Documents & authorities

Document translation tailored to the purpose and recipient

Power of attorney, apostille, civil-status document or certificate: check which details and format are relevant to your enquiry.

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Document folder and framed certificate in a quiet workspace

Main focus

Powers of attorney and apostilles are handled as separate search and enquiry cases.

Many customers do not know whether they need only a translation, a , a or a combination. That is why the enquiry is assessed by document type, destination country, recipient and deadline, rather than using standard prices.

A light-coloured certificate neatly placed in a black document folder

law

Power of attorney

Powers of attorney are often required for authorities, notaries, international matters, family matters or business representation.

For powers of attorney, the exact names, powers, period of validity and purpose matter, as does whether a certified translation or an additional apostille is required.

notarial power of attorneyPower of attorney for use abroadAuthority to act on another’s behalfLasting power of attorney

Upload the power of attorney and state the destination country and recipient.

Have a power of attorney translated Open WhatsApp

Neatly arranged documents beside a black stamp

authority

Apostille / legalisation

Apostilles confirm the authenticity of public documents for use in other countries.

Apostilles and translations are often requested together, but they are not the same. The document involved and the body expected to accept it must therefore be checked.

Apostille on a birth certificateApostille on a power of attorneyLegalisationAdditional authentication

Photograph the document with the apostille and state the country where it will be used.

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Detail of a light-coloured certificate in a dark document folder

civil status

Birth certificate

Birth certificates are often required for a Standesamt, Ausländerbehörde, family matters, school or international procedures.

Names, place of birth, register details, stamps and spellings must be rendered in a way that authorities can understand.

international birth certificateExtract from the birth registermultilingual document

Photograph the entire document, including the reverse and any stamps.

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Tabular documents with markings ready for review

education

Certificate / diploma

School reports, certificates, diplomas and transcripts may be required for school, university, recognition procedures, applications or employers.

Educational documents contain grading systems, subjects, titles and institutions that must be accurately interpreted in their specialist context.

school reportAbiturBachelor’s degree certificateMaster’s degree certificateTranscript of grades

Submit all pages and attachments so that the scope and purpose can be assessed.

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Purposes & administrative procedures

When the receiving body determines the process

A Standesamt and a nationality authority have different requirements. The appropriate translation and interpreting routes help you prepare documents for the specific purpose.

Standesamt

Prepare documents and interpreting appointments

Distinguish correctly between a translation, certified copy, apostille and interpreting appointment.

Naturalisation

Assess documents for submission to an authority

Clarify typical evidence, certified translation requirements and name spellings in advance.

Not every document requires the same treatment.

Some documents require a certified translation, while for others a or the requirements of the receiving body must first be clarified.

Marriage certificate

Marriage certificates and civil-status documents are commonly required for a Standesamt, visa, change of name or international procedure.

State the receiving authority and required target language.

Relevant service for a marriage certificate Open WhatsApp

Court and public-authority documents

Court and public-authority documents require precise language, a clear structure and discreet handling.

State the deadline, authority and relevant file reference, if available.

Relevant service for court and authority documents Open WhatsApp

Contract

Contracts are translated for companies, law firms, notaries, international partners and private legal transactions.

Briefly describe the subject area, destination country and intended use.

Relevant service for a contract Open WhatsApp

Medical document

Medical documents may be required for doctors, insurers, expert reports, transfers between clinics or international procedures.

Upload only the relevant pages and state the purpose of the translation.

Relevant service for a medical document Open WhatsApp

Foreign driving licence conversion

When a foreign driving licence is converted, the driving licence authority may require a translation in individual cases, particularly if the licence was not issued in German or English.

Photograph both sides of the driving licence and state the country of issue.

Relevant service for foreign driving licence conversion Open WhatsApp

Two details that help avoid unnecessary follow-up questions.

Good translations begin before the first sentence: with the correct spelling and the right procedure for the receiving body.

Why must the spelling of names be clarified before translation?

Names written in Cyrillic or Arabic script may have several Latin-script spellings. A standards-compliant transliteration may differ from the spelling in the passport. For official procedures, it should therefore be established in advance which form must be used and whether all documents show the same spelling.

A photo of the relevant passport or identity document page is helpful for the enquiry. This allows names, places of birth and other proper names to be checked consistently against the existing documents.

Differences should not be corrected without comment. ABBA-Sprachendienste will clarify with you which spelling should be documented transparently for the intended recipient.

Is an apostille the same as a certified translation?

No. For a public document, an apostille confirms the authenticity of the signature, the capacity of the signatory and, where applicable, the seal. It does not translate the content. Whether an apostille, legalisation, translation or a combination is required depends on the country of issue and the receiving body.

The Federal Foreign Office states that translations are regarded as expert services. The apostille or legalisation procedure therefore does not automatically apply to the translation itself.

If possible, first ask the body to which the document will be submitted. ABBA-Sprachendienste can then assess the document, language combination and intended use.

Federal Foreign Office: International document procedures

Which translations are required for naturalisation?

For naturalisation procedures, foreign civil-status documents are generally required in the original together with a certified German translation, and sometimes also an apostille or legalisation. Translations by court-authorised or publicly appointed and sworn translators are accepted.

The German Nationality Act (StAG) requires, among other things, lawful habitual residence, established identity and nationality, and sufficient language skills. The competent naturalisation authority determines which documents must be submitted in each individual case.

ABBA-Sprachendienste assesses which documents are available, the languages in which they were issued and whether an apostille or legalisation is also required. The authority makes the final decision on the scope and format.

BAMF: Naturalisation in Germany

Do I need a translation to convert my foreign driving licence?

The competent driving licence authority decides in each individual case whether a foreign driving licence must be translated. A translation is often required if the licence was not issued in German or English.

Under § 31 of the Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung (FeV), holders of a foreign driving licence must provide evidence that they hold the licence, among other requirements. Whether an additional theory test or practical driving test is required depends on the country of issue.

For an initial enquiry, photos of the front and back of the driving licence and the country of issue are helpful. ABBA-Sprachendienste then assesses whether a translation would be appropriate and in what format – the driving licence authority makes the binding decision.

§ 31 FeV – Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung (gesetze-im-internet.de)

Is an interpreter required at the Standesamt if someone does not speak German?

Yes. If a person participating in the marriage ceremony does not understand German sufficiently, an interpreter must be brought in unless the registrar speaks the foreign language.

This is governed by § 2 of the Personenstandsverordnung (PStV). The interpreter assures the Standesamt that the interpretation will be conscientious and faithful; interpreters who have already taken a general oath may refer to their existing sworn status.

The date, location and language combination should be coordinated with the competent Standesamt and ABBA-Sprachendienste at an early stage, as organisational lead times vary between Standesämter.

§ 2 PStV – Personenstandsverordnung (gesetze-im-internet.de)

How to enquire

The safest approach is a brief assessment before a quote is provided.

1. Identify the document

What document is involved, and who is it intended for?

2. Clarify the language and purpose

, , state the destination country, authority or client.

3. Receive a quote

ABBA-Sprachendienste reviews the scope and certification requirements and provides a realistic turnaround estimate.

Prepare your document now

Send particularly sensitive documents only after consultation, using the designated secure transfer channel.

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