Certified translation services is a topic you’re going to learn all about when you first arrive in Germany, believe me. So, why do you need it? What does it cost? And how do you get it? I’m helping answer all of these questions below for you!  The good news is it’s not difficult, and it’s not all that expensive either. The not-so-good news is that you’re going to have to double-check with the government authorities who are requesting that certified translation to ensure that they do indeed accept this “type” of translation. They may be particular about where the translation has been done. If this is the case, you can ask the authorities for a list of recommended certified translators whom they’ve worked with in the past.  

WHY DO YOU ACTUALLY NEED A CERTIFIED TRANSLATION?

Quite simply put, to properly identify and understand your international documents, many official and/or government institutes request to have the translation certified. For example, if you get married or give birth you’re going to need a certified translation of your birth certificate… or when you want to change your license over for a German one (if at all possible – we go through this in the Welcome Program) you’ll need a certified translation of your driver’s license. This means that it is coming from a legitimate source/accreditated translator and the translation will be 100% correct. Accredited translators are those that have been approved by the Oberlandesgerichte, which is the higher regional court in Germany. Again, these are usually the certified translators that will be included in the list that the authorities have to help you with your search.  

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO HAVE SOMETHING TRANSLATED? 

Well, that depends on what is being translated and how many pages/words require translation. If something requires a certified translation, then this will cost more than a non-certified translation. In general, the cost of a translation is fairly low. To give you a better idea, I paid approximately 35 Euros to translate my long-form birth certificate from Canada. Prices will vary entirely, so I cannot provide an exact estimate here on this post, as the price will also continue to change.

TIP: You can actually deduct the certified translations from your income tax! If you’re curious about tax rules and taxes you’ll be required to pay, we go into great depth in the Welcome Program.

WHERE CAN YOU FIND TRANSLATION SERVICES?

Remember when I told you it would be easy? It is. All you need to do is check the public database provided by the German court (which is also conveniently in English) to find a translator close to you. You also have several online options that can offer you certified translations at a fraction of the cost like Lingoking and Beglaubigung24. I highly recommend checking out both these websites as they not only offer certified translations but general translations for several different documents including diplomas, driver’s licenses, birth certificates, marriage certificates, certificates of good conduct, residence permits, resumes, and more. They are both very easy-to-use platforms that allow you to simply select the translation you need and you’ll find the exact fixed price before you even get started. Most translators won’t be able to give you a price estimate until they’ve gone through your document. All you need to do is upload your document digitally, place your order, and then have your document translated (either online or via post, depending on what you require it for). This is also one of the fastest services I’ve experienced so far.

TIP: If you’ve already learned the German language and you feel comfortable enough to translate the document yourself, sometimes you may even be able to send your translation to a certified translator to look over which can also help you save on the cost of translation.