What is a sworn translation?
Difference between plain translation and sworn translation
Although “sworn translation” is often confused with “legal translation”, it is not the same thing. A legal translation is a translation of a legal document (a contract, a court decision, a power of attorney, etc.), whereas a sworn (or certified) translation is a translation that has been validated, stamped and signed by an officially authorised sworn translator and interpreter (traductor-intérprete jurado).
A sworn translation can be of any type of document. In most cases it will be a translation of a legal document because sworn translations are needed when submitting documents required by the authorities, but that need not be the case.
What is a sworn translator? The role of the sworn translator varies from country to country. In Spain, a sworn translator is a translator who has been certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. In Portugal, in contrast, the status of sworn translator does not exist; instead, translations may be certified before a notary.