Notarial translation of documents in Poland: complete guide

Notarial translation is a translation of documents that is certified by a notary. The notary confirms the authenticity of the translation and its compliance with the original by putting their seal and signature.

The main difference between notarial translation and sworn translation is the method of certification. Sworn translation is certified by the translator themselves, who has a special permit from the Ministry of Justice. Notarial translation is certified by a notary, who confirms that the translation corresponds to the original.

Notarial translation has legal force and is accepted by various state bodies, courts, notarial offices, and other official instances. It is especially important in cases when additional confirmation of the authenticity of the document is required.

Many people confuse notarial and sworn translation. Let's understand the differences:

Sworn translation is performed by a translator who has a permit from the Ministry of Justice of Poland. The translator certifies the translation themselves with their seal and signature. Such translation has legal force and is accepted by all state bodies of Poland.

Notarial translation is also performed by a translator, but is additionally certified by a notary. The notary confirms that the translation corresponds to the original and puts their seal. Notarial translation has additional legal force thanks to notarial certification.

It is important to understand: in most cases in Poland, sworn translation is sufficient. Notarial translation is required in special situations when additional confirmation of the authenticity of the document is needed or when certain bodies require it.

Notarial translation is required in various situations when additional confirmation of the authenticity of the document is needed:

When participating in court proceedings, in some cases notarial translation of documents may be required. This is especially important for important cases where maximum confidence in the authenticity of documents is required.

When working with international documents that will be used in other countries, notarial translation may be required. This provides additional confirmation of the authenticity of the translation.

When concluding important transactions, contracts, when оформлении наследства or other important legal procedures, notarial translation of documents may be required.

Notarial translation can be performed for various types of documents:

Personal documents: passports, birth certificates, marriage, death, divorce certificates, driver's licenses. For translation of such documents, contact our document translation services.

Educational documents: diplomas, certificates, academic transcripts, course completion certificates.

Legal documents: contracts, agreements, court decisions, powers of attorney, company statutes. For translation of legal documents, we have a special service.

Financial documents: bank statements, income certificates, tax documents.

Medical documents: medical certificates, medical histories, test results. For translation of medical documents, we have a special medical document translation service.

It is important to remember: notarial translation can be performed for any document that requires translation. The notary will confirm that the translation corresponds to the original.

For sworn translation of powers of attorney, see /blog/perevod-doverennosti-v-polshe. At LEGIX we provide such translations with an official seal.

The process of notarial translation consists of several stages:

First, the document is translated by a professional translator. The translator must accurately translate all data, preserving the structure and format of the document. The translation must be complete and accurate.

After the translation is ready, it is certified by a notary. The notary checks that the translation corresponds to the original and puts their seal and signature. This confirms the authenticity of the translation and its legal force.

The finished notarial translation is issued to the client. The translation contains the original document, translation, and notarial certification. All pages must be numbered and bound.

The deadlines for notarial translation depend on the volume of text and urgency. Usually, standard documents are translated within 24-48 hours, but notarial certification may add additional time.

For urgent cases, express translation with notarial certification within a few hours is possible, but the cost will be higher.

The cost of notarial translation depends on several factors: type of document, volume of text (number of pages), urgency (express translation is more expensive), cost of notarial certification, number of documents (when translating several documents, there may be a discount).

Usually, notarial translation of a passport costs from 80 to 150 zloty, diploma — from 150 to 400 zloty, contract — from 100 to 300 zloty. The exact cost depends on the specific document and the cost of notarial certification.

Many people make mistakes when preparing notarial translation, which delays the process. Here are the most common:

The most common mistake is confusion between notarial and sworn translation. Remember: in most cases in Poland, sworn translation is sufficient. Notarial translation is required only in special situations.

Often people forget to attach all necessary documents or their copies. This delays the process, as the notary needs all documents for certification.

Documents must be properly prepared: have all necessary seals, signatures, meet requirements. Incorrectly prepared documents may be rejected by the notary.

To make the process of preparing notarial translation go smoothly, follow these tips:

Clarify if you really need notarial translation. In most cases in Poland, sworn translation is sufficient. Notarial translation is required only in special situations.

Prepare all necessary documents in advance. Make sure you have originals of all documents that need to be translated.

Choose an experienced translator and notary. The translator must have experience working with documents, and the notary must be reliable and verified.

Check the translation after receiving. Make sure all data is translated correctly, there are no typos, all dates and names match the original.

Keep originals of documents and their translations in a safe place. You may need copies for other purposes in the future.