Electronic Sworn Translation with a Qualified Signature
An electronic sworn translation is a translation produced by a sworn translator and signed with their qualified electronic signature (QES) – you receive a PDF with the same legal validity as a paper sworn translation, provided the receiving authority accepts it electronically. No travelling for paper, no international post: email your scans and we deliver the finished translation by email, or you submit it through your electronic mailbox. Ideal for clients abroad, e-government and urgent deadlines.
- A PDF with the qualified electronic signature (QES) of a sworn translator from the MS SR register
- Legally equivalent to paper – where the authority accepts electronic submission (eIDAS Regulation)
- Delivered by email anywhere in the world – no post, no waiting for a courier
- We advise when the electronic form is enough and when the authority still requires paper
Our guarantees
- 100% acceptance by authorities and institutions in Slovakia and abroad
- Guaranteed delivery by the agreed deadline
- 2-year guarantee on translation quality
- We process requests at weekends too – we reply every day 9:00–18:00
- Free quote in 15 minutes
- Confidentiality of your documents
What an electronic sworn translation is and why it is valid
The sworn translator produces the translation, binds it with the original (a scan) into one PDF and signs it with a qualified electronic signature, usually with a timestamp. Under the European eIDAS Regulation such a signature has the same legal effect as a handwritten one – so the document is a full sworn translation, just in digital form.
Important: it keeps its validity only in electronic form. Printing the PDF "loses" the signature – if the authority wants paper, you need a paper sworn translation with a stamp. That is why we first establish what the receiving institution accepts.
When the electronic form saves the most
You gain most when you are abroad or in a hurry: email your scans, get a quote the same day, and receive the finished PDF by email – no courier, no customs delays. Use it for submissions via the slovensko.sk portal and your electronic mailbox, at foreign universities, and anywhere an institution accepts documents online.
A single signed file can also be reused (as many submissions as you need), whereas a paper translation is one physical copy.
When you still need paper
Not every authority is equally ready for electronic submissions. Some registry offices, courts or foreign institutions still require a paper sworn translation bound to the original. In that case we prepare the classic paper version – or both at once, if you need the electronic one for submission and the paper one for your archive.
So you don’t pay twice unnecessarily, before you order we check together what the specific authority accepts.
Ukrainian documents and the apostille electronically
We can combine the electronic form with the apostille. For Ukrainian documents we arrange the apostille directly in Ukraine through our own Kharkiv and Kyiv offices; for documents in the Ministry of Justice remit (notarial, court and civil-registry) an electronic apostille (e-apostille), verifiable online, is also available, while diplomas and criminal-record extracts get a paper one.
The whole package – apostille plus sworn translation – can thus run without mailing originals abroad.
How we work
- 1Email your scansGood-quality document scans and who you submit the translation to – that determines the form.
- 2We quote and check acceptanceExact price and deadline; we tell you whether the authority accepts electronic submission or paper is also needed.
- 3Translation and qualified signatureThe sworn translator produces the translation and signs it with a QES and a timestamp.
- 4Delivery by emailWe send the signed PDF by email anywhere; we deliver a paper version by post if you need it.
Prices
- Electronic sworn translation (PDF with QES) price by document type and lengthindividual quote
- Paper sworn translation (on request) bound to the original, with a stampindividual quote
- Standard translation 1 standard page = 1,800 characters including spacesfrom €12 / standard page
The translation itself costs the same as paper – you save on delivery, time and extra copies. Send scans for an exact quote; standard translation from €12 per standard page.
FAQ
Does an electronic sworn translation have the same validity as paper?
Yes – if the receiving authority accepts it electronically. A qualified electronic signature has, under the eIDAS Regulation, the same legal effect as a handwritten one. The PDF keeps its validity only in digital form, though, not once printed.
How do I find out whether my authority accepts the electronic form?
Tell us who you submit the document to – we check acceptance of electronic submissions in advance and recommend the right form, so you don’t pay unnecessarily for paper or for two copies.
Can I print the PDF and hand it in at the authority?
No – printing loses the electronic signature and the document is no longer a sworn translation. If the authority wants paper, you need a paper sworn translation with a stamp; we will gladly prepare one.
Can the apostille also be arranged electronically?
Yes. For Ukrainian documents we arrange the apostille directly in Ukraine; for notarial, court and civil-registry documents an electronic apostille is available, while diplomas and criminal-record extracts get a paper one. The whole apostille + sworn translation package then runs without mailing originals by post.
How fast do I get the electronic translation?
Standard documents usually within 2–3 business days, express by agreement. As postal delivery is eliminated, the finished PDF is in your inbox as soon as it is done.
Updated: 2026-09-10
