State-approved sworn translators

Two factors can help you determine the price of a sworn translation: the nature of the document (number of words, etc.) and the target language. The price of a sworn translation varies according to the nature of the document and the languages involved. Some languages are rarer and therefore cost more than others. In general, sworn translations of common documents such as driving licences or deeds such as marriage certificates, etc. cost between €30 and €60 per page. Finally, this price also depends on the sworn translator; each translator sets his or her own price, so there is no fixed price. However, at Un Traducteur we offer a fixed price of €35 per page. 

A sworn translator is a translator approved by a French Court of Appeal or the Court of Cassation. He or she is considered to be a judicial expert and a ministerial officer, and assists the judiciary and government departments in their work. The sworn translator is responsible for translating official documents from a source language into the language of which he or she is an expert. Once the translation has been completed, the translator's stamp and signature, together with the words "conforms to the original", certify that the document has indeed been translated by his or her expertise. The translation will then be considered accurate and admissible by the courts or the public authorities because it has been translated and certified by a legal expert.

There is no real difference except in the way the two terms are used. It is the translator who is sworn and the translation that is certified. In other words, it is not correct to say "sworn translation", but rather "certified translation" by a "sworn translator".

The original document is not compulsory, but it is recommended. Most sworn translators only receive digital copies of the documents they translate; the original is rarely used. It is therefore perfectly possible to send a scan of your document to the sworn translator, who will translate the document, print out the translation and the digital copy, stamp both and mention "conforms to the digital copy". All that remains is for you to present the two documents to the authorities, along with the original document, so that the authorities can check that the stamped digital document is identical to the original.

No, it is not compulsory to use a translator sworn by a Court of Appeal in your region. All translators sworn by all the Courts of Appeal in France are recognised as legal experts. You can therefore call on a translator sworn by the Aix-en-Provence Court of Appeal to translate a document that you need to present to the Paris prefecture. The translation will be perfectly acceptable. In this case, you will need to send a digital copy to the translator, who will be able to send you the translation by e-mail and a copy with his or her signature and original stamp by post.

It is compulsory to use a sworn translator for a number of documents, such as procedural deeds, notarial deeds, bailiff's deeds, administrative deeds and any other document for which the original is not the official language of the institution to which the document is presented. If the document is to be presented to the prefecture, the town hall or a judicial institution such as the courts, it must be translated and certified by a translator approved by a French court of appeal, known as a "sworn translator". However, it is best to ask the administration concerned whether it requires a sworn translation of the document.

A sworn translator is a translator who has been approved by a French Court of Appeal or Court of Cassation. If you want to check that a translator is sworn, you can ask him or her which Court of Appeal he or she is approved by. Then simply check the list of legal experts for the Court of Appeal in question and check that the translator's name is listed under translation.

Legalisation of a document is the act by which a document retains its legal value abroad. It is therefore an essential procedure, without which a document cannot be considered legal in a foreign country. That said, some countries, such as Italy, have signed agreements with France and do not require legalisation. For this reason, you should check with the relevant authorities before placing your order with a sworn translator. Before doing so, the sworn translator must also legalise his or her signature at a town hall.

There are two ways of legalizing a document, the standard procedure and the simplified procedure. If you go for the classic procedure, you must first submit your document to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in your country. Once the document has been legalized, you must submit the same document to the embassy or consulate of the relevant country. The document is then legalized a second time, both steps are necessary for a complete legalization of the document. If you prefer the simplified procedure, you can simply submit the document to the Court of Appeal in your region and have it legalized by the Apostille Service. Please note, however, that the simplified procedure by means of an apostille only applies to countries that have signed the Apostille Convention. 

The translator can have his or her signature legalised at a town hall so that you can then start the legalisation procedure with a Court of Appeal or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

The signature and stamp of a sworn translator give the translation an official status, but this status only has credibility in France. This is why, if you want the translation of a document to be valid in another country, you will also need to have it legalised so that it is also official abroad.