chemicals and trade-fair location – Cologne's industries generate very different translation needs. We assign the right specialist to every job.
Media & broadcasting
For companies such as WDR and RTL: editorial copy, subtitles and transcreation that also work in the target culture.
Chemicals & industry
For Lanxess and the Ford plants: technical standards, safety data sheets and conformity documents – terminology-checked.
Retail & consumer goods
Around the REWE Group: product, catalogue and marketing copy for international markets.
Science & sport
For the University of Cologne and the German Sport University: studies, journal articles and publications – scientifically precise.
Law & certification
For authorities, courts and law firms: certified certificates, contracts and records by sworn translators.
Languages
Translators in Cologne for 70+ languages – in the right variant.
We translate in both directions; every job goes to a native-speaker specialist who gets the regional variant right – for public authorities, a sworn translator produces the certified version. The strongest demand in Cologne is for English, Turkish, Italian, Russian, Polish and Arabic.
Certification, apostille & responsible authorities
Which authority in Cologne is responsible for what?
Cologne is in North Rhine-Westphalia, Cologne administrative district. Who is responsible for certification and apostille depends on the type of document. FÜD provides the recognition-ready translation – the apostille is always issued by the competent authority, not by FÜD.
| Matter | Responsible authority for Cologne | What FÜD handles / what to watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Certified translation | Fachübersetzungsdienst Cologne Court-authorised translator (accepted nationwide) | We produce the certified translation with a certification note – accepted throughout Germany, regardless of the court of authorisation. |
| Apostille for civil-status & administrative documents | Cologne District Government (Division 21) Zeughausstraße 2–10, 50667 Cologne | We tell you whether an apostille is required and translate the apostille note along with it. FÜD does not issue apostilles. |
| Apostille for court & notarial documents | President of the Regional Court (Landgericht) of Cologne Luxemburger Straße 101, 50939 Cologne | Applies e.g. to commercial-register extracts, notarial deeds and court decisions. Translation includes the note. |
| Civil-status certificates (birth, marriage, death) | Registry office Cologne | We translate the certificate as a certified translation; the international (multilingual) certificate is available directly from the registry office. |
| Recognition of foreign school certificates | Düsseldorf District Government – NRW certificate-recognition office | Certified translation for the recognition procedure; equivalence is decided by the competent authority. |
| Recognition of foreign professional & university qualifications | Authority responsible for the profession (e.g. district government, chamber, university) | We provide the formally correct translation of your diploma, transcript and professional certificate. |
| Police clearance certificate for use abroad | Federal Office of Justice (BfJ), Bonn | Certified translation of the police clearance certificate, incl. any apostille note. |
| Residence, naturalisation, immigration office | Immigration Authority / Naturalisation Office of the City of Cologne | Certified translation of the required documents – confirm the language direction and purpose in advance. |
Order & addresses
If the receiving body requires an apostille, it belongs before the translation: it is affixed to the original document first, and we then translate the document including the apostille note – so the certified translation remains fully usable in the destination country. Issuing it stays with the authority, not with FÜD.
Addresses: civil-status & administrative documents → Cologne District Government, Division 21, Zeughausstraße 2–10, 50667 Cologne; court & notarial documents → Cologne Regional Court, Luxemburger Straße 101, 50939 Cologne. Source: bezreg-koeln.nrw.de, as at 08/2026.
24 hexpress
Express translation Cologne – when it has to be fast.
We handle urgent jobs on an express basis – after a brief feasibility check we confirm a binding deadline and fixed price. For the most requested combinations we agree the delivery date with you beforehand so the right specialist is available:
- English ⇄ German
- Turkish ⇄ German
- Italian ⇄ German
On the ground
Cologne and our translators.
As an insurance and media hub and a gateway to Rhineland industry, Cologne has broad translation needs – from policies and contracts through television and marketing copy to technical and certified documents. Its proximity to the chemicals and industrial belt and its international trade fair make specialist and commercial translations equally sought-after.
As a centre of science with the University of Cologne, the German Sport University and the German Economic Institute, academic demand is added: studies, journal articles and publications. For every task we deploy a specialist in the relevant field – not the nearest generalist.
On the ground in Cologne
How we work for Cologne.
Translation agency CologneDigital & by post · appointments by arrangement
For Cologne we work entirely online and by post: upload or send your document, and we deliver the finished version – sealed, in the case of certified translations – nationwide. In-person appointments at our offices by arrangement.
Accepted across Germany
Certified translations are produced by court-authorised translators; they are accepted nationwide with the translator's certification note – regardless of which court granted the authorisation. For use abroad, we also translate the apostille note.
Quote & price
Pricing: individually calculated, bindingly confirmed.
No subscription, no hidden items: we review length, subject area and language direction and give you a binding fixed price before you order – certified by our sworn translators on request, postage included. Once confirmed, it stands.
- Native-speaker professional translation in the relevant field
- Certification by court-authorised translators – on request
- PDF in advance & sealed original by post
- Nationwide delivery · free correction in the event of a formal objection
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about certified translations in Cologne.
Do you offer certified translations in Cologne?
Yes. For authorities, courts and public offices in Cologne, court-authorised translators produce certified translations with a certification note that are accepted throughout Germany.
Do I have to come to Cologne to place an order?
No. For most jobs an upload or postal delivery is enough; we deliver the finished translation nationwide, digitally and by post. In-person submission is only needed by appointment.
Is a scan enough, or do you need the original?
For most certified translations a clearly legible scan or a photo of every page is enough. Only certain bodies require the original or a certified copy; we clarify in advance whether that applies to you.
What does a certified translation in Cologne cost?
The price depends on length, subject area, language direction and deadline. After a quick review we quote a binding fixed price; standard certificates usually at a flat rate.
Which languages are most in demand in Cologne?
Do you translate English documents for Cologne authorities?
Yes. For submission to Cologne offices and courts, court-authorised translators produce a certified English–German translation; conversely, we translate German documents for the English-speaking world. We clarify in advance whether an apostille from the Regional Court president is also required.
Next
Where to go next: services, fields, languages and nearby cities.
Certified & fields
Certified translation in CologneTranscreationTechnical translatorLegal translationLanguages
English to German translationRomanian to German translationItalian translationSomali translationCareer & training
Becoming a translator in Cologne?
The path into the profession is rarely a straight line: what counts is native-level language skill, solid subject knowledge in a field such as law, medicine or technology – and, for certified translations, court authorisation from a Regional Court under state law. Cologne is a particularly good place for this: TH Köln is home to one of the largest university institutes for translation and multilingual communication in Europe.
Learning languages & further training in Cologne
Build and certify your language skills
To get started or refresh a working language, Cologne offers well-established options:
- The Cologne Adult Education Centre (VHS) offers foreign-language courses from A1 to C2 as well as German as a foreign language and exam preparation.
- Local private language schools and institutes add intensive, conversation and business courses in numerous languages.
Study within reach
Translation, philology & linguistics
For a relevant degree in and around Cologne:
- TH Köln – Institute for Translation and Multilingual Communication (ITMK): a BA in Multilingual Communication and a Master in Multilingual Specialised Communication and Specialised Translation (member of the EU Commission's EMT network) – a genuine translation degree.
- University of Cologne – English, Romance (one of the largest Romance-studies departments in the country) and Slavic studies in the Faculty of Arts.