Verzeichnis der allgemeinen beeidigten Dolmetscher

If you wish to translate for a court, a public authority or a notary, you must take an oath before a court or an internal authority and meet certain requirements.

You will then be listed in the register of sworn interpreters and authorized translators. Any citizen may view this register.

The authorization to work as a sworn interpreter or translator is limited to 5 years. It can be extended for a further 5 years on application.

Interpreters translate both orally and in writing. Translators generally only translate in writing.

Sworn interpreters and authorized translators are also required to provide certified translations.

Proof of personal and professional suitability as an interpreter.

• Application:
  • For the general swearing-in as an interpreter;
  • for the authorization to certify the accuracy and completeness of translations as a translator

You must submit the application in writing. You must also enclose documents proving your personal and professional suitability.

• Personal suitability:
  • You must not have been convicted of a felony or an offense under Section 9 of the German Criminal Code (unsworn false testimony), false accusation, offense under Section 15 of the German Criminal Code (violation of personal privacy and confidentiality), favoritism, obstruction of justice, fraud or forgery of documents in the five years prior to submitting your application
  • You must not be living in disorderly financial circumstances, e.g. insolvency proceedings must not have been opened against your assets and you must not be entered in the register maintained by the insolvency court or the central enforcement court
  • You must actually be willing and able to be available to the North Rhine-Westphalian courts and public prosecutor's offices at short notice on request.
• professional suitability:
  • Language skills with which you can generally understand practically everything you hear and read with ease, express yourself spontaneously, very fluently and accurately and make clear finer nuances of meaning even in more complex matters, both in German and in the foreign language, and
  • a sound knowledge of German legal terminology.

• Proof of personal and professional aptitude by submitting suitable documents:

The documentation on language skills should also enable an assessment of linguistic knowledge and skills.

You submit an application for general swearing-in as an interpreter or for authorization as a translator.

The President of the competent Higher Regional Court will review the application.

If the requirements are met, you will then be entered in the register of sworn interpreters and appointed translators.

• List of sworn general interpreters
• In order to translate for authorities, notaries or courts, interpreters must take an oath
• They may then work as sworn interpreters or translators
• Certified translations must be prepared by a sworn translator
• A register is kept of sworn interpreters and authorized translators.
• The oath is valid for 5 years and can be extended for a further 5 years on request.

Application form for the general swearing-in as an interpreter and authorization as a translator.

https://www.justiz.nrw.de/Gerichte_Behoerden/anschriften/dolmetscher__u_uebersetzer/index.php