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official translation of document costs
Official translation of documents: What's the real cost?
Do you need an official translation of your documents and want to assess the costs transparently? The prices can vary depending on the type of document, language combination, and urgency. To help you find the best option, we explain the key cost factors. For personalised advice, feel free to contact us.
The topic briefly and concisely
The cost of official translations varies greatly depending on the language combination, document length, and type of certification. Transparent pricing is crucial to avoid unexpected costs.
Professional translation service providers like Mentoc ensure high quality and legal recognition through state-certified translators and the "four-eye principle". This can increase the acceptance rate by up to 30% with authorities.
Through early planning, comparing quotes, and the use of Translation Memory Systems (TMS), the cost of official translations can be significantly reduced. Mentoc assists you in finding the most efficient and cost-effective solution.
Discover which factors influence the costs of official translations and how to correctly compare quotes. Get your free quote now!
The official translation of documents is a crucial step when you want to use documents abroad. But what costs can you expect? The prices for a certified translation can vary greatly, depending on various factors. It is important to understand these factors in order to avoid unexpected fees and receive a fair offer.
The language combination plays a significant role. Less commonly requested languages are generally more expensive than common languages like English or French. The type of document and the length of the document also influence the price. A short standard document like a driving licence is cheaper to translate than a lengthy contract. Furthermore, the type of certification is important, whether a simple certification suffices or if a full legalisation or an apostille is required. Not least, the urgency of the translation affects the costs.
Official translations are generally more expensive than simple translations, as they are subject to stricter requirements. The “four-eye principle” ensures high quality assurance. In addition, only state-certified and sworn translators are used, who guarantee the accuracy and correctness of the translation. These factors justify the higher price and offer you the assurance that your documents will be recognised by the authorities. If you would like to learn more about the foundations of professional translations, we recommend our article on professional specialised translations.
Pricing: Word rates dominate for complex texts
The pricing for official translations is diverse. Frequently, word prices or line prices are used, especially for complex documents with a lot of continuous text. The usual price ranges are about €0.15 to €0.21 per word or €1.00 to €2.00 per line. Additionally, there are certification fees that can range between €5.00 and €20.00. Alphatrad states that shipping costs within Germany are included in the price, which can be an additional advantage.
For standard documents like birth certificates or driving licenses, there are often fixed page prices. For example, you can expect costs starting at €33 for the translation of a driving license. File-Translations offers the translation of a university certificate from German to English starting at €30.00. Typetime charges a certification fee of €15 net (€17.85 incl. VAT) per document. For complex documents, the formatting effort is taken into account, as well as stamps, signatures and other special features. You can read about the costs for a certified translation of a birth certificate in our article on certified translation birth certificate costs.
Many translation agencies work with minimum prices, which consist of administrative costs. These include project management, file preparation and the coordination of translator and proofreader. Typetime states that the basic minimum price for certified translations is €50 net (€59.50 incl. VAT), plus certification and shipping. It is important to consider these factors in pricing and to get detailed information in advance. Further information on the prices for certified translations can be found at beglaubigte-uebersetzung.eu.
Additional costs: Rush surcharges make the translation more expensive
In addition to the basic translation costs, there may be additional cost factors and fees. Particularly relevant here are rush charges and express processing. If you need the translation particularly fast, a surcharge of up to 30% may be applied, as processing will need to occur outside of regular business hours. Typetime notes that express services incur a surcharge of 30%.
You should also keep an eye on shipping costs, especially for international shipments. Some providers, such as Alphatrad, include shipping within Germany in their prices, while others charge separate fees. If you require additional copies of the translation, there will also be costs involved. For example, Embassy Translations charges €15 per copy within a year. Pay attention to possible payment fees, such as when using PayPal. GermanyTS indicates that additional fees may apply when paying via PayPal.
For the use of documents abroad, an apostille or legalisation is often required. The costs for these vary depending on the country and authority. It is advisable to inform yourself in advance about the exact requirements and fees to avoid unexpected costs. Obtaining apostilles can cost from 40 EUR, as Typetime indicates. To better understand the costs of translating documents, a look at file-uebersetzungen.de can be helpful.
Language Combinations: Rare Languages Drive Prices Up
The language combination is a crucial factor in pricing for official translations. Common language combinations such as German-English or German-French are generally cheaper than rarer combinations. This is because there are more translators for these languages and the demand is higher.
Rare language combinations, such as German-Japanese or German-Arabic, can significantly increase the costs. This is due to the lower competition and higher specialization of translators. Thomas Baumgart states that prices vary depending on the language direction; Polish or Spanish to German is cheaper than German to Spanish or Polish. The country of origin of the document can also play a role, as GermanyTS demonstrates with birth and marriage certificates from Australia and Canada.
It is therefore advisable to inform yourself in advance about the price differences for the different language combinations and, if necessary, obtain offers from various providers. This way, you can ensure you receive a fair offer and avoid unnecessary costs. You can also research translation costs on fairlingo.com.
Save costs: Early planning pays off
There are several ways to save costs on official translations. Early planning and allowing adequate processing time are crucial. This helps avoid rush fees that can quickly drive up prices. Also, ensure that you provide clear and complete documents to avoid queries and additional processing time.
Compare quotes from different translation service providers and watch out for hidden costs. Ask what services are included in the price and what additional fees may apply, such as for revisions, urgency, or initial fees. Fairlingo emphasizes that thorough inquiries are essential to avoid hidden costs. Use discounts for larger order volumes if you need to have multiple documents translated.
Translation Memory Systems (TMS) can also help save costs. These systems store already translated sentences and phrases and can automatically insert them when repetitions occur. Fairlingo integrates TMS as standard and offers repetition discounts that can be up to 40%, especially for webshops or documents with many repetitions. If you want to learn more about the possibilities of document translation, we recommend our article on document translation. A good overview of the costs is also provided by thomasbaumgart.eu.
Translation Service Providers: Agency or Freelancer – What Fits?
The choice of the right translation service provider is crucial for the quality and cost of your official translation. Essentially, you have the choice between an agency and a freelancer. Both options have their advantages and disadvantages. Agencies generally offer better coordination and quality assurance, but are often more expensive. Freelancers are usually more affordable, but require direct management and more personal responsibility.
When selecting, pay attention to the qualifications and certifications of the translators. State recognition and sworn certification are a must for certified translations. Find out about the provider's quality assurance processes. The “four-eyes principle” and revisions are important measures to avoid errors. Ensure that the provider has transparent pricing and can present you with a clear offer. Read references and customer reviews to get an idea of the provider's reliability and quality.
Fairlingo points out that while agencies offer more coordination, they can also be more expensive, whereas freelancers require direct management. The decision depends on your individual needs and preferences. A professional translation by a native speaker is crucial to avoid misunderstandings, especially with work certificates, as emphasized by File Translations. More information on the qualifications and requirements for translators can be found on file-uebersetzungen.de.
Certification: Confirmed translation is the correct term
In the context of official translations, the terms “certified translation” and “affirmed translation” often arise. It is important to know that “affirmed translation” is the correct official term, while “certified translation” is more commonly used in everyday language. Thomas Baumgart points out that the official term is “affirmed translation.”
A certified or affirmed translation must meet certain requirements. This includes an accurate layout reproduction of the original and a description of original elements such as logos and stamps. The translator must provide the translation with their signature, stamp, and an appropriate declaration. Only then will the translation be recognized by authorities. Fairlingo emphasizes the necessity of accurate layout reproduction and description of original elements.
A certified translation is always required when you wish to use official documents such as certificates and legal papers abroad. This is often a requirement of foreign authorities. Beglaubigung24 points out that only government-certified and sworn translators are allowed to create certified translations. If you would like to learn more about the different types of certificates and their translation, we recommend our article /urkunden.
Conclusion: Professional translation ensures international recognition
The costs for an official translation of documents depend on several factors, including the language combination, the length of the document, the type of certification, and the urgency. However, a professional and certified translation is essential to ensure that your documents are recognized abroad. Look for transparent pricing and choose a reliable translation service provider to avoid unexpected costs.
Translation technology is constantly evolving. Translation Memory Systems (TMS) and machine translation can help reduce costs and increase efficiency. However, it is important to ensure high quality and have translations reviewed by qualified translators.
At Mentoc, we are happy to assist you with the official translation of your documents. We offer you a comprehensive network of sworn translators and experienced proofreaders who work in various specialist areas. This way, we can guarantee quick, precise, and legally recognized processing. Contact us today for a free quote and let us advise you! Visit our translation page for more information. If you have any further questions, we are happy to assist. Get in contact now!
More useful links
Wikipedia offers an article about court interpreters, which is relevant for understanding certified translations.
FAQ
What factors influence the cost of an official translation?
The cost of an official translation depends on the language combination, the length of the document, the type of document, and the required type of certification. Urgency also plays a role.
Why are official translations more expensive than simple translations?
Official translations require state-certified and sworn translators who guarantee the accuracy and correctness of the translation. Additionally, the “four-eyes principle” is applied to ensure high quality assurance.
What's the difference between a certified and a confirmed translation?
The correct official term is “confirmed translation”, while “certified translation” is more colloquially used. Both terms refer to a translation made by a sworn translator.
Which documents require official translation?
Official translations are required for certificates, diplomas, contracts, and other official documents that need to be submitted to authorities domestically and abroad.
How can I save costs on official translations?
Plan early to avoid rush surcharges. Compare quotes from different providers and look out for hidden costs. Use Translation Memory Systems (TMS) to benefit from repetition discounts.
What does the “four-eyes principle” mean in translations?
The “four-eyes principle” means that the translation is checked by a second translator or proofreader to avoid errors and ensure quality.
Does Mentoc offer certified translations?
Yes, Mentoc provides certified translations through a comprehensive network of sworn translators. We ensure a fast, accurate, and legally recognised processing of your documents.
What language combinations does Mentoc offer?
Mentoc offers translations in all languages. Thanks to our extensive network, we can also handle rare language combinations.
