An authorised translator’s signature is the official confirmation that makes a translation legally valid. Together with the translator’s stamp and authorisation number, the signature certifies that the translation is accurate and complete.
What does the signature entail?
When an authorised translator signs a document, they take professional responsibility for the translation’s accuracy. The signature confirms that the translator has translated the document carefully and that the translation correctly represents the content of the original. The signature is always accompanied by the translator’s official stamp which contains their name, the language pairs they are authorised for and their authorisation number from Kammarkollegiet. This makes the translation traceable and verifiable.
Legal significance
The signature and stamp give the translation a legal status that is accepted by Swedish authorities. The Swedish Migration Agency, the Swedish Higher Education Authority, courts and other institutions often require authorised translations with a valid signature for official documents. An authorised translator is bound by ethical guidelines and can be held liable if the translation proves to be incorrect or incomplete. This gives a high level of credibility to authorised translations.
The difference from professional translation
Professional translations for companies – such as annual reports, contracts or marketing materials – do not require an authorised signature. Instead, they are quality assured through the four-eyes principle, where at least two experts review the text, and through client validation before publication. For corporate communications, experienced language partners offer professional translation with processes that work according to ISO standards and ISO-certified system support. Authorised translation is only used when authorities specifically require official confirmation of personal or certain legal documents. Read more about authorised and certified translation.