Is a certified translation accepted for a visa?

Often, yes, but it depends on the consulate. The German Embassy in Tunis, for example, accepts translations by non-sworn translators for visa applications. Always check the instructions of the consulate concerned.

How long does a certified translation take?

For a standard official document (birth certificate, diploma, attestation), usually one to two working days. Large or urgent files are quoted case by case.

Do I need to provide the original?

A legible copy (a scan or a sharp photo) is enough for us to translate. The receiving institution may, however, ask to see the original together with the translation.

Sworn vs Certified Translation in Tunisia: Which One Do You Need?

Two different things

In Tunisia, a sworn translator (traducteur assermenté) is a professional appointed and sworn before the courts, whose name appears on lists published by the Ministry of Justice. Their signature and stamp carry legal responsibility before Tunisian authorities.

A certified translation is produced by a professional translator who dates, signs and stamps it, with a statement that it is a faithful rendering of the original. It is the format requested by many embassies, foreign universities, companies and international organisations.

When is a sworn translation required?

As a rule, documents filed with Tunisian courts and many Tunisian administrations must be translated by a sworn translator. Some foreign authorities (civil registries, professional bodies, diploma recognition offices) also require a sworn translation, sometimes by a translator sworn in their own country.

When is a certified translation enough?

For many visa applications, a professional translation by a non-sworn translator is accepted. The German Embassy in Tunis, for example, states on its website that documents supporting a visa application may be translated by local non-sworn translators, and that applicants are free to choose their translator.

The same applies to most business and organisational needs: contracts, reports, tenders, training materials and correspondence.

The right approach: ask before you translate

Requirements vary between institutions and change over time. Before ordering a translation, check with the receiving institution:

whether a sworn translator is required, and in which country;
whether they want the original translated or a certified copy;
whether the translation must then be legalised or apostilled;
whether they impose a specific presentation (for example, names spelled exactly as in the passport).

How ATS works

ATS provides certified translations, not sworn translations. Just tell us where the document will be submitted: if a sworn translation is required, we tell you before starting, so you never pay for a translation that would be refused. Our certified translations carry the translator's stamp, signature and statement, and proper names follow the spelling in your passport.

Sworn or certified translation in Tunisia: which one do you need?