Obtaining a Certified German Translation

Along with the question of, "how can I obtain a certified German translation?" and "what does certified German translation mean?", one of the other common questions my translation clients ask me when they are filing an application with USCIS or need German academic transcripts translated into English for an American university is, "how much does a certified German translation cost?" The process is pretty straight forward. To get a certified German to English translation, you should first find a professional (human) translator who specializes in German and English. Many of the larger translation agencies use machine translation nowadays and the results can be mediocre.

1. Find a professional translator who specializes in German and English. In the United States, anyone can certify a translation as long as they provide a signed certification statement.

2. Once the translator completes your German/English translation, he or she will need to attach a certification statement. The certification statement usually includes the translator's qualifications, a statement affirming the completeness and accuracy of the document, identification of the translated document and the language pair, and the translator's name, signature, and date.

3. Ask the translator to have the certification notarized. Although this is not required, it is highly recommended. Some end users of certified German/English translations request that the translation be notarized.

4. Request a hard copy from the translation provider. Although USCIS generally accepts copies of certified translations, many educational institutions and courts prefer an original.