List of sworn interpreters and appointed translators Registration of interpreters and translators from other EU/EEA countries
For language transmission for judicial, official and notarial purposes, interpreters are generally sworn in and translators are authorised for the territory of the state of Lower Saxony. The work of interpreters includes the oral and written translation of a language, while that of translators generally only includes the written translation of a language.
A register is kept of the sworn interpreters and authorised translators. The directory can be viewed by the courts and authorities of Lower Saxony as well as by notaries' offices with their official seat in Lower Saxony. The directory is also published on the Internet with the information released for publication at the address www.justiz-dolmetscher.de for nationwide research.
Under certain conditions, the activity can also be carried out temporarily and occasionally in Lower Saxony by persons from other countries of establishment and an entry in the register of interpreters and translators can be made.
persons who have their place of residence and business
- in another Member State of the European Union,
- in a state party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, or
- in a state in respect of which the Member States of the European Union are obliged under treaty law to treat its nationals equally with regard to the recognition of professional qualifications (state of establishment),
and are legally established there as a sworn interpreter or as an authorised translator or a comparable activity and wish to carry out the activity in Lower Saxony temporarily and occasionally (temporary services), can be entered in the register of sworn interpreters and authorised translators for a period of one year if they meet certain requirements. In this case, they may carry out this activity for the duration of the registration in Lower Saxony with the same rights and obligations that apply to sworn interpreters and authorised translators in Lower Saxony.
Whether activities are performed temporarily and occasionally must be assessed on a case-by-case basis, in particular on the basis of the duration, frequency, regularity and continuity of the activity.
If neither the activity nor the training for this activity is regulated in the State of establishment, this applies only if the activity has been carried out in the State of establishment for at least one year during the preceding ten years.
Inclusion in the register requires that the Hanover Regional Court is notified of the commencement of temporary employment as an interpreter and/or translator in Lower Saxony. You can make this notification here.
In the directory
- Name
- Address
- Telephone
- Fax
- e-mail address,
- Occupation
- any additional qualifications,
- the respective language, and
- the date of the swearing-in and/or authorisation
affiliated. The same applies to any remuneration agreement that may have been concluded in accordance with Section 14 of the Judicial Remuneration and Compensation Act (JVEG).
The directory with the information released for publication is published on the Internet at the address www.justiz-dolmetscher.de for nationwide research.
For Lower Saxony, the entries in the directory are published on the Internet by the Hanover Regional Court and placed in the automated retrieval procedure.
Who should I contact?
The jurisdiction lies with the Hanover Regional Court.
Requirements
Temporary services must be reported before the first provision in Lower Saxony. The complaint will be filed with the Hanover Regional Court.
The procedure can also be handled by the Points of Single Contact appointed in the State of Lower Saxony.
The notification does not exempt from any restrictions under the law on foreigners to which the person making the notification may be subject when exercising a professional activity in Germany. A corresponding review is not the subject of the notification procedure.
Prerequisites for inclusion in the register are that
- you are legally obliged to transmit language orally and/or in writing for judicial, administrative and notarial purposes or to carry out a comparable activity in the country of establishment and can prove this by means of a certificate and the activity is not prohibited, even temporarily, at the time the certificate is submitted, or
- you can prove your professional aptitude by means of suitable professional qualification certificates and you have worked in the country of establishment for at least one year during the previous ten years, if the activity in the country of establishment is not regulated, i.e. no admission procedure is required.
Proof of professional qualifications must be provided
- language skills with which the person making the notification can easily understand practically everything he/she hears or reads, express himself spontaneously, very fluently and accurately, and make finer nuances of meaning clear even in more complex matters, both in German and in the foreign language at language level C 2,
- language mediation skills as an interpreter and
- Knowledge of German legal language (legal terminology). They must be able to correctly understand and accurately translate legal terms from the various areas of judicial proceedings, especially in the fields of civil, criminal and administrative law.
Translators are also obliged to provide a sample signature.
Applications / forms
Notification of temporary employment as an interpreter or translator can be submitted both electronically and in writing. The notification must be in writing, i.e. it must be signed or authenticated by an electronic identification document.
You can find the link to the online application on this page. The prerequisite for using the online application is the use of a service account. You can also register a service account via the online application. To apply exclusively electronically, you must identify yourself with an electronic identity card or residence permit. You can find the option in the online ID function section of the login to the service account. With a foreign electronic identity card, you can use the federal service account for registration and identification.
If you do not have an electronic identity card, the application must also be printed out and signed and sent by post after electronic transmission.
For the notification, the proof of professional aptitude must currently still be submitted in the original. The evidence must therefore be sent to the Hanover Regional Court by post after the online application has been submitted.
The form for download with further information can be found on the pages of the Hanover Regional Court here.
Which documents are required?
The notification must be accompanied by the following documents:
- If the activity is regulated in the country of establishment (admission procedure):
A certificate stating that the notifying person is lawfully entitled to transmit language orally and/or in writing for judicial, administrative and notarial purposes or for comparable activities in the country of establishment and that the exercise of this activity is not prohibited, even temporarily, at the time the certificate is submitted, - If the activity is not regulated in the country of establishment:
- Certificate of successful completion of the interpreting or translation studies at a university or certificate of passing a state or state-recognised interpreting or translation examination, or
- Certificates of successful attendance at a state-approved language school (for German and foreign languages) or
- Examination certificate from the Chamber of Industry and Commerce for an interpreter or translator examination
- at a higher education institution in a Member State of the European Union or an interpreter or translator examination passed in a Member State of the European Union, provided that these are recognised as equivalent in each case, or
- Certificate of Acquisition of the General Higher Education Entrance Qualification
- Proof of language mediation knowledge and skills
- Proof of knowledge of German legal language (legal terminology)
- proof that the person making the notification has lawfully carried out the activity there for at least one year during the preceding ten years,
- proof of the professional title under which the activity is carried out in the State of establishment.
All documents must be enclosed in the original or as photocopies or digital images certified by an authority or notary. If there are doubts about the authenticity of electronically attached evidence, it can be requested in the original or certified photocopy.
If documents are written in a language other than German, translations must be enclosed, the accuracy and completeness of which has been certified by a translator authorised in Germany (not the applicant himself).
Foreign documents that do not originate from a member state of the European Union must be provided with an apostille or legalisation to prove their authenticity. Further information can be found on the website of the Federal Foreign Office.
What are the fees?
Fee: free of charge
Process flow
As soon as the notification and the required documents are complete, the President of the Regional Court of Hanover will temporarily register the applicant in the joint register of sworn interpreters and authorised translators for a period of one year.
The temporary registration is valid for a period of one year.
If you intend to provide temporary services in Lower Saxony beyond a period of one year, the required notification must be repeated in good time before the expiry of the one-year period. The renewal is for one year at a time.
What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?
In principle, there are no deadlines for reporting. However, the notification and registration must be made before the first exercise of the activity in Lower Saxony.
Processing duration
The entry in the register takes place immediately after your notification has been examined.
What else should I know?
Appeal
If your complaint has been rejected, you can appeal against the decision to the administrative court responsible for your place of residence within one month of notification.
