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Sworn translation · RBTV-registered

Sworn Germantranslation

Official, legally valid Dutch ↔ German translations by RBTV-registered sworn translators. With an acceptance guarantee and, combined with an apostille, usable in 129 convention countries.

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German Translations

Sworn Dutch - German translations by RBTV-registered translators.

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What is a sworn German translation?

A sworn German translation is an official translation between Dutch and German made by a translator who has been sworn in by a Dutch court and listed in the Register of Sworn Interpreters and Translators (Rbtv). The translator binds a signed statement, an official stamp and a signature to a copy of your document, which is what lets Dutch authorities such as the IND, your municipality, the courts and universities treat it as the official version.

Source: Bureau Wbtv · Last updated:

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

In the Netherlands the two terms describe the same thing. A certified translation here means a sworn translation: one produced by a court-sworn, Rbtv-registered translator who attaches a signed statement and an official stamp. In some other countries a certified translation can be a simple signed declaration without that legal standing, so when a Dutch authority asks for a certified translation it means the sworn version.

If you are sending a document abroad, check with the receiving authority whether they need the sworn translation legalised with an apostille as well.

Source: Bureau Wbtv · Last updated:

How much does a sworn German translation cost?

A sworn German translation costs from €77 for the first page, with each following page at €75. That base price covers the translation, the sworn statement, the official stamp and our acceptance guarantee. A digital copy (PDF by e-mail) is an optional add-on for €9.95, and registered shipping within the Netherlands is €9.95, free from €299. Standard delivery is 5 to 7 working days, with express available as an option.

Source: Sworn Translation Online pricing 2026 · Last updated:

Sworn German translations — where and why they are used

German is the second most requested language for sworn translations from the Netherlands, after English. The demand clusters around three areas: Germany itself (especially North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony because of cross-border trade), Austria, and the German-speaking cantons of Switzerland such as Zürich, Bern and Basel. All three countries are part of the Hague Apostille Convention (1961), so the combination of a Dutch original, an apostille and a sworn German translation is accepted throughout the region.

German differs from Dutch in ways a translator has to handle with care: the formal and informal address (Sie against du), the dense genitive constructions of notarial and commercial texts, and legal terms that have no one-to-one equivalent. "Vertrag" is not the same as "Vertragsverhältnis", and "Vollmacht" splits into "Generalvollmacht" and "Spezialvollmacht". A sworn German translator with a legal background is what stands between acceptance and rejection here.

Austrian authorities sometimes add a step. The apostille route is formally enough, but a number of Austrian district courts (Bezirksgerichte) still ask in practice for an extra notarial confirmation (Beglaubigung) by a Dutch notary. That is local acceptance policy rather than law, so if your document is bound for Austria it is worth checking the requirement with the receiving body in advance. We are happy to arrange the notarial step when it is needed.

Common use cases

  • German university — recognition (Anerkennung) of a Dutch diploma and transcript
  • Residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel) application with the Bundesamt für Migration
  • Austrian Stadtgemeinde — marriage with a Dutch birth certificate
  • Swiss cantonal administration — permit and residence registration
  • German commercial register (Handelsregister) entry — KvK extract

Frequently asked questions: German translation

What is a sworn German translation?
It is an official translation between Dutch and German made by a translator who has taken the oath before a Dutch court and is entered in the Register of Sworn Interpreters and Translators (Rbtv). It carries the translator's signed statement and official stamp, which is why Dutch authorities accept it as the official version of your document.
Who can make a certified Dutch–German translation?
Only a translator sworn before a Dutch court and listed in the Rbtv for the Dutch–German pair, a register kept by Bureau Wbtv. Certified is the everyday English word for the same document. We work with Rbtv-registered German translators, so the translation meets the requirement of the authority that asked for it.
How much does a sworn Dutch–German translation cost?
It is €77 for the first page and €75 per following page. That price covers the translation, the sworn statement, the official stamp and the acceptance guarantee. A digital copy (€9.95), registered shipping (€9.95, free from €299, Netherlands only) and an apostille (€99 per document) are optional add-ons you can choose in the order form.
How long does a sworn German translation take?
Standard delivery is 5–7 working days at no extra charge. If you are in a hurry, express delivery (2–3 working days) is available for an added 50%, with a €55 minimum. Same-day delivery applies only to Dutch ↔ English and French, so it is not offered for German. You see the delivery time before you confirm.
Do I need a sworn translation for the IND?
The IND requires foreign-language documents in a residence or naturalisation application to be translated by a sworn (Rbtv) translator into Dutch, English, French or German. A sworn translation meets that requirement. German is one of the accepted target languages, so a German translation can be submitted directly, backed by our acceptance guarantee.
Do I also need an apostille for Germany?
Both the Netherlands and Germany are party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so an apostille is the usual way to confirm a document's authenticity between the two countries. Whether you need one, and whether it belongs on the original or the translation, depends on the receiving authority. We can add the apostille for €99 per document.
Do I need to send the original document?
In most cases a clear scan or photo is enough, because the sworn translator binds the translation to that copy. Some authorities insist on a translation bound to the physical original, which is the exception. If that applies to your document, we tell you before you order, so you know where you stand.

Behind the scenes: how we choose your German translator

Every request goes to a sworn German translator from the RBTV register. That page shows who does the work and how to order directly.