What Is a Sworn Translation and Who Can Produce One?
Who Is a Sworn Translator?
A sworn translator is one who has taken an oath before a Turkish notary for a specific language. The notary examines their degree and language qualifications, then places their identity and signature specimen on record. From that point on, the translator may stamp and sign translations in that language.
The stamp is not decoration: it creates legal responsibility for the translation being faithful to the original. The translator is answerable for anything missing or wrong.
What the Stamp Shows
The final page of a sworn translation carries:
Three Layers, One Chain
| Layer | What it adds |
|---|---|
| Sworn translation | The translator's stamp and signature |
| Notarisation | The notary verifying the translator's authority |
| Apostille | The governorate's annotation — makes the document valid abroad |
Each layer sits on top of the previous one and cannot be skipped. If an institution asks for an apostille, it is also asking for notarisation beforehand.
Where Is It Required?
Court decisions, civil registry and family documents, diplomas and transcripts, corporate powers of attorney, medical reports, bank and tax documents — in short, any document submitted to an official body.
Where Is It Not?
Marketing copy, website content, presentations and internal correspondence need no stamp. What matters there is terminology consistency and readability.