Procedure descriptions
Interpreters, translators with place of residence or business in Baden-Württemberg
Is your place of residence or business in Baden-Württemberg and are you aiming to get general certification as a sworn liaison interpreter or to be publicly appointed and sworn in as a translator there? Then you have to file an application for the administration of the oath.
Note: If you have already got general certification as a sworn interpreter in another German Federal State, you can refer to this general certification before all Federal and State courts.
Interpreters and translators from other states
For liaison interpreters and document translators from other member states of the European Union (EU) or from other states party to the agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA States) or Switzerland, who want to work permanently in Baden-Württemberg, the same requirements apply as for German nationals.
Third-country nationals can also set up business as interpreters and translators in Baden-Württemberg if the need arises and they meet the requirements.
As an interpreter and translator from another EU/EEA state, you can also only provide services in Germany temporarily and occasionally. You will find further information on this subject in the procedure description "Interpreters, translators from other EU/EEA states – Activity in the case of a temporary provision of services".
Is your place of residence or business in another German Federal State or abroad and do you want to get general certification as a sworn interpreter/translator in Baden-Württemberg? You will find more information on this in the procedure description "Interpreters, translators with place of residence or business in other states – General certification as a sworn interpreter/translator".
Responsible department
the president of the regional court, in whose district you have your place of residence or business
Details
Prerequisite
- personal reliability
- legal capacity
- professional suitability
The professional suitability is generally presumed if you have passed the state examinations for interpreters or translators or equivalent examinations. - interpreters and translators from other EU/EEA states, who want to carry out the work only temporarily: in addition they have to have set up business as a liaison interpreter or a document translator in another EU/EEA state
- interpreters and translators from states, which do not belong to the EU/EEA or Switzerland: in addition a residence permit to pursue self-employment
Note: Interpreters and Translators from other EU/EEA states or Switzerland can ask the examining office for translators and interpreters at the Regional Council (Regierungspräsidium) in Karlsruhe to confirm the equivalence of an examination certificate (Gleichwertigkeit eines Prüfungsnachweises).
Procedure
You have to submit the application to get general certification as a sworn liaison interpreter or document translator to the responsible authority.
The application form is available as a download under “Forms & Online Services”.
The responsible authority will check if your application is complete. If necessary, any missing documents will be requested subsequently. If your application is accepted, you will get general certification as a sworn liaison interpreter and/or be appointed publicly and sworn in as document translator. If your application is rejected, you will receive a notice of rejection.
After you have been sworn in, your data (unless you have vetoed the publication of your data) will be included in the nationwide database of interpreters and translators Dolmetscher- und Übersetzerdatenbank (DÜD).
Required documents
- proof of a state examination or equivalent examination as an interpreter or translator
- curriculum vitae in table form
- declaration stating your nationality
- if you are not an EU/EEA national or a Swiss national: confirmation that you have a residence permit to pursue self-employment
- declaration about your financial circumstances, in which you affirm that your financial circumstances are in good order
- declaration that preliminary proceedings are not pending
If preliminary proceedings are pending, you will have to make a detailed statement. - declaration of consent for publication of your data in the nationwide interpreter and translator database on the Internet
If you do not agree that all or part of your data be published on the Internet, you can make a corresponding statement when filing your application.
Costs
- general certification as a sworn liaison interpreter: 50 euros
- appointment and swearing in as a document translator: 75 euros
- general certification as a sworn liaison interpreter, and appointment and swearing in as a document translator in a combined process: 100 euros
- determination of the equivalence of an examination: 200 euros
Processing time
Your application will be processed within three months as soon as you have submitted all documents in full.
Legal basis
- § 189 Gerichtsverfassungsgesetz (GVG)
- § 142 Abs. 3 Zivilprozessordnung (ZPO) (Anordnung der Urkundenvorlegung)
- §§ 14 und 15b Gesetz zur Ausführung des Gerichtsverfassungsgesetzes und von Verfahrensgesetzen der ordentlichen Gerichtsbarkeit (AGGVG) (Dolmetscher und Übersetzer)
- Anlage zu § 1 Abs. 2 Landesjustizkostengesetz (LJKG) (Gebührenverzeichnis)
- Nr. 14.4 Anlage zur Gebührenverordnung Kultusministerium (GebVO KM) (Gebührenverzeichnis)
Release note
The German original version of this text was drafted in close cooperation with the relevant departments. The Justizministerium released it on 18.07.2024. Only the German text is legally binding. The Federal State does not assume any liability for the translated texts.
In cases of doubt or if you have any questions or problems, please contact the relevant authorities directly.
In cases of doubt or if you have any questions or problems, please contact the relevant authorities directly.