Procedure descriptions

Interpreters, translators with residence or branch office in Baden-Württemberg - Apply for general authorisation to swear an oath

You can be sworn in as an interpreter with a place of residence or professional establishment in Baden-Württemberg or be publicly appointed and sworn in as a document translator.

Interpreters are court interpreters and sign language interpreters.

Please note: Are you already sworn in as an interpreter or translator in Baden-Württemberg or another federal state? If so, you can invoke your general oath in all federal and state courts until 31 December 2027. From 1 January 2028, only court interpreters who have been sworn in Germany after 1 January 2023 in accordance with the provisions of the Court Interpreters Act will be able to invoke the generally administered oath.

Are you an interpreter or document translator from another EU/EEA member state or Switzerland? If you wish to settle permanently in Baden-Württemberg, the same requirements apply as for German nationals.

As an interpreter or translator from another EU/EEA country, you can also provide services in Germany on a temporary and occasional basis. Further information on this can be found in the service description"Interpreter and translator database (DÜD) - Applying for admission for temporary work (interpreters, translators from other EU/EEA countries)".

If you reside or have a professional establishment in another federal state or in an EU/EEA state or Switzerland, you can also be sworn in in Baden-Württemberg. You can find information on this in the service description"Interpreters, translators resident or established in other countries - applying for general authorisation".

Forms/Online Services

Responsible authority

the president of the regional court, in whose district you have your place of residence or business

Landgericht Offenburg

Hausanschrift

Hindenburgstraße 5
77654 Offenburg
To the electronic timetable information

Contact

Telefon (07 81) 93 30
Fax (07 81) 9 33 11 70
E-Mail poststelle@lgoffenburg.justiz.bwl.de
Elektronisches Gerichts- und Verwaltungspostfach DE.Justiz.53a86f82-bf34-4861-b192-c6df3c9f7976.7a1b

Details

Prerequisite

  • personal reliability
  • legal capacity
  • professional suitability
    The professional suitability is generally presumed if you have passed the state examinations for interpreters or translators or equivalent examinations.
  • interpreters and translators from other EU/EEA states, who want to carry out the work only temporarily: in addition they have to have set up business as a liaison interpreter or a document translator in another EU/EEA state
  • interpreters and translators from states, which do not belong to the EU/EEA or Switzerland: in addition a residence permit to pursue self-employment

Note: Interpreters and Translators from other EU/EEA states or Switzerland can ask the examining office for translators and interpreters at the Regional Council (Regierungspräsidium) in Karlsruhe to confirm the equivalence of an examination certificate (Gleichwertigkeit eines Prüfungsnachweises).

Procedure

You must apply to the competent authority for general authorisation as an interpreter. This also applies to the public appointment and swearing-in as a document translator.

You can submit the application online or in writing.

The competent body will review your application. If the decision is favourable, the general swearing-in or public appointment and swearing-in follows. If the competent body rejects your application, you will receive a notice of rejection.

Note: Once you have been sworn in, the competent authority will enter your details in the nationwide Interpreter and translator database (DÜD). You can object to the publication in whole or in part.

Note: The licence is limited to five years. You can apply to extend your licence for a further five years. You must enclose the following with your application for renewal

  • a curriculum vitae
  • a certificate of good conduct
  • in accordance with Section 30 (5) of the Federal Central Criminal Register Act, which must not have been issued more than six months previously
  • a declaration stating whether you have been sentenced to a criminal offence or detention order in the five years preceding the application.

Required documents

  • proof of a state examination or equivalent examination as an interpreter or translator
  • curriculum vitae in table form
  • declaration stating your nationality
  • if you are not an EU/EEA national or a Swiss national: confirmation that you have a residence permit to pursue self-employment
  • declaration about your financial circumstances, in which you affirm that your financial circumstances are in good order
  • declaration that preliminary proceedings are not pending
    If preliminary proceedings are pending, you will have to make a detailed statement.
  • declaration of consent for publication of your data in the nationwide interpreter and translator database on the Internet
    If you do not agree that all or part of your data be published on the Internet, you can make a corresponding statement when filing your application.

Costs

  • general swearing-in as an interpreter: EUR 75.00
  • Appointment and swearing-in as a translator of documents: EUR 75.00
  • general swearing-in as an interpreter and appointment and swearing-in as a translator of documents in a combined procedure: EUR 100.00
  • Extension of the oath: EUR 25.00
  • Determination of the equivalence of an examination certificate or other professional qualification as an interpreter or translator by the examination centre for translators and interpreters at the Karlsruhe Regional Council: 100.00 to 630.00 EUR (usually 200.00 EUR)

Processing time

Your application will be processed within three months as soon as you have submitted all documents in full.

Legal basis

Release note

The German original version of this text was drafted in close cooperation with the relevant departments. The Justizministerium released it on 16.01.2026. Only the German text is legally binding. The Federal State does not assume any liability for the translated texts.
In cases of doubt or if you have any questions or problems, please contact the relevant authorities directly.