Fake sworn translators: warning signs before you order an official translation in France
By Keran Chaussard, administrator of the Directory of Sworn Translators of France — updated on
In France, a translation is only "sworn" if it is signed and stamped by a translator registered as a court-appointed expert on the list of a court of appeal, under the translation or interpreting heading. Yet the word "sworn" is used freely online, by agencies or platforms whose translations will not be accepted by the authorities.
Before paying, be wary of a vague title ("approved translator", "certified") with no court of appeal, an agency stamp instead of, or in addition to, that of a named expert, a name missing from the current list, or an abnormally low price. Always ask for the name of the expert who will sign, their language and their court of appeal.
Why the risk exists
Only the title of court-appointed expert with a court of appeal is regulated. The expression "sworn translator" is in common use and is not reserved: any website can display it. Yet a prefecture, town hall, notary or court checks the status of the person who signed the translation, not the promise of the website that sold it.
The risk is twofold: paying for a translation that cannot be used, then having to order a second one in a hurry, sometimes after a visa, marriage or nationality application has been refused.
Warning signs
- A vague title: "approved translator", "certified translation", "official translator", with no mention of a court of appeal. An expert always states the court of appeal with which they are registered.
- An agency or platform stamp instead of the stamp and signature of a named expert. An agency may entrust the work to an expert, but it is that expert's signature that must appear on the translation.
- A company stamp added next to the expert's: a company selling sworn translations must never place its own stamp on the translation, even in addition to the expert's. A commercial stamp makes the document inadmissible.
- A name that cannot be found on the list of the court of appeal stated, or that appears under a heading other than translation (accounting, construction, medicine…).
- A language that does not match: an expert registered for Spanish cannot certify a translation from Portuguese.
- An expert who is no longer registered: their name appears on an old list but not on the current year's list. An expert granted honorary status must add the word "honorary" (honoraire) to their title.
- An unrealistic price or turnaround time, especially for a rare language or a long document. A "sworn" translation delivered within minutes is often a machine translation.
- A refusal to disclose the translator's identity before payment.
Three checks to make before paying
- Ask for the expert's name, language and court of appeal. The name alone is not enough because of namesakes: the combination of all three allows a reliable check.
- Find them on the current list of that court of appeal, under the translation or interpreting heading. Check the year of the list: lists are revised every year.
- If anything does not match, ask for an explanation before ordering. A married name or a compound surname can explain a spelling difference. A complete absence from the list cannot.
The detailed verification method (where to find the lists, which details appear on the stamp) is explained in our article on how to check that a translator is sworn.
A registered expert is not necessarily the right expert for your file
Registration guarantees status, not availability or expertise for every type of document. A properly registered expert may not accept urgent work, may not deliver a paper original, may not handle technical documents, or may not arrange certification of their signature. Ask these questions when requesting a quote.
Conversely, a professional translator who is not registered may produce an excellent translation: it will simply be refused wherever a sworn translation is required. The issue is not quality but status.
Agencies and platforms: who signs the translation?
Using an agency is not a problem in itself. The decisive question is: who signs and stamps the translation? For an official procedure in France, it must be an identified court-appointed expert, not the agency.
Only the expert's signature and stamp may appear on a sworn translation. A company must never add its own stamp, logo or commercial details to it, even alongside the expert's: the document is then no longer admissible and the translation must be redone. Check this as soon as you receive it.
Before ordering, ask for:
- the name of the expert who will produce and sign the translation
- their court of appeal and the language they are registered for
- an anonymised example of a translation already delivered, if you have doubts about the presentation
To avoid the intermediary, you can also contact the expert directly: the Directory of Sworn Translators of France lists court-appointed expert translators and interpreters, based on the official lists of the courts of appeal.
You have already received a doubtful translation: what should you do?
- Do not submit it until you have checked the expert's name on their court of appeal's list.
- Ask the provider for an explanation in writing: the expert's identity, court of appeal and language.
- If the expert is not registered, ask for a refund and have the translation redone by a court-appointed expert. Keep all correspondence.
- If the title of expert has been misused, you can report it to the experts' office of the court of appeal concerned or to the public prosecutor: use of the title by a person who is not registered is punishable by law.
Frequently asked questions
- How can you tell whether a translator is really sworn?
- Ask for their name, language and court of appeal, then find them on that court of appeal's list of court-appointed experts for the current year, under the translation or interpreting heading.
- Is an "approved translator" a sworn translator?
- Not necessarily. Only registration on a court of appeal's list confers the title of court-appointed expert. If the court of appeal is not mentioned, ask for it before ordering.
- Can an agency provide a sworn translation?
- Yes, provided the translation is signed and stamped by an identified court-appointed expert. The agency must not, however, place any stamp on the translation: neither instead of the expert's, nor in addition to it.
- Can a sworn translation bear a company's stamp in addition to the expert's?
- No. Only the court-appointed expert's signature and stamp should appear on it. A company stamp added to the translation makes the document inadmissible, and it must then be redone.
- Is a translation by an honorary expert valid?
- An honorary expert is no longer on the annual list and must add the word "honorary" to their title. Acceptance of their translation is not guaranteed: check with the receiving body before ordering.
- What should you do if a translation is refused because the translator is not registered?
- Ask the provider for a refund, have the translation redone by a registered court-appointed expert and, if the title has been misused, report it to the court of appeal or the public prosecutor.
Sources
- Law No. 71-498 of 29 June 1971 on court-appointed experts (use of the title and penalties) (in French)
- Decree No. 2004-1463 of 23 December 2004 on court-appointed experts
- Lists of court-appointed experts of the courts of appeal, centralised by the Court of Cassation
- Service-Public, "Translation of a document: how to find an approved translator" (in French)
