Do I Need a Certified Translation in the Czech Republic? A Guide for Expats

You’ve been told to bring a “certified translation” to an office in Prague, Brno or Pardubice — and if you’re used to how translation certification works in the US, UK, or elsewhere, the Czech system doesn’t quite match what you expect. In the Czech Republic, what English speakers call a “certified translation” is legally a sworn translation — produced by a court-appointed translator and carrying a round stamp. You need it for authorities, notaries and courts. You don’t need it for your employer or personal use. This guide explains what these terms actually mean here, when you need the real thing, and how to get it.

• In the Czech Republic, “certified”, “sworn” and “official” translation all refer to the same thing: a translation by a court-appointed (sworn) translator with a round stamp and certification clause.
• You need it for Czech authorities, courts and notaries — residence permits, nostrification, marriage, and similar official procedures.
• For your employer, internal company use or personal reference, a regular translation is usually enough.

This is the single most confusing part of the Czech system for expats, so let’s clear it up first.

In the US and UK, “certified translation” usually means a translation accompanied by a signed statement of accuracy from the translator or agency — a fairly informal process compared to some countries. In the Czech Republic, the equivalent legal concept is stricter and has a specific name: soudní překlad, literally “court translation”, commonly translated into English as sworn translation.

A sworn translation is produced by a soudní tlumočník — a translator formally appointed by the state and listed in the Ministry of Justice’s register. The translator physically binds the translation to the original document (or a certified copy), adds a certification clause, and stamps it with a round stamp. This is what gives the translation its legal weight in the Czech Republic.

So when you see the terms “certified translation”, “sworn translation”, or “official translation” on a Czech translation agency’s website — they all point to the same service. Use whichever term you’re comfortable with; what matters is that the translator is registered with the Ministry of Justice and the document carries the round stamp.

The general rule: if you’re submitting a document to a Czech state institution — an authority, court, or notary — you need a sworn translation. Here are the most common situations.

The Ministry of the Interior’s Department for Asylum and Migration Policy (OAMP) and the Foreign Police require sworn translations of supporting documents — birth certificates, criminal record extracts, proof of accommodation, and similar.

Any notarial act involving a foreign-language document — power of attorney, property transaction, company formation — requires a sworn translation for the notary to proceed.

If you’re marrying in the Czech Republic, the registry office (matrika) requires a sworn translation of your birth certificate and, if applicable, proof of marital status.

If you’re getting a foreign diploma or degree recognised in the Czech Republic, the nostrification authority requires a sworn translation of your educational documents — see our guide to translating certificates and diplomas — and often an apostille on top, since document authentication and translation are two separate steps.

Some banking procedures involving foreign documents — opening certain accounts, loan applications based on foreign paperwork — may require a sworn translation. This varies by bank and situation, so it’s worth confirming directly with your branch.

Not everything needs the round stamp. A regular (non-certified) translation is the right choice when:

• Your employer asks for a translated CV, references, or an employment contract for internal use, not for submission to an authority.
• Personal use — you just need to understand a document, not submit it anywhere official.
• Internal company documents — policies, correspondence, presentations between your company and Czech partners.
• Website or marketing content — this needs quality translation, not certification.

If you’re unsure which category your situation falls into, the safest approach is to ask the institution requesting the document directly: do they need a sworn translation, or will a regular one do?

The Czech certification system has a few specific features worth knowing if you’re new to it:

Who can certify a translation. Only a soudní tlumočník (sworn translator) listed in the Ministry of Justice register can produce a legally valid sworn translation. A skilled bilingual translator without this appointment cannot stamp a document, however good their translation is.

What it physically looks like. A sworn translation is physically bound to the original document or a certified copy — the pages cannot be separated without breaking the seal. The last page carries the round stamp and the translator’s signature, along with a certification clause stating the translation is accurate and complete.

Electronic sworn translations. Since 2021, Czech law also allows electronic sworn translations — a PDF with a qualified electronic signature, carrying the same legal validity as the paper version. Not every institution accepts electronic submissions yet, so it’s worth checking before you order.

Translation and authentication are two separate steps that are easy to confuse.

An apostille confirms that a foreign public document is genuine — it’s issued in the document’s country of origin, before translation. A sworn translation then makes the document’s content legally readable in Czech. For many official procedures — nostrification is a common example — you need both: an apostilled original, then a sworn translation of it (including the apostille itself).

Not every document needs an apostille — it depends on the country of origin and the type of document. For more detail, see our guide to apostille and legalisation.

Getting a sworn translation in the Czech Republic is more straightforward than the terminology suggests:

1. Send a scan or photo of your document. A scan is enough for the quote and to start the translation — you don’t need to mail the original.
2. Get your quote. Expect a price and turnaround time based on document length and language pair, usually within an hour.
3. Translation is completed by a sworn translator, then bound to the original or a certified copy.
4. Collect or receive the translation. Paper copies can be collected in person or posted; electronic sworn translations can be delivered by email.

We provide sworn translations accepted by Czech institutions — in 17+ languages, with express and electronic options.