FAQs

We have collected a series of questions we get asked most frequently hoping to provide you withthe information you need quickly and efficiently. If you do not find the answer to your questions,please contact us or fill out the form at the end of the page

A sworn translation is a translation certified and authenticated by means of the stamps and signatures affixed by the certified translator and the Public Official (Registrar or Court clerk) who performs the registration of the translation at the Ufficio Asseverazioni Perizie e Traduzioni
(Translation Certification Office of the Court). Sworn translations can also be obtained by means of an Affidavit before a notary public or a consular officer (notarisation). Find out more or get more detailed information on sworn translations on the page sworn and certified translations.

A certified or official translation is a translation certified exclusively by the professional translator or translation service provider, by means of the signature and professional stamp of the translator, and are accompanied by a Certification of Translation Accuracy containing the information and contact details of the professional translator or translation service provider. The degree of official status of a translation may vary depending on the country and the destination of the translation. In fact, depending on the type and the office or country of destination of the document, in order for the translation to obtain official status, it may be necessary to certify it before a judicial officer, a notary or a consular officer.

A “cartella” is a standard page format based on which the length of a translation is calculated. It is the unit of measurement of legal and technical translations in general, and is composed of 25 lines of 55/60 characters and 8/10 words, for a total of 1375/1500 characters and 220/250 words. As for literary and editorial translations, a different longer format (editorial folder) is used composed of 30 lines of 60 characters, for a total of 1800 characters. The cost of the translation will be calculated based on the number of characters, and, therefore, the number of “cartelle”. The cost of a translation can also be calculated based on the number of words (usually a “cartella” contains 220 to 250 words).

Of course! the certified translation service can also be carried out remotely without any problem, wewill just send the translation via registered mail or via express courier, so the shipment can be easilyand safely tracked till the receipt. Get more information on the procedures and shipping methods on
the Contact Us page.

In order to certify a translation at court, the document in the original language must be attached
permanently to the corresponding translation, together with the certificate of sworn translation. For
the translator, as well as for the court, also simple photocopy or a certified copy of the original
document can be attached to the translation, as long as this is indicated by the translator on the
certificate of sworn translation. The choice whether to attach to the translation the original
document or a copy of it depends on you, in case you want to keep the original document for other
uses, or from the office where the sworn translations are intended, in case it has expressly requested
that the original translated document is attached to the corresponding translation.
Get more information on sworn translations on the Contact Us page
A translation certified at Court may or may not expire depending on the original document. If the original document has a expiration date, such as for example the certificates of criminal records, therefore, on the expiration date of the original document, also the sworn translation will lose its validity. The certification in fact, does not certify the validity of the content of the original document, but rather certifies the linguistic conformity of the translation to the original document, in the target language
Usually a €16 duty stamp is required for every 100 lines of translation, or for every 4 pages, each court uses one of these two calculations. As an example, if the total lines of a translation are 252, three €16 duty stamps are required. If the translation requires many duty stamps, usually a down payment of the total cost of the service is required, equal to the amount of duty stamps purchased by the translator at court, prior to certification.
In case a sworn translation does not remain in Italy, but is be sent to an office in a foreign country, it may be necessary to legalize it. The legalization of sworn translations certified in Italy is a procedure carried out by the Public Prosecutor’s Office and aims to authenticate the legal quality of the Public Official who has affixed his/her signature on the translation, as well as the validity of his/her signature itself. In order to be valid for the foreign country of destination, the translation must also be approved by the Consular Representation of said country. For the signatory countries of the Hague Convention of October 5, 1961, a simple Apostille stamp is sufficient that streamlines and shortens the time of the procedure, so it is not necessary to contact the Consulate to complete the legalization process. Get more information on the page Certifications and legalization for use abroad.
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