Guide · Certified translations
Document verification instead of an apostille: when should I translate?
Document verification concerns checking a record. Translation is a separate step that should be coordinated with the actual administrative process.
Reviewed on 27 October 2026
The short answer
Ask the requesting German authority which procedure applies to your foreign certificate. The Federal Foreign Office describes cases where document verification is relevant instead of legalisation. Establish which records and language versions are needed first; no single translation sequence suits every case.
Record the actual authority request
Save the letter naming the procedure precisely. Ask for clarification if apostille, legalisation and document verification are being used differently in correspondence.
Use current official country guidance and the requesting authority’s instructions. Translation does not establish source authenticity or replace the required verification.
Read more: Federal Foreign Office: international use of documents
Coordinate sources and possible additions
Ask whether translations are required to begin the procedure or whether certain records must be obtained first. Record the answer in your task list with the responsible contact.
If the authority requests a new certificate version or further evidence, report that change before completion. This helps avoid using an already superseded version as the source.
Define translation separately from verification
Send the requesting checklist and existing records together to establish scope. Record which pages are complete and which attachments are expected later.
An enquiry with a translation agency does not initiate official verification. Track authority contacts, deadlines and questions separately while the agreed documents are translated.
Your next steps
Identify the requesting authority and verification procedure.
Ask about required records and language versions.
Record the sequence and later attachments.
Enquire about translation using the confirmed scope.
More questions
Does a certified translation replace verification?
No. Language translation and official verification of the source are different tasks.
Must I always wait for verification first?
Ask the requesting authority about its process. It may need particular translations at the start.
Does the translation agency start the procedure?
Document translation is not an application for verification. Establish the official route separately.
Sources and further reading
The receiving organisation’s current instructions matter for your assignment. Send them to us with your documents.
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