Sworn translations


Sworn translations

Sworn translations are carried out by a translator who is registered at a court of law. In real terms, the translator provides a signature and name stamp on the translation. They thereby state that the translation is a true copy of the original and it establishes its official character.

Sworn translations

What is a sworn translator?

A sworn translator is someone who has been established as qualified by a court and has sworn an oath before a Dutch court of law. To achieve the certification, the translator must have submitted a certificate of good conduct.

Sworn translators are registered in the Register of Sworn Interpreters and Translators (Rbtv). They are registered at one or more Dutch courts of law and commit to the code of professional conduct for interpreters and translators in the context of the Sworn Interpreters and Translators Act.
A sworn translator is obliged to follow regular schooling and must complete a minimum number of professional assignments per year to maintain their status as a sworn translator.

When is certification required?

Certification gives the translation legal validity in the country for which the translation is destined. Businesses may require this for their official papers, such as statutes, contracts of sale, court rulings and legal correspondence etc. For individuals this often concerns extracts from the population register, school diplomas, marriage certificates, adoption papers, wills and testaments and death certificates.

Legalised translations

Occasionally, a sworn translation is taken a step further and needs to be legalised. A legalised translation is a sworn translation that is stamped at a court of law declaring that the translation is legally valid.

At the court, the translator’s signature is compared to the signature in the translator register.

How quickly can I get a sworn translation?

The standard deliver time for a translation is roughly 1,500 words per language per day. This however does not apply to sworn translations because these must always be delivered on paper. The turnaround times therefore partly depend on postal deliveries.


Documents requiring sworn translations:

  • Adoption papers
  • Alimony statements
  • Apostils
  • Employment contracts
  • Summonses
  • Bailiffs’ writs
  • Diplomas
  • Divorce papers
  • Bankruptcy statements
  • Warranty statements
  • Birth certificates
  • Marriage certificates
  • Insolvency statements
  • Sales contracts
  • Terms of delivery
  • Proxies and powers of attorney
  • Notarial deeds
  • Death certificates
  • Pension agreements
  • Official reports
  • Driving licences
  • Statutes
  • Wills and testaments
  • Extracts from the Chamber of Commerce
  • Certificates of good conduct
  • Custody papers
  • Court rulings
  • In certain cases: contracts

If you are unsure whether you need your translation done by a sworn translator, please feel free to contact us and ask for advice.