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Translation - art & business » Business issues »
Fees for certification
Thread poster: Andy S
Andy S
Andy S
United Kingdom
Local time: 08:24
German to English
Feb 4

I was wondering what other members charge for certifying translations.

I am not talking about their fee for the actual translation; rather, purely the certification element.

I am based in the UK and am thinking of raising prices to 40 UKP per document (about 48 Euros or 49 dollars at the time of writing). Does that sound excessive? Meanwhile, do other translators give a reduction in the rate for certifying multiple documents?
 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 08:24
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
@Andy Feb 5

In Portugal, the certification of a translation is done by attorneys, notary’s offices and/or chambers of commerce, that’s why I have been working with a lawyer who has an office nearby. I charge my clients exactly what she charges me for one or multiple documents, but as her office is 5 minutes away by foot, I don’t charge travel time. When I’m required to send the certified translation by snail mail, I charge the postage fee.
 
Andy S
Andy S
United Kingdom
Local time: 08:24
German to English
TOPIC STARTER
Different countries, different practices Feb 5

The UK is typically more laissez-faire, although I think cultural change is taking place and we are becoming more stringent.

However, I think we are moving towards a, if I may put it his way, more continental mindset.

Notaries are of course an option here but still not generally required. I am not even sure if a qualification in a language is legally required for certification here, but rather a self-declared competence.

A rather benevolent mindset really... See more
The UK is typically more laissez-faire, although I think cultural change is taking place and we are becoming more stringent.

However, I think we are moving towards a, if I may put it his way, more continental mindset.

Notaries are of course an option here but still not generally required. I am not even sure if a qualification in a language is legally required for certification here, but rather a self-declared competence.

A rather benevolent mindset really, where the state trusts you to be honest, in a country where the police are still generally not armed and the notion of tolerance is important. but we seem to be moving away from this, culturally, perhaps because some people have been abusing the trust. ▲ Collapse
 
Robert Forstag
Robert Forstag  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 03:24
Spanish to English
+ ...
I think that your suggested charge is reasonable Feb 5

Andy:

I think that your suggested charge is reasonable. This is after all an extra step that takes time and effort. (If you have to travel a considerable distance, wait a long time once you are in the office, or pay a fee to certifying party, this also should be taken into account.)

Certification also requires you to lay out the document in a way that leaves abundant space for the certification on one or multiple pages and (I assume) for typing out a statement vouching ... See more
Andy:

I think that your suggested charge is reasonable. This is after all an extra step that takes time and effort. (If you have to travel a considerable distance, wait a long time once you are in the office, or pay a fee to certifying party, this also should be taken into account.)

Certification also requires you to lay out the document in a way that leaves abundant space for the certification on one or multiple pages and (I assume) for typing out a statement vouching for the accuracy of the translation.

In my view, you are also implicitly charging for the expertise you have attained that qualifies you to produce a translation that can be certified/notarized. These are the credentials that you list below your signature.

I hasten to add that I would likely not think of charging more than the 40 pounds that you are contemplating.... ▲ Collapse


Andy S
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 08:24
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
@Andy Feb 6

Just to clarify what I said earlier. I apply a minimum of €40 per small document (driving licences, identity cards, passports…), all other documents are billed by the word (€0.12/word). To this price is added the lawyer's certification and the postage cost. So, we are not far…

Andy S
 


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Fees for certification


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