Understanding the difference between sworn translation and translation with a Certificate of Translation Accuracy

BBL Translation, Sworn translation


When it comes to translation, precision and legitimacy are crucial, especially in legal and official contexts. Two terms that are often confused are sworn translation and translation with a Certificate of Translation Accuracy. In this post, we’ll break down the differences between the two in order to offer better understanding.

What is a sworn translation?

A sworn translation is a translation performed by translators who have been certified by the government or a competent authority in the country of origin or destination of the document. This type of translation is legally recognised and is used for official documents, such as birth certificates, academic diplomas, and legal documents, among others. The sworn translator is able to ensure the accuracy and authenticity of the translation with an official stamp and signature.

What does translation with a Certificate of Translation Accuracy mean?

On the other hand, a translation with a Certificate of Translation Accuracy means that the translation agency is the entity that ensures the accuracy of the work being carried out. Although it doesn’t have the official certification of a sworn translator, this option is still a valid alternative for those documents that don’t require an officially recognised translation. It’s important to highlight that a Certificate of Translation Accuracy offers a level of quality and accuracy, but doesn’t have the legal backing of a sworn translation.

Where do these differences apply?

It’s vital to point out that in some countries, such as the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and the United States, the is no sworn translator. In these jurisdictions, documents are usually translated and certified by translation agencies that ensure the quality and precision of the work without the need for specific certification from the translator.

However, in countries such as Italy and Spain, there is indeed the position of the sworn translator. Although the process of sworn translation can vary between these countries, the main function of the sworn translator is to guarantee that the translation of legal and official documents is authentic and accurate.

At our translation agency, we have sworn translators in several countries, thus ensuring the availability of sworn translation services in various jurisdictions.

Conclusion

In summary, when choosing between sworn translation and translation with a Certificate of Translation Accuracy, it’s essential to understand the differences and specific needs of each document. While sworn translation is a must in countries where sworn translation is legally established, a Certificate of Translation Accuracy offers a viable option in jurisdictions where there is no official certification of sworn translators. Ultimately, the choice will depend on the purpose and legal validity required for the document in question.

We hope this clarification will help our clients to make informed decisions when selecting the type of translation that best suits their needs. If you have further questions or need assistance, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our team of translation experts. We’re here to help you every step of the way.

Thank you for reading this post! Do not hesitate to contact us for any clarification or query.

Our values

Your success is ours

Fast and confidential

Specialised native speakers

Zero-mistake guarantee

"A translation is the price you have to pay to turn an opportunity into success."

Client inquiries

Spain: +34 93 187 6994

Italy: +39 06 983 52558

United Kingdom: +44 208 180 1993

feedback form

Important warning: we recommend that you carefully read the contents of this legal text prior to providing any personal data through the website of Bibielle Global Translations, SL, owner of and responsible for the correct application of the Privacy Policy.
In accordance with the regulations applicable to the protection of personal data, and the new provisions contained in the General Data Protection Regulation (hereinafter GDPR), directly applicable from 25 May 2018, Bibielle Global Translations, SL informs you of the following:
i. Contact details of the Data Controller: Bibielle Global Translations, SL (hereinafter BBL), with Tax Identification No. B65336885, registered office at Calle Cartagena 241, Barcelona, 08025, Spain, and contact e-mail legal@bbltranslation.eu.

ii. Purposes: Data collected through the contact e-mail address, or service quotation request form, will be incorporated into files owned by BBL with the purpose of handling, managing and responding to your request or contact. The data provided will not be used for purposes other than those for which it was collected.

iii. In addition, and on a voluntary basis, you may provide your consent (by ticking the corresponding box or registration) to us sending commercial communications, by any route and/or electronic means, and keeping you informed about the services which, being similar to the current ones, may interest you, and which BBL offers to its Clients and users under more advantageous conditions, and to carry out market or customer satisfaction surveys.

iv. Retention: The data will be retained for the time necessary to achieve the purposes for which it was collected, in order to respond to the subject of your request or contact, and while there continues to be a mutual interest. It will be deleted when it is no longer necessary for such purposes, the commercial or contractual relationship ends, unless its retention is required by law.

If you provide your consent to the sending of commercial communications, personal data will be processed actively while you have the status of User, or until you withdraw your consent.

v. Data communication: In no event will your data be transferred or communicated to a third party, unless required by law; nor will it be transferred internationally, except with the unequivocal consent of the data subject, and prior information about the possible recipients, purpose and, where appropriate, country of destination.

vi. Duty of secrecy: BBL complies strictly with the duty of secrecy and confidentiality of personal data, and for this reason has implemented technical, organisational and security measures to prevent its unauthorised alteration, loss, processing and/or access, taking account of the state of the art, the nature of the stored data and the risks to which they are exposed, all of this as established by Spanish and European legislation on the Protection of Personal Data.

vii. Rights of the data subject:

a. To exercise the rights of access, rectification, erasure and objection, limitation of treatment, data portability and not being the subject of automated individual decisions, by writing to Bibielle Global Translations, SL, Calle Cartagena 241, Barcelona, 08025 Spain or at legal@bbltranslation.eu indicating the subject of your request, and attaching a [copy of your] national identity card or passport.
b. To complain to the Supervisory Authority: if a user considers that their data is not being used properly, and this matter is not addressed by BBL, they may submit a complaint to the relevant data protection authority, which in Spain is the Agencia Española de Protección de Datos.

Important warning: we recommend that you carefully read the contents of this legal text prior to providing any personal data through the website of Bibielle Global Translations, SL, owner of and responsible for the correct application of the Privacy Policy.
In accordance with the regulations applicable to the protection of personal data, and the new provisions contained in the General Data Protection Regulation (hereinafter GDPR), directly applicable from 25 May 2018, Bibielle Global Translations, SL informs you of the following:
i. Contact details of the Data Controller: Bibielle Global Translations, SL (hereinafter BBL), with Tax Identification No. B65336885, registered office at Calle Cartagena 241, Barcelona, 08025 Spain, and contact e-mail legal@bbltranslation.eu.

ii. Purposes: Data collected through the contact e-mail address, or service quotation request form, will be incorporated into files owned by BBL with the purpose of handling, managing and responding to your request or contact. The data provided will not be used for purposes other than those for which it was collected.

iii. In addition, and on a voluntary basis, you may provide your consent (by ticking the corresponding box or registration) to us sending commercial communications, by any route and/or electronic means, and keeping you informed about the services which, being similar to the current ones, may interest you, and which BBL offers to its Clients and users under more advantageous conditions, and to carry out market or customer satisfaction surveys.

iv. Retention: The data will be retained for the time necessary to achieve the purposes for which it was collected, in order to respond to the subject of your request or contact, and while there continues to be a mutual interest. It will be deleted when it is no longer necessary for such purposes, the commercial or contractual relationship ends, unless its retention is required by law.

If you provide your consent to the sending of commercial communications, personal data will be processed actively while you have the status of User, or until you withdraw your consent.

v. Data communication: In no event will your data be transferred or communicated to a third party, unless required by law; nor will it be transferred internationally, except with the unequivocal consent of the data subject, and prior information about the possible recipients, purpose and, where appropriate, country of destination.

vi. Duty of secrecy: BBL complies strictly with the duty of secrecy and confidentiality of personal data, and for this reason has implemented technical, organisational and security measures to prevent its unauthorised alteration, loss, processing and/or access, taking account of the state of the art, the nature of the stored data and the risks to which they are exposed, all of this as established by Spanish and European legislation on the Protection of Personal Data.

vii. Rights of the data subject:

a. To exercise the rights of access, rectification, erasure and objection, limitation of treatment, data portability and not being the subject of automated individual decisions, by writing to Bibielle Global Translations, SL, Calle Cartagena 241, Barcelona, 08025 Spain or at legal@bbltranslation.eu indicating the subject of your request, and attaching a [copy of your] national identity card or passport.
b. To complain to the Supervisory Authority: if a user considers that their data is not being used properly, and this matter is not addressed by BBL, they may submit a complaint to the relevant data protection authority, which in Spain is the Agencia Española de Protección de Datos.

viii. If you receive commercial communications by electronic means, in accordance with the Spanish Law of Information Society and Electronic Commerce Services (LSSICE), you may withdraw your consent, unsubscribe or modify your data using the same channel, through the e-mail address legal@bbltranslation.eu, which will be specified in each communication.