Official translation vs certified translation (DE–EN): how to save money with Berlin Translate

Official translation vs certified translation (DE–EN): how to save money with Berlin Translate

Introduction: Official or certified translation – what do you really need?

This is exactly where Berlin Translate comes in. Our translation agency in Berlin offers professional official translations in the DE–EN language pair that meet institutional requirements while helping you save real money compared to classic certified translations.

Official vs certified translation: the key difference

A certified translation is a translation that includes a formal statement by the translator or agency, often with signature and stamp, confirming that the translation is accurate and complete. Depending on the country, this may be done by a sworn translator or by an agency issuing a certificate of accuracy.

An official translation, on the other hand, is a professionally produced translation used for official purposes, but which does not necessarily require a sworn translator or notarial certification. It comes from a reputable translation agency like Berlin Translate and is accepted by many institutions for administrative, academic and business procedures.

In practice, this means:

• Certified translation: strictly required when an authority explicitly asks for “certified” or “sworn” translations.
• Official translation: sufficient in many cases where the requirement is “accurate and professional translation” but no sworn or notarial form is specified.

---

When is an official DE–EN translation enough?

For the German–English language pair, a large number of documents can be translated as official translations instead of more expensive certified translations. Typical examples include:

• Business documents such as contracts, company presentations, annual reports or marketing materials.
• Websites, landing pages and SEO content targeting English‑speaking markets.
• Applications, CVs and cover letters for international employers or universities that do not explicitly demand certified translations.
• Technical documentation, product descriptions and manuals used for customers or partners.

In these cases, the crucial factor is linguistic accuracy and professional quality, not the presence of a stamp. Berlin Translate ensures that your documents are translated clearly, precisely and in line with the expectations of English‑speaking readers and institutions.

---

How official translations help you save money

Certified translations are usually more expensive because they involve additional formal steps, legal responsibility and sometimes notarial participation. Prices are often calculated per page with fixed minimum fees that add up quickly, especially for longer documents.

With an official translation from Berlin Translate, you benefit from:

• More flexible and affordable pricing, often based on word count instead of rigid page rates.​
• No extra notary or court fees, which are common for certain certified or notarised translations.
• Faster turnaround times, since we do not have to coordinate sworn or notarised procedures for every project.

For many private clients and businesses, choosing an official translation instead of a certified version can significantly reduce costs while still meeting all practical requirements.

---

Berlin Translate: your translation agency in Berlin for DE–EN

Berlin Translate is a leading translation agency in Berlin specialising in English–German and German–English language services. Our team combines sworn translators, experienced language professionals and subject‑matter experts to offer both certified and official translations from a single source.

What makes Berlin Translate stand out:

• Strong focus on English–German language pairs, including legal, technical, medical, marketing and SEO texts.
• A network of professional translators with proven expertise and native‑level language skills.​
• Digital workflows, including online quotes, secure file transfer and fast delivery.​
• Transparent pricing and cost‑saving options for official translations.​

Whether you are an expat in Germany, a student applying abroad, or a company expanding into English‑speaking markets, Berlin Translate offers tailored solutions for your translation needs.​

---

High‑quality DE–EN translations: more than just word‑for‑word

A good DE–EN translation goes far beyond a literal transfer of words. It must reflect the correct terminology, tone of voice and cultural expectations of the target audience.

Our translators at Berlin Translate:

• Understand the legal and administrative context behind your documents.​
• Use appropriate terminology for law, business, technology, medicine or academia.
• Adapt style and register to the target audience, whether it is an embassy, a university, a court or a business partner.

Thanks to this combination of linguistic and subject‑matter expertise, our official translations are accepted and appreciated by clients and institutions in Germany, the UK, the USA and beyond.

---

SEO benefits: official translations for your online presence

If your goal is to reach English‑speaking users online, a well‑translated website or blog can be a powerful SEO asset. Simple machine translations or amateur solutions often damage user experience and search performance.

Berlin Translate integrates SEO translation into its official DE–EN services:

• We research and implement relevant English keywords for your industry and target market.
• We optimise headings, meta titles and descriptions for better search visibility.
• We ensure natural, readable English that appeals to both users and search algorithms.

This way, your official translation does not just satisfy formal requirements, it also helps you generate more organic traffic and international leads.

---

When you still need a certified translation

Even though official translations are often sufficient, there are situations where a certified translation is clearly required. Common examples include:

• Immigration and visa applications that explicitly ask for “certified” or “sworn” translations.
• Civil status documents such as birth, marriage or divorce certificates for official procedures.
• Court documents, notarial deeds and certain contracts that need legal validation.

Berlin Translate also provides certified translations through sworn translators, so you can get everything you need from the same agency.

---

Conclusion: Save money with the right choice – and with Berlin Translate

Ordering a certified translation when it is not explicitly required can mean paying more than necessary. By choosing an official DE–EN translation from Berlin Translate wherever possible, you can reduce costs, speed up processing and still receive professional, institution‑ready documents.

Our team will gladly advise you whether your case really needs a certified translation or whether an official translation is sufficient. In both scenarios, Berlin Translate offers reliable, high‑quality DE–EN translations that support your personal, academic or business goals – from Berlin to the rest of the world.