Legal translators/interpreters

If you need to understand and be understood during a hearing held in another Member State or if you need a legal translation of a contract or other legal document, you may wish to find an interpreter or a legal translator.

Introduction

With the increase in mobility and migration within the European Union, there is also a commensurate increase in the number of relationships of all kinds (be they commercial, legal, academic or personal) between citizens of different nationalities, cultures and with different languages. This in turn leads to a wide variety of situations demanding language translation and interpretation services. Since many of these situations must be either sanctioned or witnessed by the authorities (frequently by courts or other legal institutions), it is quite common to require official translations of documents originally written in another language

The purposes of an official translation are to certify facts in a legal or administrative process/court case; to have legal facts originating in a foreign country recognised and to apply the source law to foreign citizens (Private International Law).

Official translation services are organised differently in the Member States of the European Union with very different professional frameworks (heterogeneous systems and practices). For instance, in civil law countries such as Spain or Greece the profession of sworn translator is subject to different access rules and performed under different working conditions regarding statutes, fee payment or certification.

What is a legal translator?

A translator produces a written document by translating a text from one language into another language. A legal translator must master the basic concepts and terminology of not just law, but also the area to which it is being applied. Legal translation is at the heart of multilingual communication as it enables individuals, companies, legal and government agencies to communicate across different languages and cultures within and across state borders. Legal translation requires knowledge of specialist terminology and knowledge of the linguistic conventions that are used in related documents. Being part of the legal team and by having access to legal experts, the legal translator will enable your full understanding of any particular case and the required legal terminology. His/her understanding of the legal system or systems and the legal processes involved will ensure that the legal translator can assist you in your legal actions.

Professional standards concerning linguistic competence, translation skills, and knowledge of systems, processes, terminology and linguistic conventions which apply in particular cases will be very important when you are looking for a legal translator.

What is a legal interpreter?

An interpreter provides an oral language service, using various modes to interpret from one language into another language (simultaneous, consecutive, or whispered interpretation). Legal Interpreters are specialists who work primarily with lawyers on legal cases such as trials, depositions, hearings, mediations, arbitrations, client meetings, etc. These experts will help you to communicate with other parties when you are involved in cross-border proceedings.

Court translator/interpreter

Court translators/interpreters are authorised to translate official documents (marriage certificates, school certificates, university diplomas, court submissions, judgments, etc.), as well as to interpret in court (e.g. when parties or witnesses give evidence), at police stations (during interviews, after an arrest) or before administrative authorities (such as during customs inspections). Official court translators/interpreters are authorized to affix an official stamp to their translations to certify the translation.

Court translators/interpreters should typically have a university education in their working language(s) and have mastered various translating and interpreting skills, although requirements vary from one Member State to another.

Most EU Member States have a system to select and appoint court translators/interpreters. Usually, a sworn translator is also qualified to work as a court interpreter. Different countries use different official designations to refer to court translators/interpreters.

How can I find translators/interpreters?

Finding a legal translator or an interpreter is currently possible by accessing national databases of translators and/or interpreters.  However, such databases do not exist in all Member States. Occasionally, the websites of Ministries of Justice or higher regional courts will have a link to official or semi-official registers of qualified translators/interpreters.

In criminal matters, Member States have been required under Directive 2010/64/EU to endeavour to establish such a register by 27 October 2013, the deadline set for the transposition of the Directive into national law. Under this Directive, Member States have to put in place a procedure or mechanism to ascertain whether suspected or accused persons need the assistance of an interpreter and of a translator, and it is for the Member States to provide suspects or accused with interpretation without delay. Translation should be provided for documents which are essential to safeguard the exercise of the right of defence and, exceptionally, an oral translation or an oral summary of those essential documents may be provided on condition that the fairness of the proceedings is not prejudiced. Member States shall meet the costs of interpretation and translation, irrespective of the outcome of the proceedings.

To obtain more detailed information, for instance on:

  • the body hosting the relevant national database,
  • the rules applying for recourse to translators and interpreters,
  • geographical areas of responsibility of translators and interpreters,
  • training/qualifications of translators and interpreters,
  • costs,
  • insurance systems and existence of complaints procedures,

please select one of the flags listed on the right hand side.

Last update: 01/02/2020

This page is maintained by the European Commission. The information on this page does not necessarily reflect the official position of the European Commission. The Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice with regard to copyright rules for European pages.

Uwaga: niedawno wprowadzono na tej stronie zmiany w oryginalnej wersji językowej francuski. Strona w wybranej przez Ciebie wersji językowej jest obecnie tłumaczona przez nasze służby tłumaczeniowe.
Do tej pory przetłumaczono ją na następujące języki: bułgarskiczeskiduńskiniemieckiestońskigreckichorwackiwłoskiłotewskilitewskiwęgierskimaltańskiniderlandzkiportugalskirumuńskisłowackisłoweńskifińskiszwedzki

Legal translators/interpreters - Belgium

Here you will find information on finding an interpreter to act in court proceedings or a translator, if necessary via an official website.

How to find a translator in Belgium?

Belgium currently has two central official databases, one for court experts and one for translators, interpreters and translator-interpreters.

These were established pursuant to the Law of 10 April 2014.

Their official names are as follows:

  • The National Register of Court Experts (Registre national des experts judiciaires)
  • The National Register of Translators, Interpreters and Translator-Interpreters (Registre national des traducteurs, interprètes et traducteurs-interprètes)

The Law entered into force on 1 December 2016.

Since 15 June 2017, these registers have been open to the courts. This means that the registries and the state counsel's office will no longer keep lists of court experts or translators/interpreters.

At a later stage, the police will also have access to these registers.

Eventually, everyone will be able to consult the registers freely on the website of the Link opens in new windowFederal Public Service for Justice (Service public fédéral Justice).

Related links

Link opens in new windowNational Registers of Translators/Interpreters and Court Experts

Last update: 20/09/2022

The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective Member State. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.

Legal translators/interpreters - Bulgaria

Bulgaria does not have a translator and interpreter database.

There is currently no electronic database of court translators.

Under § 6(4) of the Final Provisions of the Act amending the Code of Criminal Procedure, Article 403 of the Judicial System Act has been amended to include a new paragraph 2 providing for the Minister for Justice, in agreement with the Supreme Judicial Council, to issue a regulation laying down: the procedures and time-limits for proposals for inclusion and changes to the lists of specialists certified as translators; the conditions to be met; and the conditions and the procedure for establishing their remuneration. Regulation No N-1 of 16 May 2014 on court translators (SG No 43 of 23 May 2014) was issued under that statutory empowerment. Every provincial or administrative court, and the Specialised Criminal Court, has a register listing professionals certified as court translators. Proposals for inclusion in the lists of court translators can be submitted by ministries, agencies, institutions, municipalities, professional and other organisations and academic institutes, as well as by prospective court translators. Proposals for inclusion in the lists are submitted to the president of the relevant provincial or administrative court, or to the president of the Specialised Criminal Court.

Questions of legal recognition and translation of documents are covered by the Rules on legal recognition, certification and translation of documents and other texts, adopted by Council of Ministers Decree No 184 of 1958.

Regulation No 1 of 16 January 2008 on the registration, qualifications and fees of expert witnesses has been repealed by the Supreme Administrative Court. A new regulation has been prepared and a draft published for public consultation on the Ministry of Justice website, in accordance with Article 26(2) of the Legislative Instruments Act. The draft has been sent for approval to the Supreme Judicial Council and the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Last update: 12/08/2022

The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective Member State. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.

Legal translators/interpreters - Czechia

This section helps you to find a legal interpreter in the Czech Republic

What does the Czech experts and interpreters' database offer?

In the Czech experts and interpreters' database you may search for persons listed as experts and interpreters – i.e. persons authorised to carry out expert and interpreting activities. Lists of experts and interpreters kept by individual regional courts are divided into a section for experts and one for interpreters. Each interpreter on the list of experts and interpreters is authorised to provide oral interpretation and written translations in the relevant language under which he or she is listed.

Link opens in new windowThe Czech experts and interpreters' database is owned and maintained by the Link opens in new windowMinistry of Justice of the Czech Republic. However, the relevant regional courts are responsible for the correctness of the data.

Is access to the Czech experts and interpreters' database free of charge?

Access to the database is free of charge.

How to search for a legal interpreter in the Czech experts and interpreters' database

Using the simple search engine provided, you can search for the contact (or other) details of experts and interpreters online. Interpreters can be searched for by the languages in which they are authorised to interpret, by the regional court area of jurisdiction in which they live or by name and surname.

Last update: 15/06/2020

The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective Member State. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.

Legal translators/interpreters - Denmark

Denmark does not maintain a translator/ interpreter database which is accessible to the public.

Last update: 03/05/2022

The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective Member State. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.

Legal translators/interpreters - Germany

This page helps you to find a legal translator and interpreter in Germany.

How to find a legal translator or interpreter in Germany

The standard German database of translators and interpreters lists the translators and interpreters that are officially sworn, certified and/or working in a public service capacity across the federal states (Länder) of Germany.

Each of the German Länder determines the criteria for translators and interpreters to be officially sworn, or certified, or work in a public service capacity, so there are specific requirements specific to each Land.

Is access to the German database of translators and interpreters free of charge?

Yes.

How to search for a legal translator or interpreter in Germany

It is possible to search for specific interpreters and translators via one or more of the following search criteria: name, municipality, language. If you select a specific entry from the search results, further details (e.g. translator/interpreter’s working languages and contact details) will be displayed.

Related links

Link opens in new windowDatabase of legal interpreters (justiz-dolmetscher.de)

Link opens in new windowDatabase of legal translators (justiz-uebersetzer.de)

Link opens in new windowDatabase of court interpreters (gerichts-dolmetscher.de)

Link opens in new windowDatabase of court translators (gerichts-uebersetzer.de)

Link opens in new windowCourt interpreter portal (gerichtsdolmetscherverzeichnis.de)

Link opens in new windowCourt translator portal (gerichtsuebersetzerverzeichnis.de)

Last update: 13/11/2020

The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective Member State. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.

Legal translators/interpreters - Estonia

This section helps you find a legal translator or interpreter in Estonia.

How to find a legal translator in Estonia

The Link opens in new windowEstonian register of sworn translators provides information on sworn translators and their contact details.

The register is owned and maintained by the Estonian Ministry of Justice.

Is access to the register of translators free of charge?

Yes, access to the register is free of charge.

How to search for a legal translator

There is no special way of searching for translators. The Ministry of Justice website gives a list of translation languages to choose from. Once you have chosen the language you require, you will be directed to the names and contact details of translators qualified to translate to and from that language.

Last update: 13/08/2019

The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective Member State. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.

Legal translators/interpreters - Ireland

The Irish Translators' and Interpreters' Association (ITIA) was established in 1986 and is the only professional association in Ireland representing the interests of practising translators and interpreters.

Included in the ITIA's database are those individuals qualified and registered to work as legal translators and interpreters.

The ITIA's website can be accessed through Link opens in new windowhttps://www.translatorsassociation.ie/ whereby a search can be conducted to find a legal translator or interpreter from a list of 'from' and 'to' languages.

ITIA
19 Parnell Square North,
Dublin 1
D01 E102

Last update: 18/01/2024

The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective Member State. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.

Uwaga: niedawno wprowadzono na tej stronie zmiany w oryginalnej wersji językowej grecki. Strona w wybranej przez Ciebie wersji językowej jest obecnie tłumaczona przez nasze służby tłumaczeniowe.
Do tej pory przetłumaczono ją na następujące języki: bułgarskihiszpańskiczeskiduńskiniemieckiestońskifrancuskichorwackiwłoskiłotewskilitewskiwęgierskimaltańskiniderlandzkipolskiportugalskirumuńskisłowackisłoweńskifińskiszwedzki

Legal translators/interpreters - Greece

Greece does not have a website that publishes a list of sworn translators or interpreters. We are currently preparing to digitise our databases and their electronic interfaces.

How to find a sworn translator or interpreter in Greece?

Interpretation and translation before the Greek courts in criminal proceedings are governed by Articles 233-238 of the Greek Code of Criminal Procedure. Interpreters and translators are appointed by the competent court from the relevant table, which is drawn up each year by the Judicial Council of the Misdemeanours Court and finalised by the Council of the Court of Appeal. In cases of extreme urgency, interpreters who are not included in the above tables are appointed.

In civil proceedings, Article 252 of the Code of Civil Procedure provides that if a witness, expert or party does not speak Greek, an interpreter shall be appointed by the court. A similar provision is contained in Article 137 of the Code of Administrative Procedure.

It should also be noted that there is a Link opens in new windowtranslation service at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which, under the current legal framework, is responsible for the official translation of public and private documents.

Foreign public documents from countries that are party to the 1961 Hague Convention –which was ratified in Greece by Law 1497/1984 (Government Gazette, Series I, No 188) – are translated only if they bear an apostille as provided for in said Convention. All other foreign documents must be certified by the Greek consular authority in the country of origin of the document or by the country’s consular authority in Greece.

Translation is not provided free of charge. The cost of translation is determined by the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs.

In addition, according to the Lawyers Code (Article 36 of Law No 4194/2013 Government Gazette, Series I, No 208), the work of a lawyer includes the translation of documents drafted in a foreign language and the translation of Greek documents into any foreign language. The translation has full effect before any court or other authority, provided it is accompanied by a certified copy of the original document and the lawyer certifies that they have sufficient knowledge of the language it was translated from and into.

Is access to the Greek translators’ databases free of charge?

Greece does not have a centralised database of Greek sworn translators/interpreters.

However, there is a database of members of the Link opens in new windowPanhellenic Association of Translators (members of the International Federation of Translators, FIT) who are professional translators (some of whom are also interpreters). This database allows users to search for an interpreter/translator by language and by region.

Furthermore, information on professional translators, by region of Greece, can be searched in the database of the Link opens in new windowPanhellenic Association of Professional Translators of the Ionian University (FIT member), whose members specialise in two of the three languages: English, French, German (for information on the language specialisations of Association members, please contact the Association itself).

How to search for a sworn translator in Greece

See above.

Related Links

Link opens in new windowTranslation Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Link opens in new windowPanhellenic Union of Translators

Link opens in new windowPanhellenic Association of Professional Translators Graduates of the Ionian University

Link opens in new windowMinistry of Justice (where lists of lawyer-linguists are posted, per Bar Association in Greece, as well as contact details of Greek public prosecutor’s offices and courts)

Last update: 25/04/2023

The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective Member State. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.

Legal translators/interpreters - Spain

This section helps you to find an interpreter or legal translator in Spain.

How to find an interpreter or legal translator in Spain

I. Interpreters and translators in the justice system.

In Spain, sworn interpreters and translators in the justice system are regulated as follows:

Article 231.5 of the Organic Law on the Judiciary specifies that ‘Authorisation to act as an interpreter in oral hearings or to use sign language shall be granted in accordance with the procedural law applicable.’

Article 440 of the Criminal Procedure Code recognises the right to be assisted by an interpreter, and Article 441 states that ‘The interpreter shall be selected from persons qualified as such, if there are any in the locality. Where there are none, a teacher of the appropriate language shall be appointed, and if there is none, any person who speaks the language’.

Article 762.8 of the Criminal Procedure Code states that ‘If the accused or witnesses do not speak or understand Spanish, the applicable procedure shall be that laid down in Articles 398, 440 and 441. The interpreter does not need to have an official qualification’.

Article 9 of Law 4/2015 of 27 April 2015 on the rights of victims of crime recognises the right to translation and interpretation.

As a general rule, in civil and criminal cases with legal aid the Ministry of Justice (or the Autonomous Communities with powers in the field of justice) pays the translator or interpreter, while in civil proceedings without legal aid the claimant bears the expenses of the translator or interpreter. Interpreters are also used in certain administrative law proceedings, such as requests for asylum.

II. Sworn translators and interpreters:

To qualify as a sworn translator or interpreter it is necessary to pass the examination organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Holders of this qualification are authorised to make official translations

Is access to the database of translators in Spain free of charge?

There is no database in Spain with information on interpreters and translators.

How to find a legal translator in Spain

However, the Link opens in new windowMinistry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation publishes a Link opens in new windowlist of the persons who have passed the examinations for sworn interpreters.

The list can be consulted free of charge and contains an alphabetical list of languages and the sworn translators in each language.

Last update: 26/02/2024

The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective Member State. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.

Legal translators/interpreters - France

Here you will find information on finding an interpreter, to act in court proceedings, or a translator, if necessary via an official website.

How to find a translator in France

The documentation and analysis service at the Court of Cassation publishes the following on its website:

  • a list in PDF format of experts approved by the Court of Cassation. It also contains links to the websites of some courts of appeal. The list of experts approved by the Court of Cassation is produced annually by the management panel (bureau) of the Court;
  • lists of experts produced by each court of appeal, featuring experts registered under the headings of translation and interpreting. The lists of court experts produced by the courts of appeal are updated by the courts of appeal and sent to the Court of Cassation at varying intervals.

The Court of Cassation does not, strictly speaking, have a database of all translators and interpreters.

Lists containing the names, contact details, dates of birth and specialist fields of experts are available for 36 courts of appeal.

Do you have to pay to search for a translator or interpreter?

No, access to the websites is unrestricted.

Context and historical background of translator directories in France

Historical background

The first official lists of experts for criminal cases were introduced into the French judicial system by an Act of 30 November 1892.

There were also unofficial lists of people with technical knowledge who were most often designated in civil cases.

Act (loi) No 71-498 of 29 June 1971 introduced a single list for each of the courts of appeal in the ordinary court system, for both civil and criminal cases, with experts being listed by their specialist field. The list was updated and amended annually. Registrations were renewable annually but in practice renewed automatically for experts who had not incurred any serious criticism. A national list of experts, produced by the management panel of the Court of Cassation and run along similar lines, was also introduced.

Registration conditions

Registration on the lists of court experts was the subject of in-depth reform under Act No 2004-130 of 11 February 2004 and Order No 2004-1463 of 23 December 2004. Before 1 March each year, applications for registration on the lists of courts of appeal are submitted to the State Counsel (procureur général) at the regional court of the court of appeal. The State Counsel examines applications and then refers them to the Principal State Counsel (procureur général), who submits them to the first president of the court of appeal.

The lists are produced annually during the first half of November by the general assembly of adjudicating judges (assemblée générale des magistrats du siège) at the court of appeal, which takes account of the court’s needs in its areas of jurisdiction.

Initial registration on the lists of the courts of appeal is for a probationary period of three years, at the end of which an assessment is made of the person’s experience and whether they have the legal knowledge they need to carry out their tasks properly, with a view to possible re-registration by submitting a fresh application. The applicant’s file is reconsidered, and an opinion is given by a committee of experts and judges, after which the expert may be re-registered for a period of five years.

Order No 2012-1451 of 24 December 2012 clarified criteria already mentioned in Order No 2004-1463 of 23 December 2004. Applications are to be considered in the light of the qualifications and professional experience of the applicant, which may have been acquired in an EU Member State other than France, and of the interest shown by the applicant in working with the justice system.

Only experts who have either been registered on a court of appeal list for five consecutive years or who can prove that their qualifications are recognised in a Member State of the European Union other than France – acquired notably by carrying out in that State, for at least five years, activities of such a nature as to provide the courts with technical information in the course of their judicial activity – may be registered on the national list.

Registration on the national list is for a seven-year period.

As regards the procedure for registration and re-registration on this list, the public prosecutor at the Court of Cassation receives these applications, which must be sent before 1 March, examines them and seeks the opinion of the first president and the public prosecutor at the court of appeal where the individual concerned is registered. In the first half of December, the management panel of the Court of Cassation then draws up the national list, without any intervention by the public prosecutor’s office.

Nomenclature of headings in the lists of experts

Pursuant to Article 1 of Order No 2004-1463 of 23 December 2004, an order (arrêté) of the Minister for Justice dated 10 June 2005 established for the whole of France a harmonised nomenclature for the headings in the lists of court experts. The list is divided into branches (branches, which are economic sectors such as agriculture, health, industry, etc.), headings (rubriques, for professional disciplines such as medicine and surgery), and specialist fields (spécialités, refining the professional disciplines, such as allergology, digestive surgery, etc.). An ‘H’ branch for interpreting and translation comprises an interpreting heading (‘H1’) and a translation heading (‘H2’), which are subdivided into specialist fields by groups of languages (Romance languages, Germanic languages, Slavic languages, etc.). The specialist fields are defined widely enough to include any spoken or written language. There is also a heading (‘H3’) for sign language and cued speech.

For this new harmonised nomenclature of expert specialist fields, therefore, translators and interpreters have been kept on the general lists of court experts, while having their own specific heading. Although giving expert opinions in the narrow sense of the term is not their primary role, translators and interpreters, like other court experts, assist the courts on an occasional basis and may, if necessary, be designated as technical specialists to take part in the inquiry itself, under Article 232 of the new Code of Civil Procedure, for example by providing a professional opinion.

For these reasons, it was not considered necessary, at the time of the 2004 reform, to make separate arrangements for interpreters and translators and to register them on separate lists.

Last update: 08/12/2021

The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective Member State. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.

Legal translators/interpreters - Croatia

The status of permanent court interpreters (Stalni sudski tumači) is regulated in general by the Courts Act (Zakon o sudovima) (Narodne novine (NN; Official Gazette of the Republic of Croatia) Nos 28/13, 33/15, 82/15, 82/16 and 67/18) and by the Rules on permanent court interpreters (Pravilnik o stalnim sudskim tumačima) (NN Nos 88/08 and 119/08), while their rights and obligations in individual procedures are regulated by special procedural laws (Civil Procedure Act (Zakon o parničnom postupku), Criminal Procedure Act (Zakon o kaznenom postupku)).

In order to be eligible to be a permanent court interpreter, an applicant must meet the general conditions for admission to the civil service and, additionally, the following specific conditions:

  • In addition to knowledge of the Croatian language, he or she must have full command of a foreign language and, where, in addition to Croatian, the language of an ethnic or national community or minority is an official language in the court's jurisdiction, he or she must also have full command of that language;
  • He or she must have knowledge of the organisation of the judiciary, the state administration and legal terminology;
  • He or she must have obtained a university degree.

A person may not be appointed as a permanent court interpreter if he or she is prevented from being admitted to the civil service under Article 49(a) of the Civil Servants Act (Zakon o državnim službenicima), nor may a person be appointed who has been convicted by final judgment of an offence which renders him or her unworthy of performing the duties of a permanent court interpreter for as long as the legal consequences of the conviction persist, or who is prohibited from practising the profession at the time when he or she is seeking appointment as a permanent court interpreter.

A national of an EU Member State or a foreign national may also be appointed as a permanent court interpreter if he or she has knowledge of the judiciary, the state administration and legal terminology, and has obtained a university degree, and if, in addition to knowledge of the language of their home country, they have a full command of Croatian or the language of an ethnic or national community or minority.

Link opens in new windowPermanent court interpreters

Association of court interpreters and translators (Udruga sudskih tumača i prevoditelja)

The association was established in 2000 with the aim of promoting, developing and protecting the business and profession of court interpreters and translators, and actively contributing to the functioning of the rule of law and the protection of human rights.

Udruga sudskih tumača i prevoditelja
Vrazova 15
42 000 Varaždin

Tel.: +385 95 5654350

Email: Link opens in new windowinfo@ustip.hr

Associations of permanent court interpreters (Udruge stalnih sudskih tumača)

In Croatia, there are six associations of permanent court interpreters whose training programmes for candidates wishing to become permanent court interpreters have been approved by the Ministry of Justice.

Hrvatska strukovna udruga sudskih tumača (Croatian professional association of court interpreters, HSUST)

The association was established in 2007 and is one of six professional associations in Croatia accredited for training future permanent court interpreters. In addition to training future court interpreters, the association helps court interpreters in the Republic of Croatia and across Europe connect with each other.

The trainers are appointed court interpreters who are also lawyers and professors in the particular language of the candidate.

Hrvatska strukovna udruga sudskih tumača
Draškovićeva 25
10 000 Zagreb

Tel.: +385 99 502 19 26

Email: Link opens in new windowhrsust@gmail.com

Udruga stalnih sudskih tumača (Association of permanent court interpreters, USST)

The association was established on 19 February 2010 and is based in Zagreb. It is a not-for-profit professional association that accepts only permanent court interpreters as ordinary members, making it stand out among equivalent and similar associations.

The association’s main activities include professional networking and professional development of members; organising conferences, lectures, seminars, congresses, meetings and other professional gatherings on issues in the field; cooperation with other equivalent and similar associations and organisations abroad, as well as with all organisations supporting the work of the association.

On 8 June 2012, USST was admitted as a member of EULITA (European Legal Interpreters and Translators Association), an international and not-for-profit association of court interpreters, and became a full member by unanimous decision on 1 August 2013.

Udruga stalnih sudskih tumača (USST)
Alberta Fortisa 15A
10 090 Zagreb

Tel./fax: +385 1 386 40 43

Email: Link opens in new windowinfo@usst.hr
Link opens in new windowhttp://www.usst.hr

Društvo sudskih tumača i prevoditelja (Society for court interpreters and translators)

The society for court interpreters and translators is a professional organisation established in 1989, with legal person status and registered in the Register of Associations of the Republic of Croatia.

The association focuses its activities on promoting and improving the translation profession, organising conferences, lectures, seminars, congresses, meetings and other gatherings on issues in the field; networking and professional development of members; actively participating in the drafting of legal acts related to the profile of translators/court interpreters.

Društvo sudskih tumača i prevoditelja
Bijenička cesta 144
10 000 Zagreb

Tel.: + 385 98 454007
Tel./fax: +385 1 615 33 85

Email: Link opens in new windowirena.gizdavcic@gmail.comLink opens in new windowinfo@dstip.hr
Link opens in new windowhttps://www.dstip.hr

Udruga sudskih tumača TEMPUS (TEMPUS association of court interpreters)

This organisation has legal person status and is registered in the Register of Associations of the Republic of Croatia.

TEMPUS works to improve the translation profession, organising conferences, lectures, seminars, congresses, as well as professional training and networking of translators and permanent legal interpreters.

Udruga sudskih tumača TEMPUS
Maksimirska 103
10 000 Zagreb

Tel.: +385 98 421 848, +385 91 5161 664

Email: Link opens in new windowtumaci.tempus@gmail.com
Link opens in new windowhttps://www.tempus-obuka.hr

Udruga sudski tumači i prevoditelji (Association of court interpreters and translators, STIP)

Rendićeva 7a
21 000 Split

Tel.: +385 98 473 470, +385 21 783 422

Email: Link opens in new windowinfo@tumac-prevoditelj.com
Link opens in new windowhttp://www.tumac-prevoditelj.com

Podružnica Rijeka
Prolaz Marije Krucifikse Kozulić 2
51 000 Rijeka

Tel.: +385 98 943 8974, +385 98 942 6580

Email: Link opens in new windowinfo-ri@tumac-prevoditelj.com

Strukovna udruga stalnih sudskih tumača (Professional association of permanent court interpreters)

Čučerska cesta 11
10 000 Zagreb

Tel.: +385 1 2983 147

Udruga sudskih tumača i prevoditelja (Association of court interpreters and translators)

The association was established in 2000 with the aim of promoting, developing and protecting the business and profession of court interpreters and translators, and actively contributing to the functioning of the rule of law and the protection of human rights.

Vrazova 15
42 000 Varaždin

Tel.: +385 95 5654350

Email: Link opens in new windowinfo@ustip.hr

Last update: 12/08/2022

The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective Member State. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.

Legal translators/interpreters - Italy

Italy has no national database of translators or interpreters. This is to give the Italian judiciary the freedom to choose translators and interpreters as they see fit.

Last update: 24/02/2020

The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective Member State. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.

Legal translators/interpreters - Cyprus

Since 1 July 2019 certified translations in Cyprus have been subject to the rules laid down in Law 45(I)/2019 on the registration and regulation of services provided by sworn translators.

Under this Law, any private or public body that requires a certified translation should turn directly to a sworn translator entered in the Link opens in new windowRegister of Sworn Translators of the Link opens in new windowCouncil of Sworn Translators.

The law defines «certified translation» as a valid and accurate translation of a written text or document from a foreign language into Greek or Turkish, and vice versa, or from Greek into Turkish and vice versa, which is duly stamped and bears the public seal of the Republic of Cyprus.

Sworn translators translate documents intended for official public use in Cyprus or abroad, such as education certificates, marriage certificates, birth certificates, death certificates, criminal record disclosure certificates, passports, identity cards, bank accounts, title deeds, corporate documents, medical reports and legal documents.

Languages covered: Arabic, Armenian, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Chinese, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, French, German, Georgian, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Macedonian, Norwegian, Persian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish and Ukrainian into Greek, and vice versa.

DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED FOR TRANSLATION

  1. All documents submitted for translation must be authentic and duly legalised either by means of an apostille or by means of a foreign affairs ministry seal (diplomatic certification). The documents must be legalised before they are translated. With regard to EU countries, Regulation (EU) 2016/1191 provides that it is up to the party submitting the document whether or not to affix an apostille. The newsletter of the Ministry of Justice and Public Order provides further information on the Link opens in new windowcertification of documents and lists the states that are party to the Link opens in new windowHague Apostille Convention.
  2. As regards documents which do not require an apostille but must be legalised by means of a diplomatic seal, the party submitting the document for translation should contact the relevant department of their foreign affairs ministry for additional information.
  3. Information on the translation of upper secondary school leaving certificates can be found Link opens in new windowhere.

For further information please call the Press and Information Office at +357 22801105 or +357 22801133 or send an e-mail message to: Link opens in new windowtranslations@pio.moi.gov.cy

Information on translation fees can be found Link opens in new windowhere.

The 2019 Law on the registration and regulation of services provided by sworn translators in Cyprus can be found Link opens in new windowhere.

Information about the Council of Sworn Translators can be found Link opens in new windowhere.

Last update: 11/03/2024

The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective Member State. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.

Legal translators/interpreters - Latvia

There is no data base of translators/interpreters in Latvia.

The court provides for the right of the parties to Link opens in new windowcivil proceedings who are receiving state legal aid in a case or who are exempt from payment of court costs, to acquaint themselves with the materials of the case and participate in the proceedings with the aid of an interpreter if they do not have a command of the language of the proceedings.

The court provides for the right of the parties to Link opens in new windowadministrative proceedings who do not have a command of the language of the proceedings – with the exception of representatives of legal entities – to acquaint themselves with the materials of the case and participate in the proceedings with the aid of an interpreter.

A court may also decide at its own discretion to provide for an interpreter for a legal entity.

In Link opens in new windowcriminal proceedings, persons who have a right of defence, victims and their representatives, witnesses, specialists, experts, auditors and other persons called upon to participate by the official conducting the proceedings, where such persons do not have a command of the official state language, are entitled during procedural actions to use a language they know and to engage an interpreter for assistance free of charge, the interpreter's services being provided for by the official conducting the proceedings. In pre-trial proceedings, investigating judges or the courts provide for the presence of an interpreter at the adjudication of matters over which those investigating judges or courts have jurisdiction.

Last update: 30/03/2023

The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective Member State. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.

Legal translators/interpreters - Lithuania

There is no database of translators or interpreters in Lithuania.

How to search for a legal translator in Lithuania

In court proceedings, a translator/interpreter will be provided by the court.

For your personal needs, private translators and interpreters can be found here:

Last update: 07/04/2023

The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective Member State. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.

Legal translators/interpreters - Luxembourg

This section of the Portal allows you to find a legal translator or interpreter in Luxembourg.

How to find a legal translator or interpreter in Luxembourg

The Ministry of Justice has available an up-to-date coordinated Link opens in new windowlist of sworn translators and interpreters. It can be consulted on the Ministry of Justice website and it also contains general information.

Is access to Luxembourg's translator database free of charge?

Access to Luxembourg's translator database is free of charge.

Related links

Link opens in new windowMinistry of Justice

Last update: 20/11/2020

The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective Member State. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.

Legal translators/interpreters - Hungary

Hungary does not have a central, electronic database of legal translators and court interpreters.

How can I find a Hungarian legal translator or interpreter?

Specialised translation or interpretation may be pursued as a form of employment or any other paid work only by qualified specialist translators or interpreters.

With the exceptions referred to below, certified translations and certification of translations and of copies of foreign language documents can be done by the Hungarian Office for Translation and Attestation (Országos Fordító és Fordításhitelesítő Iroda Zrt, ‘OFFI’).

Under the Notaries Act No XLI of 1991, notaries who are entitled to draw up documents in a foreign language may produce certified translations in that language of documents in cases falling within their notarial remit or certify translations of such documents. Notaries certify a translation of an original document by adding an attestation clause to the end of the translation.

Diplomatic missions, including consular departments, may perform translation, foreign-language document copying and certification activities as provided for by law and international treaties.

Qualified specialist translators and specialist revisers may also make certified translations of extracts from the company register and authentic translations into any of the EU’s official languages (as chosen by the company) of company documents and data intended to be entered in the company register.

Interpreting services at courts, public prosecutor’s offices and law enforcement agencies based in Budapest are provided by OFFI. OFFI must also provide interpretation for courts, public prosecutor’s offices and law enforcement agencies outside Budapest that are unable to ensure the provision of interpreting services through the appointment of a qualified interpreter or other suitable person.

Link and contact details

Link opens in new windowHungarian Office for Translation and Attestation (OFFI)

Address: 1062 Budapest, Bajza utca 52.

Last update: 06/04/2017

The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective Member State. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.

Legal translators/interpreters - Malta

Malta now has a database of legal translators and interpreters.

In criminal cases, a list of interpreters/translators is available to members of the judiciary and court personnel. This list is kept and maintained by the Criminal Court Registry. In preparation for the entry into force of the Directive on the right to interpretation and translation in criminal proceedings, the above list has recently been added to the Court Services available Link opens in new windowonline.

When the services of an interpreter or translator are required during criminal proceedings, one is appointed by a magistrate.  The existence of the abovementioned list above does not preclude a magistrate from ignoring it entirely and appointing any other person whom they consider suitable to perform interpretation or translation duties. The name of the person thus appointed is subsequently added to the list. For further information, please write to ‘The Criminal Court Registrar, Courts of Justice, Valletta, Malta’.

In civil cases, the parties may appoint a translator or interpreter of their choice, and the cost of doing so is borne by the party who requires these services. The court administration has no involvement in this process. However, the civil courts may make use of the list available to the criminal courts, which is available to the public online as stated above.

Malta’s list of translators and interpreters is also contained in the Courts’ Legal Case Management (LECAM) IT system, which is generally for the sole use of court personnel and members of the legal profession. However, the general public may access the LECAM system in respect of civil cases on computers maintained at the court registries.

Additions to the experts' list are made by court officers authorised to maintain this database. Entries for individual experts are linked to the court case for which they have been appointed to offer their professional services.

Last update: 12/08/2022

The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective Member State. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.

Uwaga: niedawno wprowadzono na tej stronie zmiany w oryginalnej wersji językowej niderlandzki. Strona w wybranej przez Ciebie wersji językowej jest obecnie tłumaczona przez nasze służby tłumaczeniowe.

Legal translators/interpreters - Netherlands

This page provides information on the registration of sworn interpreters and translators in the Netherlands and extension of that registration.

Sworn Court Interpreters and Translators Act

The Link opens in new windowSworn Court Interpreters and Translators Act (Wet beëdigde tolken en vertalers - Wbtv) applies in the Netherlands. It governs the rules and regulations for sworn interpreters, who provide an oral translation of speech made in another language, and for sworn translators, who provide a written translation of text written in another language.

Interpretation and translation are liberal professions, which means that, in principle, regardless of training or background, anyone can set up as an independent interpreter or translator. You do not need to be registered in the Link opens in new windowRegister of Sworn Interpreters and Translators (Register beëdigde tolken en vertalers (Rbtv)) in order to do this. The Rbtv is a database containing the details of sworn interpreters and translators in the Netherlands; it is managed by the Link opens in new windowOffice of Sworn Interpreters and Translators (Bureau beëdigde tolken en vertalers). You must be registered in the Rbtv in order to be able to work as a sworn interpreter or sworn translator.

What information is in the Dutch translators’ register?

In accordance with Link opens in new windowArticle 2 of the Sworn Court Interpreters and Translators Act, the Register for Sworn Interpreters and Translators contains the following details for each interpreter or translator registered:

  1. contact details;
  2. whether the person is an interpreter or translator;
  3. the source or target language(s) in which the interpreter or translator works; and
  4. the other specific skills that the interpreter or translator deems useful to have recorded in the register.

Who is responsible for the translators’ register?

Ultimate responsibility for the register lies with the Minister for Justice and Security; however, competence for deciding on entries into the Register falls to the Office of Sworn Interpreters and Translators.

Is access to the Dutch Translators’ Register free of charge?

Yes, access is free of charge.

How to find a legal translator in the Netherlands

Searches in the database may be performed by name or language combination(s).

Related links

Link opens in new windowOffice of Sworn Interpreters and Translators

Link opens in new windowRegister of Sworn Interpreters and Translators

Last update: 12/08/2022

The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective Member State. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.

Legal translators/interpreters - Austria

This page helps you to find a legal translator or interpreter in Austria.

How to find a legal translator or interpreter in Austria

The Austrian Federal Ministry of Justice maintains a list (the Gerichtsdolmetscherliste) of court interpreters who have shown that they satisfy certain legal requirements (such as the possession of adequate specialised knowledge) and who have taken an oath and been certified by the courts.

This list can be accessed via the website JustizOnline, the digital information service of the Austrian judicial system (justizonline.gv.at). A targeted search for interpreters can be performed based on set criteria. Is access to the list of court interpreters free of charge?

The website JustizOnline is publicly available and access is free of charge.

How to search for a court translator in Austria

From JustizOnline translators and interpreters can be found using the following search criteria:

  • language
  • province, and
  • court district.

A full text search allows for a more targeted search of the list, e.g. based on specialisations indicated by the court interpreters.

Is access to the translator database free of charge?

The website is publicly available and access is free of charge.

Related Links

Link opens in new windowList of translators and interpreters

Link opens in new windowInterpreter search (justizonline.gv.at)

Last update: 08/09/2023

The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective Member State. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.

Legal translators/interpreters - Poland

This page helps you find legal translators and interpreters in Poland.

What does the Polish translators’ database offer?

Poland has:

Is access to the Polish translators’ database free of charge?

Yes, access to the databases is free of charge.

How to search for a legal translator or interpreter in Poland

Database of sworn translators and interpreters

The database of sworn translators and interpreters allows you to search for a translator or interpreter by:

  • Family name
  • Type of translation
  • City
  • Language

Database of translators and interpreters

You can search the translators’ and interpreters’ database by:

  • Family name
  • City
  • Language
  • Speciality (interpretation, literary translation, legal translation).
Last update: 07/12/2023

The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective Member State. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.

Legal translators/interpreters - Portugal

Portugal does not have a database of legal translators or interpreters.

Last update: 28/03/2023

The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective Member State. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.

Legal translators/interpreters - Romania

This page helps you find a legal translator and interpreter in Romania.

How to find a legal translator or interpreter in Romania

The Link opens in new windowdatabase of authorised Romanian translators and interpreters is owned and maintained by the Romanian Ministry of Justice. It contains information on translators and interpreters authorised by the Romanian Ministry of Justice.

These authorised persons provide translation and interpretation services upon request for:

  • the Superior Council of Magistracy
  • the Ministry of Justice
  • the High Court of Cassation and Justice
  • the Public Prosecution Service
  • the National Anticorruption Directorate
  • the criminal investigation authorities
  • the courts
  • notaries public
  • lawyers and
  • bailiffs.

Law No 178/1997 regulates the authorisation and payment of interpreters and translators who provide services to criminal investigation authorities, courts, notaries public, lawyers, the Ministry of Justice and the other institutions listed above.

The translators' database includes information from 2002 onwards.

Is access to the Romanian translators' database free of charge?

The following information is available to the public free of charge:

  • name of the authorised translator or interpreter,
  • language or languages for which the translator or interpreter is authorised,
  • authorisation number,
  • telephone number.

The database also contains the following information that is not publicly available:

  • personal identity number,
  • postal address.

How to search for an authorised translator in Romania

The database can be searched using the following criteria:

  1. the name of the authorised translator or interpreter;
  2. the name of the relevant court of appeal (each court of appeal bears the name of the municipality in which it is located. As there are 15 courts of appeal in Romania, each with territorial legal competence regarding judicial cases corresponding to specific national administrative areas, this search criterion can be used in practice to identify all translators within the geographical and administrative areas corresponding to the territorial legal competence of a specific court);
  3. language pairs (if a foreign language is displayed, the counterpart of the one displayed will be Romanian);
  4. the authorisation number;
  5. the expiry date of the authorisation (this search can be performed by typing 'Ordin' ('order' in English) – a legal instrument issued by the Ministry of Justice to suspend or revoke the translator’s authorisation).
Last update: 22/10/2020

The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective Member State. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.

Legal translators/interpreters - Slovenia

This website gives you an overview of the database of sworn interpreters of Slovenia.

What information is kept in the register of sworn interpreters of Slovenia?

The Ministry of Justice manages the Link opens in new windowregister of sworn interpreters. Slovenian law does not differentiate between interpreters and translators. All sworn interpreters must be capable of both interpreting and translating.

The register of sworn interpreters contains the following data, all of which are public:

  • Surname
  • First name(s)
  • Address
  • Postcode
  • Town/City
  • Telephone
  • Email
  • Language

The register also contains some information that is not available to the public:

  • Professional title
  • Date of appointment
  • Profession
  • Date and place of birth
  • ID No
  • Details of employment or other status

Can the database of sworn interpreters of Slovenia be accessed free of charge?

Yes. Access to the database is free of charge.

How to find a sworn interpreter in Slovenia

The database of Link opens in new windowsworn interpreters has an integrated search engine with access to all publicly available data, which makes it possible to search using the following parameters:

  • First name(s)
  • Surname
  • Town/City
  • Telephone
  • Language

The search results can be filtered by (a single) language.

Related links

Link opens in new windowSworn interpreters - register

Last update: 08/12/2021

The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective Member State. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.

Legal translators/interpreters - Slovakia

This page briefly summarises information about the list of Slovak translators and interpreters.

What information does the list of Slovak translators and interpreters include?

The list of experts, interpreters and translators kept by the Slovak Ministry of Justice (Ministerstvo spravodlivosti Slovenskej republiky) includes an interpreter section and a translator section, with the details of 1 341 translators and 1 240 interpreters who have been granted authorisation to carry out translation or interpretation activities under Act No 382/2004 on experts, interpreters and translators and amending certain other acts and who are or used to be entered on the list of experts, interpreters and translators.

The list of experts, interpreters and translators contains a separate section for interpreters and a separate section for translators. This database is available only in Slovak.

All interpreters and translators entered on the list of experts, interpreters and translators in the relevant section according to their languages are authorised to use the identifiers issued by the Slovak Ministry of Justice, namely the interpreter’s/translator’s identification card and the interpreter’s/translator’s official stamp.

Is access to the list of translators and interpreters free of charge?

Access to the list and searching for translators and interpreters is free of charge.

How can I find a translator or an interpreter in Slovakia?

Information on interpreters and translators can be found on the website of Link opens in new windowthe Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic, in the Registers section, by selecting the Translators or Interpreters option.

The contact details of translators and interpreters (as well as other information where appropriate) can be searched on the website. Individual translators and interpreters can be searched for by their registration number, language, name and surname, municipality, district, region or any combination of these fields. When a particular person is selected from the search results, detailed information is displayed, such as their contact details, the scope of their authorisation to carry out interpretation or translation activities and the start date (and where appropriate, also the expiry date) of the authorisation, sanctions imposed during the last three years in relation to the performance of the activities; in the case of a ban the entry specifies the period during which the ban applies, information on temporary suspension of activities, including details of the legal basis, the start date of the temporary suspension and the end date of the suspension, information on interruption of activities, including the start date and the end date of the interruption, registration number and up-to-date information about insurance against civil liability.

Related links

Link opens in new windowList of interpreters

Link opens in new windowList of translators

Link opens in new windowMinistry of Justice of the Slovak Republic

Last update: 12/08/2022

The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective Member State. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.

Legal translators/interpreters - Finland

This page provides guidance on how to find a legal interpreter or an authorised translator in Finland.

The National Board of Education keeps a registry of legal interpreters into which are entered the legal interpreters approved by the board of the registry of legal interpreters. The public registry only contains information on interpreters who have consented to the publication of their data.

The examination board of authorised translators keeps a registry of authorised translators.

What information is available from Finnish databases of interpreters and translators?

Link opens in new windowThe registry of legal interpreters provides the interpreter’s name, language pair and geographical area of activity. The public registry of legal interpreters only contains information on interpreters who have consented to the publication of their data on the internet

Link opens in new windowThe registry of authorised translators provides the translator's name, municipality of residence and the languages he or she may translate from and into as an authorised translator.

Is access to Finnish databases of interpreters and translators free of charge?

Yes, access to both the registry of legal interpreters and the registry of authorised translators is free of charge.

How to search for legal interpreters and authorised translators in Finland?

You can search for interpreters and translators in the registries by using the following search criteria:

  • language pair
  • name of translator or interpreter

You can also search by province in the registry of legal interpreters.

Links

Registry of legal interpreters: Link opens in new windowhttps://oikeustulkkirekisteri.opintopolku.fi

Registry of authorised translators: Link opens in new windowhttps://akr.opintopolku.fi/akr/etusivu

Last update: 08/12/2021

The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective Member State. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.

Legal translators/interpreters - Sweden

This section helps you find an authorised interpreter or translator in Sweden.

What is the Swedish register of interpreters and translators?

The Link opens in new windowSwedish database of authorised interpreters and Link opens in new windowtranslators is owned and administered by the Link opens in new windowSwedish Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency (Kammarkollegiet).

It contains a list of certified interpreters and translators who are authorised only to interpret or translate from or into Swedish. An individual may be authorised for a number of different languages. An authorised interpreter may also be authorised to work in a particular area of expertise as a court interpreter and/or medical interpreter.

Is access to the Swedish register of interpreters and translators free of charge?

Yes, it costs nothing to access the Swedish database of authorised interpreters and translators.

How do you search for an authorised interpreter or translator in Sweden?

If you are looking for an interpreter, you can search by language, special area of expertise, county (län) or surname. If you are looking for a translator, you can search by language, county (län), surname or translator number.

Last update: 01/09/2021

The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective Member State. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.

Legal translators/interpreters - England and Wales

This section helps you find a legal translator or interpreter in England and Wales

Currently, England and Wales do not have a centralised database of interpreters or translators. However, you can find more information on how to search for an interpreter or translator in a number of decentralised registers and lists, including:

Related Links

Link opens in new windowNational Register of Public Service Interpreters, Link opens in new windowAssociation of Police and Court Interpreters, Link opens in new windowInstitute of Translation and Interpreting, Link opens in new windowMinistry of Justice Link opens in new windowcourt interpreters Link opens in new windowChartered Institute of Linguists

Last update: 25/11/2016

The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective Member State. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.

Legal translators/interpreters - Northern Ireland

This section helps you find a legal translator or interpreter in Northern Ireland.

Currently, Northern Ireland does not have a centralised database of interpreters or translators. However, you can search for what you need in a number of decentralised registers and lists, including:

Related Links

Link opens in new windowNational Register of Public Service Interpreters

Link opens in new windowAssociation of Police and Court Interpreters

Link opens in new windowInstitute of Translation and Interpreting

Last update: 16/01/2019

The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective Member State. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.

Legal translators/interpreters - Scotland

Currently, Scotland does not have a single centralised database of interpreters or translators. However, you can search a number of decentralised registers and lists, including:

If you are seeking legal aid for assistance with interpretation and translation, the Link opens in new windowSLAB register is recommended.

Related Links

Link opens in new windowScottish Legal Aid Board
Link opens in new windowNational Register of Public Service Interpreters
Link opens in new windowAssociation of Police and Court Interpreters
Link opens in new windowInstitute of Translation and Interpreting

Last update: 04/05/2020

The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective Member State. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.