What is a sworn translationSometimes people need translations of official documents. This may concern notarial deeds, driver's licences, certificates. These documents must be made valid in an other country, so a sworn translation is made. The integral text of the document must be translated, as well as the seals, signatures, dates, etc.The translation must be provided with a statement of the translator that he has translated the text completely and to the best of his/her knowledge and ability. The text is printed on specially manufactured paper bearing the NGTV sworn translator logo. The source document, or - depending on the demands of the receiving country - a copy of it, must be attached to the translation in a fraudproof fashion. It must be made impossible to take out one page and insert an other containing different data. The document is provided with a stamp of the translator, proving that he/she is actually sworn in and before which court this has taken place. He dates and signs the document and initials all its pages, which completes the sworn translation. Now the translation has become an official document, which may be used for the same purposes as the source document, but for a different language area. Let us take the example of a Dutchman who wishes to marry a Polish lady. This lady travels to the Netherlands and may stay here temporarily as a guest. If she wishes to stay longer and the relationship is sound, she needs a permit for a longer period of time. If she decides to get married, she needs more. The town, where the couple wishes to get married, requires her birth certificate and a document which proves that she is not already married in her country of origin. She must apply for these documents in her home country and these are naturally worded in her native language. She has them translated by a sworn translator, so that they will be understandable for and accepted by the municipality that asked for them. Based on these sworn translations she can be registered and get married. For, just like a Dutch person who wants to get married, the foreigner, too, must be able to prove a. that he/she exists (the birth certificate) and b. that he/she is not already married. The Netherlands Society of Interpreters and Translators has recently published new directives as to how a sworn translation should be made, under the supervision of my colleague Kristof Stachowski (Polish). On request we shall send you a copy free of charges.
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