A sworn translation is a translation approved by the competent authority of each country that is requested when the official correspondence of the source text and the target text is needed. In Italy, translators must personally go to the Tribunal to attest to the translation’s conformity to the original text before a public official.

 

He/she has to sign and seal his/her sworn translation on a particular form, in this way he/she assumes all civil or criminal liability of his/her work. The translated document maintains the same legal value as the original one.

 

Typical examples when a sworn translation is required:

 

translation of registry office certificates (identity cards, birth/death/marital status), etc.;

 

recognition of educational qualifications (in this case, the sworn translation is the first step for their recognition);

 

certificates (certificate of pending proceedings, court records, etc.);

 

legal and notary documents (contracts, official declarations, self-certifications, corporate documents, proxies, financial statements and reports, etc.);

 

enrolment in a professional register in a foreign country (for which a sworn translation of the documents certifying the licence to work in a specific professional sector is compulsory);

 

medical records  (whose translation can be requested for surgical interventions outside national borders).