Ausländische Berufsqualifikationen als Übersetzer bzw. Übersetzerin ausüben

If you would like to work as an authorized translator, you will need to be authorized to do so from the responsible President of the Regional Court.

The profession of authorized translator is regulated. He or she is authorized to translate in writing for judicial, prosecutorial and notarial purposes. The corresponding language is German. An activity as an authorized translator can only be carried out after authorization by the responsible President of the Regional Court.

The application for authorization must be accompanied by the necessary documents, in particular

1. a curriculum vitae,
2. a certificate of good conduct, which must not have been issued more than six months previously,
3. a declaration as to whether the applicant has been sentenced to a penalty or detention order in the five years preceding the application,
4. a declaration as to whether insolvency proceedings have been opened against the applicant's assets and no discharge of residual debt has yet been granted or whether the applicant has been entered in the debtor register, and
5. the documents required to prove the necessary expertise.

In addition, the president of the competent regional court will obtain information from the competent police authority and the competent care and insolvency court. For this purpose, a personally signed declaration from you is required stating that you agree to the forwarding of your personal data.

As a rule, the documents must be submitted in German. If the documents are not in German, a translation may also be required. Please contact the president of the competent regional court for this.

The following persons may be authorized as translators

1. is a national of a member state of the European Union or a national of a state party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area or Switzerland or who has his/her professional establishment or place of residence in one of these states,
2. is of legal age,
3. is suitable,
4. lives in orderly economic circumstances,
5. is reliable and
6. has the required specialist knowledge of German and the language to be sworn.

• Anyone who has the required specialist knowledge in accordance with number 6 has a basic knowledge of the German legal language and
  • a) has passed the translator examination of a state or state-recognized examination office or another state or state-recognized examination for the translation profession in Germany or
  • b) has passed an examination abroad which has been recognized by a competent German authority as equivalent to an examination in accordance with letter a).
• Basic knowledge of the German legal language can also be demonstrated by passing an examination in accordance with letters a) and b).

Anyone who meets the personal and professional requirements can be authorized as a translator upon application. The application can also be submitted from abroad.

The application for authorization as a translator can be submitted informally without an application form.

The required documents must be enclosed. If all requirements are met, authorization as a translator will be granted in a personal appointment.

A record of the authorization will be made. Translators receive a certified copy of the transcript for submission to courts, public prosecutors' offices and notaries.

The authorization ends after five years. It will be extended for a further five years at the translator's request if there are no facts that justify the assumption that the requirements to be fulfilled are not met. The application for renewal must be accompanied by a current curriculum vitae, a current certificate of good conduct and a declaration as to whether you have been sentenced to a penalty or detention order in the five years prior to the application.

The presidents of the regional courts of Thuringia maintain a joint electronic list of their sworn interpreters and authorized translators. The list is published on the Internet within a transnational database of interpreters and translators. The data will only be published in the Internet directory if you give your consent. This consent can be revoked at any time. The revocation must be declared in writing to the President of the competent regional court. If you do not consent to the publication of your personal data in the online public directory, the data will only be made available to the Thuringian courts and public prosecutor's offices in a protected area. In this case, the Thuringian notaries will receive up-to-date directories on a regular basis.

You have the right to appeal against the decision of the competent authority on your application or against a decision that was not made on time in accordance with the Administrative Court Code (objection procedure, if necessary legal action).

• An activity as an authorized translator can only be carried out after authorization by the responsible President of the Regional Court.
• Certain requirements must be met.
• Recognition of foreign qualifications is not required for authorization as a translator.
• A written application (also informal) must be submitted.
• The president of the regional court in whose district the applicant resides is responsible for the authorization. If the applicant is not resident in Thuringia, the President of the Regional Court of Erfurt is responsible for the authorization.

The President of the Regional Court in whose district the applicant resides is responsible for the authorization. If the applicant is not resident in Thuringia, the President of the Regional Court of Erfurt is responsible for the authorization.

The application for authorization as a translator can be submitted informally. The form available at the following link can also be used: