Translations for Recognition of Education
If you would like to use a foreign diploma, school certificate or professional qualification in Germany, the receiving institution may request a German translation.
Depending on the procedure, certified translations may be required for diplomas, school certificates, diploma supplements, transcripts of records, subject lists, training documents, professional licences, certificates and employment records.
Nachtigal Services provides certified translations from Russian and English into German by a translator authorised by the Higher Regional Court of Hamm (OLG Hamm).
We do not provide individual legal assessments of qualification recognition requirements or determine which documents are necessary for your application.
Before ordering, please confirm the applicable requirements with your competent authority or receiving institution.
Do English-language documents need a certified German translation for recognition?
A certified German translation is not required in every recognition procedure in Germany. Some authorities accept education and qualification documents already issued in English without an additional German translation.
Special rules under the BQFG NRW
In procedures governed by the Professional Qualifications Assessment Act of North Rhine-Westphalia (BQFG NRW), specific rules apply to the language of documents submitted for recognition.
Under Section 5(2) BQFG NRW, documents already written in German or English generally do not need to be translated in procedures covered by this legislation.
Documents written in other languages may generally be submitted with a translation into German or English. In justified exceptional circumstances, the competent authority may require a German translation.
Important: These provisions do not automatically apply to all recognition, university admission, immigration or professional licensing procedures in Germany. Different federal laws or profession-specific rules may apply.
Before ordering a translation: Check with your competent recognition authority whether a translation is necessary, which language is accepted and what document format is required.
Nachtigal Services provides translation services within the agreed scope but does not offer individual legal advice on recognition requirements.
1. Certified translation services for recognition procedures
We translate the documents you instruct us to translate. These may include educational certificates, professional training records, employment documents and other qualification-related documents.
Document translation
Accurate translation of document content, including relevant tables, stamps, signatures, annotations and attachments.
Certification of translation
The authorised translator certifies the accuracy and completeness of the translation.
This certification does not establish the authenticity of the source document or the legal equivalence of the qualification.
Quotation and processing time
We assess the language, number of pages, readability, tables and other translation-related features to determine the price and expected processing time.
Clear scope of our services
Nachtigal Services does not provide individual legal advice on recognition, assess the prospects of an application or check whether your application documents are complete.
Questions concerning which documents are required, sufficient or acceptable must be clarified with the competent authority or receiving institution.
2. Documents commonly translated for recognition in Germany
The following documents are frequently submitted by clients for certified translation in connection with education or professional qualification recognition.
This overview is not a mandatory document checklist for any particular recognition procedure.
| Document | Typical content | Translation considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Diploma / Degree Certificate | Qualification, educational institution and issue date. | Qualification titles, official stamps and signatures. |
| School Certificate | Subjects, grades and completion details. | Grading systems and official terminology. |
| Diploma Supplement / Subject List | Subjects, hours, examinations and grades. | Tables, academic terminology and grading scales. |
| Transcript of Records | Modules, credits and examination results. | Credit information, grading scales and tables. |
| Academic Diploma Supplement | Programme content, level and institutional details. | Multi-page attachments and academic terminology. |
| Employment Reference | Employer, job title, employment period and duties. | Professional terminology and dates. |
| Professional Licence | Issuing authority, professional authorisation and validity. | Official designations and licence details. |
| Training Certificate | Course, issuing organisation and duration. | Course content, hours and registration details. |
3. What information is needed for a translation quote?
To prepare a quotation, we need information about the documents to be translated, not an assessment of your recognition procedure.
Source language
Russian or English. Please specify the required translation direction.
Document scope
Number of pages, tables, attachments, stamps and reverse sides.
Scan quality
Text, stamps and signatures should be clearly visible and legible.
No assessment of recognition requirements
We examine the submitted documents solely to estimate the translation scope, price and expected processing time.
We do not determine whether the documents are necessary or sufficient for recognition of your qualification.
4. Certified translation, certified copy and original document
These terms refer to different types of documentation. The form required for submission depends on the applicable procedure.
Certified translation
A translation whose accuracy and completeness are certified by an authorised translator.
Officially certified copy
A copy whose correspondence with the presented original has been certified by an authorised person or institution.
Original document
The source document issued by the relevant institution. For an initial translation quotation, a scan is usually sufficient.
Digital documents and certified paper translations
Ordering a certified translation online does not automatically mean that the completed translation is an electronically certified document bearing a qualified electronic signature.
A simple scan of a certified paper translation is not necessarily accepted as a substitute for the document format required by the receiving institution.
Please confirm the required submission format before ordering.
5. Russian and English educational documents
Educational documents differ depending on the country, period of issue and education system.
Russian diplomas and school certificates
Russian or Soviet diplomas may be accompanied by separate supplements listing subjects, hours and grades.
- Diploma and diploma supplement
- Subjects and teaching hours
- Grading system
- Stamps and signatures
- Name spelling according to the passport
English-language educational documents
For English-language documents, we take academic terminology, modules, credits and grading systems into consideration.
- Transcript of Records
- Diploma Supplement
- Degree Certificate
- Academic Records
- Grading Scale
6. How to send documents for certified translation
To request a quotation, send clearly legible scans or photographs of the documents you would like to have translated.
- Send all pages of the documents.
- Include reverse sides containing relevant information.
- Ensure that stamps and signatures are visible.
- Provide complete tables and attachments.
- Specify the required language direction.
- Provide the official spelling of names.
- Indicate your desired deadline.
- Specify your preferred delivery method.
This checklist concerns only preparation for translation and does not replace official recognition application requirements.
7. How the certified translation process works
Send documents
Send the documents you would like to have translated.
Receive a quotation
We determine the scope, price and expected processing time.
Certified translation
The documents are translated and provided with the translator's certification statement.
Delivery
Receive the completed translation in the agreed form, for example by post.
8. Official information on recognition of qualifications in Germany
For information on the competent authority, recognition requirements and required documents, please consult official resources.
Recognition in Germany
Official information portal on the recognition of foreign professional qualifications.
anabin
Information database on foreign educational institutions and academic qualifications.
Make it in Germany
Official information on employment in Germany and recognition of foreign qualifications.
9. Template for requesting a certified translation
You can use the following template to request a quotation.
Hello, I would like to request a certified translation of the following documents: Documents: - [e.g. diploma] - [e.g. diploma supplement] - [e.g. Transcript of Records] Language direction: - Russian to German - English to German Purpose: - Recognition of education - Professional qualification - University - Employer - Other Required format: - Certified paper translation - Digital preview copy Deadline: - [enter date] Name spelling: - [as stated in the passport] I have attached scans or photos of the documents. Kind regards
Frequently asked questions about certified translations for recognition
Do English-language documents always need a certified German translation?
No. In some recognition procedures, English-language documents may be submitted without translation. Section 5(2) BQFG NRW provides relevant rules for procedures covered by that legislation. Different requirements may apply to other procedures.
Do you provide advice on recognition of qualifications?
No. Nachtigal Services provides translation services but does not offer individual legal assessments of recognition requirements.
Do you check whether my application documents are complete?
No. We examine submitted documents only to estimate the translation scope, price and processing time.
Which documents can you translate?
Diplomas, school certificates, diploma supplements, transcripts of records, training certificates, professional licences and employment documents.
Do you translate Russian and Soviet diplomas?
Yes. We provide certified German translations of Russian-language educational documents, including older Soviet diplomas.
Can you translate an English Transcript of Records?
Yes. English-language educational documents can be translated into German with certification upon request.
Is a scan or photo sufficient?
For an initial quotation, a clearly legible scan or photograph is usually sufficient. The conditions for preparing and accepting a translation based on a copy may depend on the applicable requirements.
What is the difference between a certified translation and a certified copy?
A certified translation confirms the accuracy and completeness of the translation. A certified copy confirms the correspondence of a copy with the presented original.
Can I order translations of several documents together?
Yes. You can send several documents together. The quotation will reflect the overall translation scope.
How much does a certified translation cost?
The price depends on the language, scope, complexity and readability of the documents. You will receive a quotation before placing an order.
Order certified translations for recognition of qualifications in Germany
Send your diploma, school certificate, transcript or other qualification document as a clearly legible scan. You will receive information about the price and processing time.
Nachtigal Services — certified translations from Russian and English into German.
