Finding the right translations services in Berlin

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If you are looking for translation services in Berlin, it is probably to satisfy the requirements of German administration. Visa application, marriage recognition, permanent residency & more, they all need a sworn translation of a foreign document to make progress.

This post is aiming at providing you with an overview of what translations services in Berlin can do for you and which green flags you should look for.

certified translation services in berlin

What is a certified or sworn translation in Germany?

If you’re planning to submit foreign documents to any German authority (like for a visa, university application, or getting married) you’ll probably need a certified (or sworn) translation.

A certified or sworn-in translation (beglaubigte Übersetzung or vereidigte Übersetzung) in the German bureaucratic context refers to an official translation of a foreign document that is:

  1. Accurately translated into German
  2. Legally recognized by German authorities (e.g., courts, immigration offices, universities)
  3. Signed and stamped by a translator who has been publicly appointed and sworn in by a German regional court (Landgericht).

This is backed by German law under §142 of the Civil Procedure Code (ZPO) and the Court Interpreters Act (GDolmG). Without it, your paperwork might hit a dead end.

What do I need translations services in Berlin for?

Certified translations in Berlin are needed mostly for the following three offices:

  • Standesamt: The German civil registration office, which among other things is keeping track of births, marriages and deaths. It’s part of each municipality in the country.
  • Jugendamt:  The office in charge of all child and youth related affairs.
  • Ausländerbehörde: The foreigners registration office, which is in charge of providing legal documentation (and which you might be dreading)

Here are typical bureaucratic situations when you would need a certified translation:

  1. Visa application: When applying for a visa to enter Germany, foreigners need to submit certified translations of documents such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, or proof of income.
  2. Residence permit: For those applying for a residence permit, certified translations of various documents, including birth certificates, marriage certificates, and academic transcripts, are usually required.
  3. Citizenship application: When applying for German citizenship, foreign nationals must provide official documents from their home country, such as birth and marriage certificates, which need to be translated and certified.
  4. Registration of births, marriages, or deaths: For registering vital events like births, marriages, or deaths at the Registry Office (Standesamt), foreign certificates must often be accompanied by sworn translations.
  5. Academic and professional qualifications: For recognition of foreign academic degrees, diplomas, and professional qualifications, certified translations are essential. This is particularly important for those seeking to study or work in Germany.

Outside the realm of German administration:

Translations are also useful when faced with other situations that are not directly linked to German administration. Translations can be done for things like:

In these cases, certified translations are not needed but you will still need a reputable professional to make sure the translation is high-quality.

How much does a certified translation cost?

There are factors impacting the price:

  1. Language pair: Certain language combinations may be more expensive due to the availability and demand for translators.
  2. Type of content: Complex documents like legal or technical texts often require specialized knowledge, which can increase costs.
  3. Deadline: Rush translations typically incur additional fees to ensure quick delivery.
  4. Word count: Many agencies charge per word or per hour, so longer documents will generally cost more.
  5. Quality: High-quality translations, which require skilled and experienced translators, may come at a higher price.

However, most translation agencies in Berlin will offer “packages” for common cases/documents. Expect anywhere between 40€ to 80€ for common documents. For more custom documents, a quote is generally given a per word basis.

Where to find sworn translation services in Berlin?

You can find a complete list of certified translators on this database from the Federal ministry of Justice (search feature available in English). You can filter by location and language pair.

A more intuitive approach to this is to use Lingoking. It’s a platform that streamlines the translation process, connecting you with the right professional, with a safe payment method. It’s like ordering a service online like any other.

Best practices when picking translation services in Berlin

1- Picking native instead of bilingual

Although there are many talented bilingual translators on the market, it’s preferable to stick with native speaker of the target language for best and trustworthy results. A translation often needs a relevant cultural background to be sure that nothing gets lost in translation in the final document. For example: if translating from French to German, pick a native German speaker and vice-versa.

2- Double-check the double checker

This is especially important in the case of certified translations: simple human errors can lead to a flat-out rejection of your application and make you lose time and money in the process. A simple mistake in a case number or birth date is enough. Double-checking small details like this is important. Even professional translators can make mistakes.

3- Don’t just buy the stamp

Some people think that they can save money by translating the documents themselves and only “buy” the stamp from the certified translator. No need to pay for the time of the translator, just the stamp. This is not a best practice because it’s sometimes more complicated to correct your mistakes and to correct them to fit the required standards for the document. Results: loss of time and money there too.

4- Play the national league

Even if you have business in other cities that need certified translations, you can still use a local translator as the certification is recognized “Bundesweit” everywhere in German. That is good for you: you can continue to work with a translator you like or find a better or cheaper one is another city in Germany, if you are not satisfied with the offering in Berlin

5- Reputation and reviews

We all know it: it sometimes suck to have to put money into administrative steps instead of spending it on a nice weekend on the Ostsee. So one might be tempted to look for bargains and cheaper services.  Although this is a valid strategy, it’s more advisable to look for a reputable company instead. So don’t hesitate to ask around, look at Google/Facebook/Yelp reviews. On this front, SiB can safely recommend Red Tape Translation, which has built a solid reputation in the field of certified translation services in Berlin.

6- Go fast; go online

When you want a faster or more convenient way to translate your documents, you can turn to platforms like Lingoking which has a wide network of certified translators for a very broad set of cases; diploma, birth or marriage certificate, criminal records and a lot more. Simply search for the translation you need for your language to see a price right away. They then send you the certified translations in paper form through the post.

Good luck finding your perfect translation service in Berlin. Don’t hesitate to recommend your favorite in the comments.

Sources & references:

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