Certified translations for certificates
Mentoc offers officially recognized and certified document translations by sworn professional translators. Ensure the international validity of your documents.
Sworn Specialist Translator
Globally recognised by authorities
Fast & secure processing
What is a certified document translation?
Legal Binding
Official Recognition
Sworn Translators
Completeness & Accuracy
When do you need a certified translation of your documents?
A certified translation is essential whenever official documents need to be submitted to authorities, courts, universities, or other institutions abroad. Unlike a standard translation, a court-sworn translator guarantees the complete and correct transfer of content with a stamp and signature. Typical use cases include: immigration and naturalisation procedures, registering a marriage with a foreign partner, applying to an international university, recognition of professional qualifications, or handling inheritance matters and legal proceedings with an international dimension. It serves as legal proof that the translation exactly matches the original document.
Our Range of Services
The right translation for every certificate
Birth certificates
For recognition by registry offices and authorities.
Marriage certificates
For marriages and family reunifications abroad.
Driving Licences
For the conversion and recognition of your driving licence.
Testimonials
For the international recognition of your degree.
Court Judgments
Legally compliant translations for civil and criminal proceedings.
Commercial Register
Extracts for international business relations and company formations.
Contracts
Accurate transfer of legal agreements and clauses.
Wills
For the smooth handling of international inheritances.
Naturalisation
All necessary documents for your naturalization application.
We translate and certify a variety of documents for personal, academic, and business purposes.
Do you need a certified translation?
Contact us now.
The Process: From Request to Completed Translation at Mentoc
Our process is designed for maximum efficiency and security for you. First, you upload a digital copy (scan or high-quality photo) of your certificate via our secure online portal. After a brief review of your documents, you will receive a transparent and non-binding fixed price offer from us. Once you confirm the order, one of our specialized and court-sworn translators will begin the work. Each translation then undergoes an internal quality control. The completed, certified document – consisting of the translation, a copy of the original, and the certification note – will be sent to you securely by post or, if desired, in advance as a digital scan.
Quality Characteristics of a Professional Document Translation
There are several characteristics of a high-quality certified translation that go beyond mere language transfer. The certification mark, stamp, and signature of the sworn translator are mandatory. This mark officially confirms the accuracy and completeness of the translation. Additionally, the translation must be inseparably linked to a copy of the original document. The layout and formatting should closely follow the original to facilitate readability and direct comparison. Technical precision is crucial: legal, academic, or official terminology must be translated accurately and contextually to avoid misunderstandings and legal issues.
Typical Certificates and Their Specific Requirements
Each type of document imposes particular demands on the translation process. Birth and marriage certificates require utmost accuracy in names, dates, and places to be recognised by registry offices. When it comes to university transcripts or diplomas, grading systems and course titles must be accurately translated into the target system, often supplemented with explanations. Legal documents such as court judgments or contracts demand a deep understanding of the legal systems of both countries to precisely maintain the legal significance. Excerpts from commercial registers or company balance sheets must accurately reflect the specific economic terminology. Therefore, Mentoc exclusively employs translators who are specialised in the respective field.
Ensure legal validity and international recognition
Certification by a sworn translator in Germany ensures the legal validity of your translated document within Germany. For use abroad, an additional step might be necessary: the apostille or legalisation. The apostille (according to the Hague Convention) is a standardised form of higher certification that confirms the authenticity of the translator's signature and is recognised in many countries. For countries not party to the convention, a more complex legalisation through the embassy of the destination country is required. We provide expert advice on whether such additional certification is necessary for your destination country and assist you in obtaining it.
Scientific Proofreading
For your dissertation
Express Translations
When it needs to be quick
Legal Specialist Translation
Precision for the right-hand traffic
Costs of a Certificate Translation: A Transparent Overview
The costs for a certified document translation vary and depend on several factors. Standardised documents with a small amount of text, such as a birth certificate or a driving licence, are often billed at flat rates. For more text-intensive documents, such as contracts, court judgments, or detailed certificates, the calculation is usually based on the standard line count (55 characters including spaces) of the target text. Other price factors include the language combination (common languages are usually cheaper), the technical complexity of the text, and the desired delivery time. At Mentoc, you will always receive an individual and transparent fixed price offer before the start of the assignment that includes all costs without hidden fees.
How to Find the Right Translator for Your Certificates
Choosing the right service provider is crucial for the recognition of your documents. Ensure that the translator is publicly appointed and generally sworn by a German court for the relevant language combination. Only these professionals are authorized to produce certified translations in Germany. Additionally, check if the provider specializes in the translation of documents and the relevant field (e.g., law, medicine, education). Transparent processes, clear pricing, and compliance with data protection regulations (especially for sensitive personal documents) are also important criteria for a trustworthy partner like Mentoc, which has a vetted network of such qualified experts.
Digital vs. Physical Certification: What Should Be Considered?
Traditionally, a certified translation is issued in paper form, physically stamped and signed. However, digital certification is increasingly gaining importance. In this process, the translation is provided with a qualified electronic signature (QES) from the sworn translator. This digital signature is legally equivalent to a handwritten signature and enables a fully digital, fast, and secure dispatch. Whether a digitally certified document is accepted depends on the receiving authority or institution. Therefore, clarify in advance which form of certification is required for your specific application. At Mentoc, we offer you both options and are happy to advise you on the appropriate choice.
What distinguishes a certified translation from a standard translation?
Errors in certified translations can have serious consequences, ranging from delays in administrative processes to the rejection of an application. A common mistake is hiring a translator who is not sworn, whose work is not recognised by authorities. Another pitfall is incomplete translations, where stamps, seals, or marginal notes of the original are ignored; however, everything must be translated or noted as present. Incorrect translations of names and data are also critical. To avoid such errors, you should rely solely on professional providers like Mentoc, who work with experienced, sworn translators and have established a multi-stage review process for quality assurance.
