Your document, officially authorised - translation services for businesses and individuals

What is an authorised translation?

An official, or authorised, translation is a legally valid translation that corresponds in content and layout to the original source-language document. An authorised translation is always confirmed by the translator with a certification clause, together with their own signature and stamp. Official, or authorised, translations may only be prepared by translators authorised by the Finnish National Agency for Education, who have successfully passed the authorised translator examination.

In which situations is an authorised translation needed?

Domestic and foreign authorities generally require that translations of official documents submitted to them be authorised. If you are unsure whether you need an authorised translation, it is best to check directly with the party the translation is being sent to.

Apostille certificate

In some cases, it may also be necessary for the Finnish Digital and Population Data Services Agency to confirm the authenticity of the authorised translation by means of an apostille certificate. An apostille certificate can only be issued for a document provided by an authority or a comparable body (such as an authorised translator). For a private document, an apostille certificate can only be obtained once a public notary has first certified the authority of the person signing the document, or the correctness of the signature. We always recommend checking the requirements of the foreign authority receiving the translation in advance, before ordering an authorised translation.

Legalisation of an authorised translation

If a country is not covered by the Hague Convention, meaning the document cannot be confirmed by means of an apostille certificate, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs may instead legalise the official translation. In addition, in some cases the validity of the authorised translation must also be confirmed at that country's embassy in Finland, as well as, in some cases, at the foreign ministry of the destination country itself.

For this reason, we recommend confirming the exact translation requirements with the recipient of the authorised translation well in advance of ordering it.

The most common documents requiring an authorised translation

• School certificates, diplomas, course certificates and employment certificates
• Marriage certificates, divorce certificates and adoption documents
• Medical certificates, birth certificates, death certificates and certificates of residence
• Wills and documents relating to the distribution of an estate
• Tax certificates and bank statements
• Court documents and other legal texts
• Driving licences and criminal record extracts
• Work permits and residence permits
• Registration certificates, contracts and powers of attorney
• Trade register extracts and articles of association
• Shareholder agreements, subcontracting agreements and sales agreements
• Financial statements and minutes of meetings

Our network's authorised translators also prepare official translations of documents other than those listed above, so please get in touch and request a quote.

Pricing of authorised translations

Once we have received the document to be translated and assessed it together with the translator, you will receive a quote for the authorised translation by e-mail. The quote includes both the price and the delivery time.

Confidentiality and data security

We treat all documents with absolute confidentiality and in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation. Uploading files to our website is encrypted and therefore secure, so you can safely submit the document to be translated via the contact form when requesting a quote. Both Auktor's own team and all the translators in our network are bound by a duty of confidentiality.