Sworn Translation in Germany for Your Foreign Documents
Last updated: 2 October 2026
A German office has asked for your foreign documents in German? German Translators arranges the sworn translation (beglaubigte Übersetzung) online. Our partner translators sworn by German courts translate birth and marriage certificates, divorce papers, driving licences and diplomas from Turkish, Ukrainian, Arabic, Dari, Pashto, Russian, Hindi, English and more, for the Ausländerbehörde (immigration office), Standesamt (registry office) and Einbürgerungsbehörde.
- Arabic, Cyrillic, Persian and Devanagari scripts, handwritten entries and old stamps understood
- Order from anywhere in Germany, no office visit, no appointment
- Names kept exactly as on your document, with your passport spelling in a translator's note
- PDF in 3 working days, signed original posted to your German address (usually 1–3 working days)
English from €39 · Other languages from €49 · You see the price before you pay
What is a sworn translation and why does your office want one?
A sworn translation is a full German translation of your document, made, signed and stamped by a translator sworn by a German court. German offices work in German, so they usually ask for one for every document not issued in German, including English ones. The letter from your office tells you which documents need it.
The translator adds a certification note, the place and date, a stamp and a signature. A sworn translation is valid throughout Germany, but the office makes the final decision. Want the legal background? Read what makes a translation sworn.
Quick facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Who translates | Our partner translators sworn by German courts (beeidigt / ermächtigt) |
| German name | Beglaubigte Übersetzung |
| Price | English documents from €39, all other languages from €49, fixed before you pay |
| Delivery | PDF in 3 working days, signed original posted to your German address (usually 1–3 working days) |
| Where to verify the translator | Official register at justiz-dolmetscher.de |
What do you need a translation for?
Start with the procedure named in your office's letter. Each page lists the documents that office usually asks for.
Moving abroad from Germany? See our certified German to English translation or all services by purpose.
Which documents do we translate?
We translate the civil-status, court, police, driving and education documents German offices ask for most. Every stamp, seal, handwritten note and back side is translated, so the office sees the whole document in German.
- Birth certificate (Geburtsurkunde) and civil registry extracts
- Marriage certificate (Heiratsurkunde), civil or religious
- Divorce judgment or decree (Scheidungsurteil)
- Proof of single status (Ledigkeitsbescheinigung)
- Police clearance or criminal record certificate (Strafregisterauszug)
- Driving licence (Führerschein)
- Diplomas, degrees and transcripts (Zeugnis / Notenübersicht)
- Name change documents (Namensänderung)
Your document is not listed? See every document we translate, or upload it for a quote.
Documents by country: what people usually bring
Each country issues its own formats. According to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), about 1.5 million Turkish and 1.4 million Ukrainian citizens lived in Germany at the end of 2025. These are the documents we see most.
| Country | Typical document (local name) | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey | Nüfus Kayıt Örneği, Doğum Belgesi, Boşanma Kararı with Kesinleşme Şerhi | Many come from e-Devlet. The multilingual Formül A, B and C need no translation. |
| Ukraine | Свідоцтво про народження, Витяг з Державного реєстру актів цивільного стану | Older Soviet-era documents are often in Russian. We translate both languages. |
| Syria | إخراج قيد (Ikhraj Qaid), بيان عائلي (family statement), Sharia court marriage contract | Arabic, often with handwritten entries and several stamps. |
| Afghanistan | Tazkira / e-Tazkira, Nikah-Khat (marriage certificate) | Dari or Pashto. A birth certificate is often missing; offices may accept the Tazkira with an affidavit. |
| Iraq | البطاقة الوطنية الموحدة (Unified National Card), شهادة الجنسية (nationality certificate) | Documents from the Kurdistan Region may be in Kurdish and Arabic. |
| Russia | Свидетельство о рождении, Свидетельство о браке, Справка о несудимости | Issued by the ZAGS (civil registry), courts or the MVD. |
| India | Birth certificate, marriage certificate, police clearance certificate (PCC) | Often bilingual: English plus Hindi or a regional language. |
Which languages do we translate into German?
We translate the languages found most often on documents of people who moved to Germany. A bilingual document, such as Kurdish and Arabic or English and Hindi, is translated in full in one translation.
- Turkish and Kurdish (Kurmanji and Sorani)
- Arabic, Persian (Farsi), Dari and Pashto
- Ukrainian and Russian, including Soviet-era documents
- English, Hindi and other Indian languages such as Punjabi, Urdu, Tamil and Malayalam
We also translate German documents into English for authorities abroad. For some languages fewer sworn translators are available, so it can take a little longer. You always see the date before you pay. Compare the Indian languages.
Apostille or verification? It depends on the country
An apostille or legalisation confirms that your foreign document is genuine. A sworn translation shows what it says in German. The rules depend on the issuing country, and many offices want the apostille translated too.
| Country | Usual proof for German offices | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey | Apostille | Formül A, B and C need neither. The Nüfus Kayıt Örneği needs both. |
| Ukraine | Apostille (since 2010) | Issued by Ukrainian ministries. No apostille for documents issued in Crimea after 17 March 2014. |
| Russia | Apostille | Issued by Russian justice authorities and civil registry offices. |
| Syria | Legalisation by the German Embassy in Beirut | For e-register extracts certified by the Syrian Foreign Ministry. Otherwise the office decides. |
| Iraq | Legalisation suspended | The German office decides whether it accepts the document. |
| Afghanistan | No legalisation possible | The German office decides whether it accepts the document. |
| India | Verification instead of apostille | An Indian apostille is not valid in Germany. Your office can request a document verification. |
Your office tells you what it needs. Official information is on the website of the Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt).
How it works
Ordering takes four steps and works from anywhere in Germany. You need no appointment and no office visit, only a clear scan or photo of your document.
- 1Upload. Send a scan or photo of every page, front and back, from your phone or laptop.
- 2Get your fixed price. You see the price and the delivery date before you pay.
- 3Translation. A partner translator sworn by a German court translates, signs and stamps it. Our team checks names, dates and stamps a second time.
- 4Delivery. You get the PDF by email, then the signed original by post to your German address.
Want to know more? Read each step in detail.
Prices
A standard certificate in English costs from €39; documents in all other languages from €49. VAT, certification and post within Germany are included, and you see your fixed price before you pay.
| Document | Price from |
|---|---|
| Standard certificate in English (birth, marriage, driving licence) | €39 |
| Standard certificate in Turkish, Arabic, Ukrainian, Russian, Dari, Pashto, Kurdish, Persian or an Indian language | €49 |
| Degree certificate or transcript | €39 per page |
| Divorce decree | €42 per page |
| Citizenship set (birth + marriage certificate) | €69 |
All prices shown are starting prices incl. VAT and postage within Germany. Your exact fixed price comes in a written quote after upload, before you pay.
Extras like express delivery or an extra paper copy are on our full price list.
Your files are transferred encrypted and deleted after 30 days (GDPR).
Why people choose us
We know the documents, keep names exactly as written and let you check every translator.
- We know these documents. Syrian family registers, Turkish e-Devlet printouts, Afghan Tazkiras, Soviet-era certificates and bilingual Indian forms.
- A clear name policy. Names are written exactly as on your document and transliterated from Arabic, Cyrillic, Persian or Devanagari script. A different passport spelling goes into a note.
- Partner translators sworn by German courts. You can check each one in the official register.
- Your data is protected. Encrypted upload and deletion after 30 days (GDPR).
Read more about who we are and how we check every translation.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a sworn translation for every foreign document?
Usually only for the documents your office asks for. Many offices want one for each document not issued in German, including English ones. Check your letter.
Do I need to translate a Turkish Formül A, B or C?
Usually not. According to the German Embassy in Turkey, the multilingual extracts Formül A (birth), B (marriage) and C (death) need neither a translation nor an apostille in Germany. Other Turkish documents, such as the Nüfus Kayıt Örneği, need an apostille and a sworn translation.
Can you translate an Afghan Tazkira in Dari or Pashto?
Yes. We translate the Tazkira and e-Tazkira, the Nikah-Khat and other Afghan documents from Dari and Pashto. Legalisation of Afghan documents is currently not possible, so the German office decides whether it accepts them.
My Ukrainian certificate is in Russian. Is that a problem?
No. Many older Ukrainian documents were issued in Soviet times and are in Russian. We translate both languages, also on one document.
Is a translation made in my home country accepted?
Usually not. German offices want a translation by a translator authorised in Germany. A translation from Turkey, Syria, India or elsewhere, even with a notary stamp, is normally not enough.
What if my passport spells my name differently?
The translation must show your name as it is on your document, transliterated into Latin letters. The translator adds your passport spelling in a note, so the office can see both belong to you. Nothing on the original is changed.
Can I order translations for my whole family in one go?
Yes. Upload all documents together, for example for a citizenship or family reunion file. We check that names and dates match and give you one fixed price.
Do you also give advice on my application?
No. We only translate. We do not fill in forms or give legal or immigration advice.
Still have questions? Find more answers in our FAQ.
Get your documents ready for your German office
Upload your documents today, in any of our languages. You get a fixed price before you pay, a PDF first and the signed original by post. Prefer to check first? Send your documents for a quote and decide later.
Fixed price from €39 · You see the price before you pay
Questions? Email us: info@germantranslators.de
If your office asks for a change to our translation, we correct it free of charge.
Your files are transferred encrypted and deleted after 30 days (GDPR).