Certified vs sworn translation: the difference explained

In the Netherlands, a certified translation and a sworn translation mean the same thing in everyday practice: a translation that an Rbtv-registered sworn translator signs, stamps and certifies as accurate. Abroad the two words can mean different things, so a document called "certified" elsewhere may not count as sworn here.

Quick answer

Four terms get mixed up most often. Here is what each one means in the Netherlands.

| Type | What it is | Legal status in NL | When it is used | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Sworn translation | A translation signed, stamped and certified by an Rbtv-registered sworn translator | Officially recognised | Documents for the IND, courts, municipalities, universities | | Certified translation | In the Netherlands, the same as a sworn translation; the words are used interchangeably | Officially recognised | Same situations as a sworn translation | | Notarised translation | A translation where a notary confirms the translator's signature or identity, not the content | Recognised, but the notary says nothing about accuracy | Occasionally requested abroad; rarely needed for Dutch bodies | | Plain / standard translation | A translation with no certification or stamp | No official status | Internal use, drafts, understanding a text |

So in the Netherlands, "I need a certified translation" and "I need a sworn translation" describe the same order.

Why the terms overlap in the Netherlands

The overlap comes from how the system is set up. The Wet beëdigde tolken en vertalers (Wbtv) governs who may produce an official translation. Under that law a translator takes an oath before a district court and is then entered in the Rbtv (Register of Sworn Interpreters and Translators), which Bureau Wbtv keeps.

Once a translator is in that register, the translation they sign and stamp is the recognised, official version. There is no separate "certified" category sitting next to "sworn". When a Dutch agency, a notary or a translation company says "certified translation", they mean this same sworn translation. The real choice is between a sworn translation and a plain one, not between three or four grades.

For the full background on how the oath, the register and the stamp fit together, see our guide to sworn translation in the Netherlands.

How this differs in other countries

If you come from another country, you may have met the word "certified" used quite differently.

Some countries run a sworn-translator system close to the Dutch one. A court or ministry appoints the translators, and only their work is accepted by the state. France, Spain and Poland work roughly this way.

Other countries have no register at all. There, "certified translation" usually means a translation agency attached a signed statement that the work is accurate. Anyone can issue that statement, and no government appointment sits behind it. The United States and the United Kingdom mostly follow this model.

That gap matters in two directions. A translation labelled "certified" in your home country may not be accepted as sworn when you submit it in the Netherlands. And a Dutch sworn translation sent abroad sometimes needs an extra step, an apostille, before a foreign authority will accept it under the Hague Apostille Convention (1961). Our guide to the apostille in the Netherlands explains when you need one.

Which one do Dutch authorities accept?

For official use in the Netherlands, the answer is consistent: an Rbtv-sworn translation. The IND (Immigration and Naturalisation Service) asks for it on residence and naturalisation files. Municipalities ask for it when you register a foreign birth, marriage or divorce certificate. Courts, under De Rechtspraak, expect it for documents filed in proceedings. Netherlands Worldwide (Nederland Wereldwijd) applies the same standard for documents handled through Dutch missions abroad.

This is where our acceptance guarantee comes in. We work only with sworn translators listed in the register, so every translation we deliver is the version these bodies recognise. If an authority asks for a change to the translation, we amend it free of charge. The exact terms are on our acceptance guarantee page.

A few practical points on cost and timing:

• A sworn translation starts at €39 between Dutch and English or French (first page), and €59 for other language pairs. Each additional page is €75.
• The base price covers the translation, the sworn translator's certification, the official stamp and our acceptance guarantee. It does not include delivery or a digital copy.
• Registered shipping within the Netherlands is €9.95 (free from €299). A digital copy (PDF by email) is an optional add-on of €9.95.
• An apostille, if a foreign authority needs one, is €99 per document, optional and all-in (court fee and court application included).
• Standard turnaround is 5-7 working days. Faster delivery is available as a paid option: express (+50%, minimum €55) or same-day (+100%, minimum €75, for Dutch↔English/French orders placed before 12:00).

To see which documents we handle most often, or to start from a specific type, browse our translation services or the wider knowledge base for related guides.

Frequently asked questions

Is a sworn translator the same as a certified translator?

In the Netherlands, yes. The only translator who can produce a legally recognised certified translation is a sworn translator listed in the Rbtv (Register of Sworn Interpreters and Translators), so the two labels describe the same person. In some other countries a translator can call work "certified" without any government register behind it, which is why the meaning shifts once you cross a border.

What is the difference between a certified and a notarised translation?

A certified (sworn) translation is signed and stamped by the sworn translator, who vouches for the accuracy of the text. A notarised translation adds a notary who confirms the translator's identity or signature, not the quality of the work. Dutch authorities such as the IND usually ask for a sworn translation, and a notary's stamp is rarely required on top.

Which translation do Dutch authorities accept?

Dutch authorities, including the IND and municipalities, accept a sworn translation produced by an Rbtv-registered translator. We work only with sworn translators, and our acceptance guarantee means that if an authority asks for a change, we amend the translation free of charge. A sworn translation from Dutch to English or French starts at €39 for the first page; €59 for other language pairs, with each extra page at €75.

Does the term differ in other countries?

Yes. Some countries have an official sworn-translator system similar to the Dutch Rbtv. Others let any agency or translator label a translation "certified" with no register behind it. If you are sending a Dutch document abroad, or a foreign document arrived as "certified", check what the receiving authority actually requires before you assume the two are equivalent.

Do I need a sworn translation or a standard translation?

If a government body, court or university asks for an official translation, you need a sworn translation; a standard translation has no legal standing. For internal use, such as understanding a contract or sharing a document with colleagues, a standard translation is fine and cheaper. When in doubt, ask the authority that will receive the document, or contact us and we will tell you which one applies.