A sworn translation is not automatically a legalised translation, because it must first be legalised by a court or other authority. Legalising documents makes them suitable for use abroad. When you have a sworn translation legalised, it is checked whether (the signature of) the sworn translator is registered in the Rbtv. Signatures can be legalised in two ways, namely with an apostille and with an ordinary legalisation.
What is legalisation?
By having a document legalised you prove that:
- an official body has issued the document;
- the signature and seal or stamp on the document are genuine; and
- the form of the document is correct.
Does my sworn translation need to be legalised?
Sworn translations by a translator who is sworn in the Netherlands and is going to be used in the Netherlands do not need to be legalised. In such a case a sworn translation by the translator is sufficient. All our sworn translations are in fact performed by a translator who is sworn in by a Dutch court.
Sometimes a foreign agency, such as a court, government agency or notary, does ask you to have the sworn translator's signature legalised through an apostille or legalisation.
Do you need a sworn translation with apostille of a deed (such as a birth or marriage certificate), statutes or other official document? Then you can easily do this yourself at any Dutch district court. This can be done at most courts by mail or by appointment.
Always check in advance whether legalisation is required by the body requesting a sworn translation.
What is the difference between an apostille or a regular legalisation?
An apostille is a simplified legalisation in the form of a court declaration. An apostille confirms that an official document, in this case the sworn translation, has been signed by someone authorised to do so. With the apostille, the sworn translation becomes valid in all countries that are members of the Apostille Convention and you no longer need to complete any other formalities. Apostilles are available not only in Dutch but also in English, German, French, Spanish and Italian.
If you need a legalised sworn translation for a country that is not a member of the Apostille Convention, a more extensive legalisation procedure must be completed.
- A court legalizes the sworn translator's signature through a "regular" legalisation and thus no apostille.
- Then the employee's signature at the court must be legalised by the Consular Services Center (CDC) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in The Hague.
- Finally, the signature of the State Department official must be legalised. This is usually done by an embassy, consulate or honorary consul of the country for which the sworn translation is intended.
This extensive legalisation procedure can take quite some time. In case the country for which your sworn translation is intended is not a member of the Apostille Convention, be sure to take this procedure into account.
Which countries are members of the Apostille Convention?
You can find a current list of all countries that participate in the Apostille Convention and recognize the apostille on the central government website.
How long is an apostille valid?
The validity of the apostille is determined by the foreign authority for which you need the document with the apostille. Sometimes a document cannot be older than 2 weeks and sometimes the legalisation is valid for several months. So always check with the relevant authority about the maximum age of the apostille.
Can someone else get the sworn translation legalised?
It is not obligatory to have the document legalised yourself; someone else may do that for you. This is also possible without an authorization. This is because only the details of the sworn translator are considered.
Can I also have my sworn translation legalised by Beëdigd Vertaalbureau?
You can have your document legalised yourself at a court near you. In such a case, the court places an apostille on the sworn translation, showing that the sworn translator is authorised to swear the document. With the apostille, the document is valid all countries affiliated with the Apostille Convention. If the country for which you need the legalisation is not a member of the Apostille Convention, you can also have the document legalised.
To apply for an apostille, you pay €22 court fee at the court. After payment, you will then immediately receive the apostille in court.
Of course, we can help you with this as well. For providing legalizations, we charge the cost of the court fee and the time required to provide the legalisation.
These costs are € 132 (excluding VAT) or € 159.72 (including VAT):
composed of travel and waiting time: € 110 + court fees: € 22.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a sworn translator?
A sworn translator is a translator who is listed in the Dutch register For Sworn interpreters And Translators(Rbtv). A sworn translator is sworn in by a court of law. To become a sworn translator, the translator must meet a number of quality requirements for education, work experience and integrity. The translator must also do continuing education to maintain his or her status as a sworn translator.
What kinds of documents are often translated by sworn translators?
Documents that need to be sworn translated are in most cases documents with an official or legal status. You can think of birth certificates, diplomas, contracts and identity documents(driver's licence, passport).
What languages are available?
We have a selection of languages on our website. These are the most common language combinations, for which you can also request a sworn translation directly on the website.
Is the language you are looking for not listed? Then request a quote without obligation. We will contact you as soon as possible.