Ausländische Berufsqualifikationen als Dolmetscher/in, Gebärdensprachdolmetscher/in ausüben

If you wish to work as an interpreter or translator, you may only do so after you have been sworn in or authorized by the competent President of the Regional Court.

Interpreters and translators are employed for language transmission for judicial purposes. The work of interpreters includes oral language transmission; the work of translators includes written language transmission. In accordance with the provisions of the Brandenburg Language Interpreters Act, sign language interpreters are generally sworn in; translators are authorized.

The general swearing-in entitles the interpreter to use the title "sworn interpreter according to the regulations of the State of Brandenburg", supplemented by the language for which the interpreter is sworn in. The authorization entitles the holder to use the designation "translator authorized in accordance with the regulations of the State of Brandenburg" or "translator authorized in accordance with the regulations of the State of Brandenburg", supplemented by the language for which the translator is authorized.

The authorization includes the right to certify the accuracy and completeness of translations for the language for which the translator is authorized in accordance with Section 142 (3) of the Code of Civil Procedure, stating the designation in accordance with paragraph 4 sentence 2. Section 142 (3) sentence 3 of the Code of Civil Procedure shall apply to the form of the certification of accuracy and completeness.

You must enclose the necessary documents with the application for general swearing-in or authorization, in particular

1. Your curriculum vitae,
2. a certificate of good conduct in accordance with Section 30 (5) of the Federal Central Criminal Register Act, which must not have been issued more than six months previously,
3. a declaration as to whether you have been sentenced to a criminal penalty or a disciplinary measure in the five years prior to submitting the application,
4. a declaration as to whether insolvency proceedings have been opened against your assets and no discharge of residual debt has yet been granted or whether you are entered in the debtor register, as well as the documents required to prove the necessary specialist knowledge.

You can be sworn in as an interpreter or sign language interpreter or authorized as a translator if you:

• are a national of a member state of the European Union or a state party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area or Switzerland or if you have your professional establishment or place of residence in one of these states,
• are of legal age,
• are suitable,
• live in orderly economic circumstances,
• are reliable and
• have the necessary specialist knowledge of German and the language to be sworn or authorized.

You have the required specialist knowledge if you have a basic knowledge of German legal terminology and have passed one of the following examinations:

• as an interpreter
  • in Germany, the interpreter examination of a state or state-recognized examination office or another state or state-recognized examination for the interpreting profession
  • abroad, an examination which has been recognized by a competent German authority as equivalent to an examination as described above;
• as a translator
  • in Germany, an examination for translators from a state or state-recognized examination office or another state or state-recognized examination for the translation profession, or
  • abroad, an examination which has been recognized by a competent German authority as equivalent to an examination as described above.

The basic knowledge of German legal terminology can also be demonstrated by examinations in accordance with the above-mentioned provisions.

Costs are charged for the swearing-in of interpreters and the authorization of translators in accordance with the Brandenburg Judicial Costs Act (JKGBbg) as amended.

The general swearing-in or authorization takes place upon written application. The application must be addressed to the competent President of the Regional Court; jurisdiction is based on the district in which you have your place of residence or, in the absence of such, your professional establishment. If you have no place of residence or professional establishment within the state of Brandenburg, the President of the Potsdam Regional Court is responsible. If you move your place of residence or professional establishment within the state of Brandenburg, the President of the Regional Court who administered the general oath or authorization remains responsible. You can find the regional court with local jurisdiction using the directory of places and courts on the federal and state justice portal(www.justiz.de).

The competent president of the regional court will confirm receipt of the documents submitted by you within one month of receipt of the application and, if necessary, ask you to submit further documents. If there is any doubt as to the authenticity of the certificates or evidence submitted, or if the competent President of the Regional Court requires further information, he or she may check the authenticity by contacting the competent authority in the country of origin or obtain the relevant information.

Minutes shall be taken of the general swearing-in of interpreters and the authorization of translators; the interpreters and translators shall be issued with a certificate.

The competent President of the Regional Court will confirm receipt of the documents submitted by you within one month of receipt of the application and, if necessary, ask you to submit further documents.

The general swearing-in or authorization ends after five years. You can have the oath extended for a further five years if you continue to meet the requirements.

The application for renewal must be accompanied by

• a current curriculum vitae,
• a certificate of good conduct in accordance with Section 30 (5) of the Federal Central Criminal Register Act, which must not have been issued more than six months previously and
• a declaration stating whether you have been convicted of a criminal offense or detention order in the five years prior to submitting the application,

enclose the following.

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).

• Swearing-in, authorization and/or public appointment as an interpreter in the case of professional qualifications from abroad Issue
• Work as an interpreter or sign language interpreter can only be carried out after general swearing-in. Work as a translator can only be carried out after authorization.
• The president of the regional court in whose district the applicant resides is responsible for the general swearing-in or authorization. If the applicant does not reside in Brandenburg, the President of the Potsdam Regional Court is responsible for the general swearing-in or authorization.
• Certain requirements must be met.
• A written application (informal) must be submitted.
• Fees apply.

Regional court