Sworn translation of a criminal record certificate: steps, apostille and turnaround

A criminal record certificate is one of the documents most often requested for residence, a work permit, a visa or citizenship in another country. If it is in another language, the receiving authority usually requires a sworn translation.

What kind of translation you need

Immigration offices, consulates, ministries and employers usually ask for a sworn translation: signed and stamped by an authorised translator, who certifies that it is faithful to the original. We work with an international network of sworn translators and assign each certificate to the right professional for the language and the country where you will present it.

Step by step

1. Request a recent certificate. Many authorities only accept certificates issued within the last three or six months. Check this before you start.
2. Check whether it needs an apostille. If the destination country is party to the Hague Convention, the certificate is usually apostilled in the country that issued it, before it is translated.
3. Send us the complete certificate. If it is digital, send us the original PDF with the verification code or QR code visible. If it is on paper, a scanned copy of every page and of the apostille.
4. Tell us the destination country and authority. This lets us choose the right sworn translator and a format that will be accepted.
5. Receive the signed and stamped translation, on paper or in electronic format, depending on what the authority accepts.

Validity: the detail that causes most problems

The validity period usually runs from the date the certificate was issued, not from the date of the translation. If your application has a deadline, request the certificate, the apostille and the translation as close together as possible. If time is running short, we offer an urgent service.

How long it takes and how much it costs

A criminal record certificate is a short document, so we usually deliver it within a few days, and sooner with our urgent service. The price depends on the language pair: send us the document and we will prepare a free, no-obligation quote.

Common mistakes

• Translating a certificate that expires before you submit it.
• Forgetting the apostille, or adding it after the translation.
• Sending a screenshot instead of the original PDF of a digital certificate.
• Spelling your name differently from your passport: tell us the correct spelling.

Need your criminal record certificate translated? Email us at info@ddminternational.eu or use our contact page. Learn more about our sworn translation service.

More sworn translation guides

• Urgent document translation: how it works and what turnaround is realistic
• Sworn translation of less common languages
• Digital sworn translation with an electronic signature: when is it accepted?
• How to translate a birth certificate to use abroad
• What is the Hague apostille and when do you need it with a sworn translation?
• Sworn translation of degrees and academic transcripts
• Sworn, official and certified translation: what is the difference?