Authorised translator

An authorised translator is an expert of translation who has the right to certify translations legally. All translations do not need to be translated by an authorised translator. The purpose of the translation will decide whether a certified translation made by an authorised translator is needed. 

Usually any documents addressed to the public administration of another country require certification (e.g. documents related to work or residence permit or studying abroad). Typical documents requiring certification are certificates of graduation and diplomas, testimonials of service, medical certificates, official certificates, birth and death certificates, last wills and testaments, extracts from the Register of Companies, marriage documents and documents related to division of inheritance.

Some official documents are nowadays available in the desired language directly from the issuer of the original document. In this case an authorised translation is not needed. 

An authorised translator can draft a translation and certify it only in the language combination and translation direction that s/he has been authorised in. 

The system of authorised translators is based on the law regarding authorised translators (1231/2007) and the regulation from the Council of State (1232/2007). These replace the law issued in 1988 regarding official translators (1148/1988) and the related regulation (626/1989).

Validity of the authorisation

The authorisation is granted for a five year period. Before authorisation, the applicant must give an assurance of an authorised translator. 

Extension for the authorisation can be applied for a maximum of five years at a time. A prerequisite for the extension is that the person has acted as an authorised translator while the authorisation was valid and continues to fulfil the other aforementioned requirements to receive the authorisation.