Certified Translation for Citizenship by Descent: By Country

Almost every citizenship-by-descent claim involves translating birth, marriage and death records — often for three or four generations. It’s also one of the easiest places to waste money: a translation that’s perfectly accurate can still be rejected because the wrong kind of translator made it.

So before you order anything, you need answers to three questions:

Does this document need translating at all? Some countries accept English.
Who is allowed to translate it? Any professional, a sworn translator in that country, or the consulate itself.
In what order? Usually apostille first, then translation.

Certified, sworn and consular translations: what the words mean

Certified translation (US meaning): a professional translator signs a statement that the translation is accurate. Anyone can offer this, and many consulates accept it — but not all.
Sworn translation: made by a translator appointed by a court or ministry in that country — a tłumacz przysięgły in Poland, a traductor jurado in Spain, a traducteur assermenté in France. Many sworn translators live abroad and work remotely.
Consular translation or certification: the country’s own embassy or consulate translates the document, or certifies someone else’s translation, usually for a fee.

Translations and apostilles are different steps; our guide to apostille vs certified translation explains how they fit together.

Countries where English documents are often fine

If your family records are in English, these countries may need few or no translations.

Ireland
Documents in English need no translation, which covers most US, UK, Canadian and Australian records. Anything in another language needs an official English translation.
Germany
For a nationality determination, German missions say English documents generally don't need translating. A few kinds still do (divorce judgments and custody agreements, for example), and the BVA can ask for more. When a translation is needed, it must be by a sworn translator.
Portugal
Portugal's registry service can accept documents in English, French or Spanish without translation where the official reads the language. Otherwise the translation must be certified — the translator swears to it before a notary, lawyer, solicitor, registry official or chamber of commerce.
Malta
English is an official language, so English documents are fine; others need an English translation.

Countries that require a sworn or official translator

Here a regular certified translation isn’t enough. Use the kind of translator named, or the consulate.

Poland
Translations into Polish must be made by a Polish sworn translator (tłumacz przysięgły) or a Polish consul. An ordinary “certified translation” from a US translator doesn’t meet this.
Czech Republic
Translations must be by a court translator registered on the Czech Ministry of Justice’s list. Documents in Slovak need no translation.
Hungary
Use OFFI, Hungary’s state translation office, or a translation certified by a Hungarian embassy or consulate. Ask your consulate which of your documents need translating before you pay.
Spain
An official translation means one by a traductor jurado (sworn translator) authorized in Spain, by a Spanish consulate, or by the Foreign Ministry’s language office.
France
Translations must be by a traducteur assermenté (court-sworn translator). Unofficial translations are rejected.
Romania
Translations into Romanian must be by an authorized sworn translator; ordinary bilingual translations are rejected by the citizenship authority (ANC).
Croatia
Croatia asks for translations into Croatian by an official or court interpreter. For Irish documents, the Foreign Ministry says an official interpreter in Ireland or a court interpreter in Croatia can do it — ask your mission what it accepts for yours.
Bulgaria
The Ministry of Justice requires translations by an officially accredited translator; uncertified ones cause delays or rejection.

Countries where you should ask your consulate first

These countries require translations but either leave the choice of translator to each consulate or don’t publish a clear rule. A two-line email to the consulate before you pay can save you a second set of translations.

Italy
Everything not in Italian needs an Italian translation. Many consulates accept a professional certified translation; some want it certified by the consulate. Court cases in Italy, such as 1948 claims, need a sworn (asseverata) translation.
Greece
Foreign documents must be apostilled first and then officially translated into Greek. The Foreign Ministry’s guidance doesn’t say who may translate, so ask your consulate which translations it accepts.
Lithuania
Documents must be in Lithuanian or translated, with the translation certified by someone authorized to certify translations — and proof of that right. Passports don’t need translating.
Latvia
Foreign documents need apostilles and certified Latvian translations. Ask the embassy which translators it accepts.
Estonia
Foreign documents need apostilles and certified Estonian translations. Ask the embassy which translators it accepts.
Slovakia
Documents not in Slovak need apostilles and certified Slovak translations. Ask the embassy which translators it accepts.
Austria
Expect certified German translations of non-German documents; the case officer can ask for more during review. Austria doesn’t publish a clear rule for English documents, so ask before translating them.
Luxembourg
Only documents not in French, German or Luxembourgish need translating; ask which translations are accepted.

What translations cost

Our country guides find certified translations typically cost about €30–€120 per document, depending on the language and whether a sworn translator is needed. A three-generation claim usually involves six to ten documents, so translations are often the biggest single expense after any lawyer.

How to avoid paying twice

Get the apostille first. The translation should usually include the apostille; translating before apostilling can mean a second translation.
Ask which documents need translating. The list can differ by consulate, and German missions don’t want most English documents translated at all.
Check the translator meets the country’s rule. For Poland, the Czech Republic, Spain, France and Romania, the translator’s status matters as much as the translation.
Translate the final versions. Order translations only once you have the exact certified copies you’ll submit — see the document checklist and how to build a document chain.

Frequently asked questions

Can I translate my family’s documents myself?

Almost never for an application. Countries want a certified, sworn or consular translation, and several (Poland, Czech Republic, Spain, France, Romania) only accept specific kinds of translator. Your own translation is still useful for reading old records while you research.

Do English-language documents need translating?

It depends on the country. Ireland and Malta work in English; Germany generally accepts English documents for a nationality determination; Portugal can accept them when the registry official reads English. Most other countries want everything translated into their language.

Do I get the apostille before or after the translation?

Usually before: the apostille goes on the original record, and the translation then covers the whole document including the apostille. Greece says this explicitly. Ask your consulate if you’re unsure, because doing it in the wrong order can mean paying twice.

Is a US “certified translation” the same as a sworn translation?

No. In the US, a certified translation is one the translator signs a statement of accuracy for. A sworn translator (tłumacz przysięgły, traductor jurado, traducteur assermenté) is appointed by a court or ministry in that country. Countries that require a sworn translator won’t accept a US certified translation instead.

Official sources

Checked in October 2026. Rules change and vary by consulate, so confirm with yours before you order.