What is Sworn Translation? A Complete Guide for Official Documents in Turkey

Sworn translation is a translation service performed by an expert translator who has sworn an oath before a notary public and has legal validity for official transactions in Turkey. A sworn translator is a person who has sworn before a court or notary public to make an accurate, complete, and impartial translation related to their duty and has officially documented this status. Therefore, unlike ordinary translation, sworn translation has a legally binding nature and is accepted by government agencies, courts, notaries, and consulates.

The need for sworn translation in Turkey is increasing every year. Sworn translation becomes mandatory for studying abroad, applying for work or residence permits, formalizing civil law transactions such as marriage and divorce, or using foreign language documents in commercial relations. Having a sworn translation made for any foreign language document to be submitted to a government agency or a Turkish document whose validity is to be ensured abroad both ensures legal security and prevents possible procedural obstacles.

Normal translation is a translation service that conveys the meaning of the text but is not approved by any official authority. However, sworn translation gains legal validity with a chain of documents that includes the translator's identity, expertise, and signature, and is then approved by a notary public. This chain consists of the translator's signature, seal or stamp, and notary approval steps. In summary, when you have a sworn translation done, the document you will receive is not just the translated text, but an official set of documents proving its legal existence.

Who Can Perform Sworn Translation?

In order to perform sworn translation in Turkey, certain legal criteria must be met. In order for a person to become a sworn translator, they must first have completed a four-year university education in the relevant language or have proven their proficiency in that language with official exams. Then, they officially obtain the title of "sworn translator" by taking an oath before the largest civil court of first instance or notary public in the province where they are located. Without going through this process, no person, no matter how experienced, can sign a document as a sworn translator; otherwise, the document issued will not have legal validity.

Sworn translators usually specialize in a specific language pair or two; such as English-Turkish, German-Turkish, or Arabic-Turkish. 42 Dil Translation Agency has active sworn translators for 42 different language pairs. Each translator has experience in document types that fall within their area of expertise (legal, medical, technical, academic). When you have a sworn translation done, it is critical to verify both the language pair compatibility and the document type expertise; otherwise, the authorized institution may not accept the document.

For Which Documents is Sworn Translation Mandatory?

The use of high school or university diplomas and transcript documents obtained abroad in equivalence applications in Turkey creates a sworn translation obligation. The Council of Higher Education (YÖK) and the Ministry of National Education require sworn translation of foreign language education documents. Similarly, foreign court decisions, population records, or marital status documents that are to be recognized in Turkey must be submitted to the relevant Turkish courts with a sworn translation.

The Directorate of Migration Management accepts all foreign language documents such as passports, birth certificates, marriage certificates, and criminal record records submitted in residence and work permit applications with sworn translation. The sworn translation of foreign language documents that foreign nationals will submit to the population directorates in order to get married in Turkey also falls into the same category. Consulates may also request sworn translations of documents that Turkish citizens will submit abroad.

• Diplomas, transcripts and equivalence documents (YÖK, MEB applications)
• Passport, identity card and birth certificate translations (Directorate of Migration Management)
• Marriage, divorce and custody decisions (population directorates, courts)
• Criminal record and prosecutor's office documents (official applications)
• Commercial contracts and powers of attorney (notary public transactions)
• Medical reports and health records (hospitals and insurance institutions)
• Engineering and technical documents (corporate applications)
• Company registration and trade registry documents (TÜRKAK, KOSGEB)

How Does the Sworn Translation Process Work?

The sworn translation process at 42 Dil Translation Agency proceeds as follows: First, the process is initiated by submitting your document via WhatsApp, e-mail, or in person to the office. Our expert translator examines your document, determines the language pair and content type, and then a free price quote is sent to you within 15 minutes. After approval, the translation work begins; the standard duration is 1-2 business days depending on the length of the document, but in urgent cases, delivery is possible on the same day or within a few hours.

When the translation is completed, our sworn translator signs and stamps the document; then, the documents are notarized. Our office carries out all these steps on your behalf. Your original documents approved by the notary public can be sent to the address you want by cargo or can be picked up in person from the office. As 42 Dil, your personal information is never shared with third parties within the framework of our KVKK-compliant document confidentiality policy.

1. Send your document via WhatsApp (+90 332 XXX XX XX) or e-mail
2. Get your free price quote within 15 minutes
3. When you approve, the sworn translator starts working
4. Translation is completed, the translator signs and stamps
5. Notary approval is done by our office
6. Your document is delivered to your address by cargo or in person

How are Sworn Translation Fees Calculated?

Sworn translation fees vary depending on the length of the document, the language pair, and the complexity of the content. In Turkey, sworn translation prices are usually determined per page. The price per standard A4 page varies depending on the language and content type. In addition, the notary approval fee is calculated separately; this fee varies according to the notary public and is not a figure determined by translation agencies. As 42 Dil, we always offer our customers clear and understandable offers with our transparent pricing policy.

Our price quote is free and does not require any commitment. All you have to do is send us your document; our expert team will evaluate the number of pages, language pair, and content type and provide you with a clear figure within minutes. An additional fee may be applied to the standard price for urgent deliveries; this information is also clearly stated in your offer. An invoice is issued for all transactions, and an e-invoice option is offered to our corporate customers.

Choose 42 Dil for Sworn Translation in Konya

42 Dil Translation Agency is one of the most well-established and reliable agencies providing sworn translation services in Konya. Since 2009, we have been serving all Konya districts and Turkey in general from our central office in Selçuklu district. We have more than 150 expert translators within our organization who provide sworn and notary-approved translation in English, German, Arabic, French, Russian, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, and many more language pairs.

We serve thousands of individual and corporate customers every year with our approach that puts customer satisfaction above all else. We offer specialized services in a wide range, from legal documents to medical reports, from academic translations to commercial contracts. Share your document via WhatsApp, get a free quote within 15 minutes, and receive it on the same day or in 1-2 business days. We have courier service to all parts of Konya. We are here to be your reliable solution partner in your official transactions.