Translation
sworn
of documents

The sworn translation is made up of the following elements:

• Original text or certified copy. In some cases, a photocopy may also be accepted unless the foreign authority specifically requests the original.
• Translation signed by the translator.
• Sworn statement, a form provided by the Court or Justice of the Peace, which the translator fills out and signs before the authority during the swearing-in.
• Apostille or legalization, if the document is destined for abroad.

The official in charge places the joining stamps on all pages, thus creating a single document. A revenue stamp and another stamp are then added.

A certified translation is required when an Italian document needs to be legally valid for use in a foreign country.

Specifically, it is required for the translation of certificates, notarial deeds, and legal documents: essentially, all documents that legally certify the information reported.

The sworn translation can be performed in court at the registry office, before the Justice of the Peace, or before a notary.

A €16,00 stamp duty is required on every four pages of the translation , starting from the first page. Only the document to be translated is exempt from the stamp duty.

25 lines is the limit per sheet; otherwise, the number of lines in the final paper must be stated at the bottom of the page. If the number of lines exceeds 100, an additional revenue stamp must be affixed to the 101st line.

It often happens that you need to translate a document, for example, from English to Arabic or from English to Chinese.

In this case, a direct translation is not possible: the process involves first translating from English to Italian , and then from Italian to Arabic or Chinese. In Italy, a certified translation must always be translated into Italian.

The temporal validity of the sworn translation depends on the expiration of the original document.

For example, criminal records, such as criminal records and pending charges, or identification documents such as passports and identity cards are valid for a limited time. Upon expiration, these documents lose their validity, and consequently, so does their certified translation.

To be a sworn translator, you must be registered in the Register of Experts of a Court ; first, you must be registered in the Register held by the Chamber of Commerce.

When the translator takes an oath at the Court Registry, before the Justice of the Peace or before the Notary, he is carrying out what we call a sworn or certified translation.

With this procedure, the translator assumes criminal and civil liability for what he has translated, declaring his competence and "swearing" to have carried out the task of translating faithfully to the original with the sole purpose of making known the truth.

To certify or swear a translation, it is necessary to bind the documents in the following order:

1. The certified copy or original of the document being translated.
2. The translation of the document must be sworn.
3. The oath report.

The certification must necessarily take place within the Court at the Registry, before a Notary or by a Justice of the Peace.

The sworn act is formalized on the same day.

The sworn statement is the document issued by the relevant court that must be completed and signed by the registered translator, who performs the act of certification and oath, assuming civil and criminal liability for the work translated.

Sworn statement provided by the Court of Milan.

A certified translation , unlike a sworn translation, is not accepted in all countries and does not require court approval. It can only be performed by a professional translator registered with the Court or Chamber of Commerce. It is typically required for qualifications, report cards, diplomas, and CVs intended for international use.

It is generally required by English-speaking countries such as England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the United States, but also by South Korea. It is performed with the addition of the translator's official stamp and signature, which includes the translator's registration number.