Countries · Germany
Certified translation for documents used in Germany
Enrolling a child in a German school, seeing a doctor, renting a car, or preparing a non-EU visa pack? Many everyday documents in Germany only need a certified translation with a bureau seal — not a sworn, court-approved translator. We'll tell you which one your case actually needs.
Documents translated for Germany
The most common requests are school records and certificates for enrolling a child (Schule, Kindergarten), vaccination cards and medical history for a doctor or clinic, a driving licence to rent a car (Autovermietung), and employment or insurance paperwork. We also prepare document packs for people applying for a visa to Germany from outside the EU where a sworn translation is not required by the specific application.
If you're not sure whether you need the full certificate, an extract, or an apostilled copy, send us a scan and describe the purpose first — we'll confirm what's actually needed before any payment.
Bureau seal or a sworn German translator?
German schools, private clinics, insurers and car-rental companies commonly accept a certified translation with a bureau seal for everyday paperwork — this is where PRAVIS fits, with a faster and more affordable process than a court-sworn translation.
Some German procedures are stricter by law. The Standesamt registering a foreign birth, marriage or divorce, the Ausländerbehörde handling residence permits, and Anerkennung offices assessing foreign diplomas or professional qualifications, typically require a beglaubigte Übersetzung produced by a translator sworn in before a German court. If your document is headed to one of these offices, we'll say so directly, rather than sell a bureau-stamped translation the office may not accept.
Send your Germany documents for a quote
Scan or photo through the form — we'll confirm whether a bureau seal is enough or a sworn translator is required, and quote the price. Wrocław office, delivery worldwide.
Send files nowApostille for documents used in Germany
Germany is a party to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention. A public document issued in another convention country — a foreign birth or marriage certificate, for instance — may need an apostille from the competent authority in the issuing country before a German office treats it as authentic. The apostille legalises the original or an official copy; it is separate from translation, and PRAVIS does not issue apostilles.
As a general rule, the apostille is obtained first, and the document — apostille certificate included — is translated afterwards. Requirements differ by document type and by the specific German authority involved, so treat this as general guidance and confirm the exact requirement with the receiving office before you submit anything.
How the process works from Wrocław
The whole process runs by mail, so location doesn't matter. Send a scan or photo of your documents with the purpose (school, medical, car rental, visa, other) and, if known, which German office will receive it. We typically reply within 5–7 minutes with a price and a clear recommendation — bureau seal or sworn translator.
Once confirmed, we translate and apply the PRAVIS bureau seal. You receive a certified digital PDF, plus courier or mail delivery if a physical stamped original is required. If you only hold paper originals, post them to our Wrocław office and we'll return them together with the finished translation.
Frequently asked questions
Is a bureau-stamped translation enough for Germany, or do I need a sworn translator?
It depends on the receiving office. Schools, clinics, insurers and car-rental firms usually accept a certified translation with our bureau seal. The Standesamt, Ausländerbehörde and Anerkennung offices generally require a court-sworn (beglaubigte) translation — we'll confirm which applies.
Can PRAVIS get an apostille for my German documents?
We can advise when an apostille is likely required and in what order to get it, but the apostille itself is issued by the competent authority in the document's country of origin, not by PRAVIS.
Does a certified translation guarantee my German visa or residence permit is approved?
No. We deliver an accurate, properly certified translation. The decision on any visa, residence permit or application always rests with the relevant German authority.
Do you need my original paper documents?
A clear scan or photo is usually enough. If the receiving office needs the translation bound to a physical original, we'll tell you where to mail it.
How fast can I get a translation for Germany?
Most requests get a price and timeline within 5–7 minutes; the translation itself depends on length and the language pair.
Do you translate German documents into other languages too?
Yes — we work both ways: into German for use in Germany, and from German documents for use elsewhere.
