Frequently Asked Questions
We have gathered here the answers to the questions you ask us most frequently.
General Questions about Sworn Translation
A sworn translation, also known as a certified or official translation, is much more than a simple transfer of text from one language to another. It is a legally valid document, produced by a professional translator who has sworn an oath before a judicial authority, such as an Appeal Court in France. This oath binds their criminal and civil liability.
Each page of the translation bears the translator's stamp, signature, and a statement attesting that the translation is "true to the original". This gives the translated document the same legal force as the original, making it acceptable to administrations, courts, universities, and other official bodies, both in France and abroad.
The difference is immense and lies in legal value and responsibility. A simple (or free) translation is for informational purposes and can be performed by anyone fluent in both languages. It has no official value. In contrast, a sworn translation is an official act. The translator is not just a linguist, but an auxiliary justice officer who bears their responsibility.
The translation is inseparable from the original (a copy is stapled to the translation) and its certification guarantees its accuracy and integrity before the authorities. Using a simple translation for an administrative procedure will almost always result in the rejection of your file.
The title "expert translator at the Court of Appeal" (or expert translator-interpreter) is the highest level of recognition for a translator in France. This is a professional appointed by the Ministry of Justice after a strict selection process that includes background checks and a thorough verification of their skills. Upon appointment, they take an oath and are registered on an official list.
This status grants them the right to perform "sworn" translations. The use of such an expert is an absolute guarantee that your translation will be recognized by all French authorities (town halls, prefectures, courts, notaries) and most foreign authorities.
The need for an official translation arises whenever you need to submit a foreign document to a French administration, or a French document to a foreign administration. The cases are very diverse:
- Immigration and nationality: Visa applications, residence permit applications, green card applications (for the USA, our translations comply with USCIS requirements), family reunification, nationality applications.
- Civil status: Transcription of a foreign birth or marriage certificate, application for marriage, divorce procedures.
- Study and work: Enrollment in a foreign university (translation of diplomas, academic transcripts), recognition of professional qualifications, applications for work permits.
- Legal matters: Notarial acts, court judgments, wills, powers of attorney, for legal proceedings or real estate transactions.
- Business: Creation of a subsidiary, response to international tenders, presentation of company statutes (Kbis), patent registration.
Order process, pricing and payment
We have simplified the process as much as possible to make it fast and transparent. Here are the steps:
1. Go to our order form.
2. Select your languages (source and target language).
3. Upload your documents in digital format (scan or good quality photo, in color, perfectly readable and without shadows).
4. Specify the number of pages of your original document.
5. Choose your options: delivery time (standard or express) and delivery method (digital PDF, mail).
6. Get an instant and detailed quote. The price displayed is the final price.
7. Proceed to secure payment by credit card. Once the payment is confirmed, your order is confirmed and processed by a qualified translator.
No, and this is a great advantage of our service. You do not need to part with your valuable original documents. A very good quality digital copy (scan or high-resolution photo, in color, perfectly readable and without shadows) is sufficient for the translator to perform their work. The certified translation will then be stapled to a printed copy of the document you provided.
It is this set (copy of the original + translation) that constitutes the final official document.
Our pricing is transparent and based on several clear factors:
- The number of pages of the original document is the main criterion.
- The language pair: Some rarer languages may have a slightly higher charge.
- The delivery time: We offer a standard price and an express price for urgent needs.
- The delivery method: Digital delivery is included, postal delivery is optional.
The order form automatically calculates the final price, with no hidden fees. The price includes the translation, the translator's certification (layout, stamp, signature) and delivery according to the selected option.
The security and confidentiality of your information are our highest priority. All expert translators at the Court of Appeal are bound by professional secrecy by virtue of their oath. In addition, our platform uses SSL encryption (the padlock icon in your browser) to secure the upload of your files. We have strict data protection policies and we commit to never sharing your information with unauthorized third parties.
Your documents are treated with the utmost caution from the beginning to the end of the process.
Deadlines, delivery and validity
Choose from three turnaround times when ordering:
- Standard, within 48 hours: included in the price, with no surcharge.
- Fast, within 24 hours: +€15 per order.
- Express, within 12 hours: +€30 per order.
These turnaround times start when the order is confirmed and apply to delivery of the certified PDF by email. If you request the paper original, it is then sent by post.
You will systematically receive your sworn translation by email, as a high-resolution PDF file. This file contains a scan of the paper translation, duly signed and stamped, which is sufficient for most online procedures. If you need the original on paper (sometimes required by some administrations), you can choose the delivery option by tracked mail when ordering. We ship in France and internationally.
An apostille is a simplified form of legalization used between countries that are members of the Hague Convention of 1961. It is a certificate that attests to the signature and stamp of the sworn translator on the document, to prove its validity abroad. You will need it if you have to submit your translation to an authority of another member state of the Convention.
The request for an apostille is made to the competent service of the Court of Appeal. This is a procedure separate from the translation itself. We can guide you through this process or handle it as an optional service.
In theory, a sworn translation does not have an expiration date. It remains a faithful copy of the original at a given time. However, it is the validity of the original document that prevails. For example, the translation of a criminal record will only be valid as long as the original record is valid (usually 3 months).
Likewise, if the original document is updated, the translation will no longer be valid. It is therefore recommended to check the specific requirements of the receiving administration, which can sometimes require a translation dated less than 6 months old.