Sworn translator - recognition of qualifications

Recognise your qualifications to work as a sworn translator

How to proceed

What you should know and who can use this service

Who can use the service

Nationals of Member States of the European Union, the Swiss Confederation or Member States of the European Free Trade Agreement (EFTA) which is a party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area who acquired in those countries outside the borders of the Republic of Poland, professional qualifications to practise the profession of sworn translator.

If the profession is not regulated in the country where the applicant comes from (or in another country where the profession has been practised), the applicant should be allowed to practise the regulated profession if the person has practised the profession in this country for one year over the period of ten years prior to applying for admission to the profession. The applicant is also required to submit documents at least one document certifying competence or confirming qualifications, issued by the competent authority.

When you should complete this procedure

At any time

Where you can complete this procedure

Ministerstwo Sprawiedliwości
Aleje Ujazdowskie 11, 00-950 Warszawa

What to do step by step

1. Submit an application for recognition of professional qualifications

Submission of an application by the applicant institutes the proceedings for recognition of qualifications. The application should be accompanied by documents confirming qualifications (education, professional experience), drawn up in Polish or with a copy of translation into Polish and proof of payment.

Where an applicant for recognition does not have the place of residence or habitual abode or registered office in Poland or another Member State of the European Union and who has not appointed an agent for the conduct of proceedings residing in the Republic of Poland and does not operate through the consul of the Republic of Poland, must appoint a proxy in Poland for the service of documents. An appointment of a proxy for service is not required if letters are delivered by means of electronic communication.

Documents

2. Formal verification of the application

1. The Minister of Justice notifies the applicant about receiving the application within one month from the date of receipt.

2. The Minister of Justice checks whether the applicant has submitted all the documents necessary for the proper execution of the procedure.

3. In case of finding formal defects, the minister requests the applicant to complete them within a specified time limit; otherwise the application will be left without examination.

4. If the applicant fails to complete the application within the specified time limit, the Minister of Justice notifies the applicant that the application is left without examination.

5. The applicant may apply for suspension of the procedure if the time limit set pursuant to Article 13(5) of the Act of 22 December, 2015 on the Principles of Recognition of Professional Qualifications Acquired in the Member States of the European Union is insufficient to complete the defects in due time.

Documents

Time limit

Within 1 month.

3. Substantive verification of the application

The Minister of Justice analyses the education and training programme and professional experience of the applicant.

Recognition of professional qualifications of sworn translator depends primarily on the authorizations which applicant acquired in a different country. In case the profession of sworn translator is not regulated in the country of applicant, the Minister of Justice takes into account programme of education and training, as well as professional experience of the applicant.

In case of justified doubts as to the authenticity of documents submitted by the applicant, the authority may request the competent authority of another Member State for confirmation of the authenticity of these documents (IMI system).

As a result of the analysis of documents, it is established that:

1. The applicant has appropriate qualifications and experience required for recognition of professional qualifications

or

2. The applicant has to serve an adaptation period or take an aptitude test for the purpose of obtaining a decision on recognition of qualifications.

The Minister of Justice sends to the applicant an order on the requirement to serve the adaptation period or to take the aptitude test.

The order determines the programme and duration of the adaptation period and the scope of skills and knowledge covered by the aptitude tests as regards the particular applications, on the basis of:

1) certificates, diplomas and other documents confirming the applicant's professional qualifications;

2) the programme of education and training completed by the applicant;

3) a period of professional practice, as well as professional skills acquired by the applicant;

4) the period which is required to acquire skills to practise the regulated profession in the Republic of Poland;

5) the scope of examination requirements covering skills and knowledge necessary to practise the regulated profession in the Republic of Poland;

6) differences resulting from the specificity of the profession regulated in the Republic of Poland and in the applicant's country;

7) knowledge of the Polish law and professional terminology in the Polish language necessary to practise this particular regulated profession.

If it arises from the documents submitted by the applicant that the person has professional qualifications in the area of translation or interpretation corresponding to the requirements demanded from sworn translators in the Republic of Poland, the authority conducting the proceedings exempts the applicant, by means of an order, from the relevant part of the aptitude test.

The applicant, within 60 days after receiving the order, applies to the Minister of Justice for an adaptation period or for an aptitude test (the applicant is free to choose). The adaptation period and the aptitude test shall be conducted in Polish. Read the detailed description of the adaptation period and the aptitude test.

The adaptation period and the aptitude test are carried out in the Polish language.

Detailed description of the course of adaptation period or aptitude test are presented below in the section: Alternative course

Documents

4. Issuing a decision

On the basis of documentation, there is issued:

1. In case of a positive assessment - the Minister of Justice issues a decision on recognition of professional qualification.

2. In case of a negative assessment - the Minister of Justice issues a decision on the refusal to recognize professional qualifications. 

Documents

Time limit

Proceedings for recognition of qualifications should be terminated in a decision no later than within 3 months after the date of submission by the applicant of all necessary documents.  In exceptional cases, the deadline for issuing a decision may be extended by one month.  In the case of the applicant, who is undergoing an adaptation period or taking an aptitude test or a traineeship, the time limit shall be suspended until obtaining by the Minister of Justice the assessment of an adaptation period or result of an aptitude test.

5. Taking the oath

A person who has acquired qualifications to practise the profession of sworn tranlation, receives authorization to practise this profession after taking an oath and entry on the list of sworn translators.

6. Entry on the List of Sworn Translators

A person who has taken the oath is entered in the List of Sworn Translators kept by the Minister of Justice.

How much you will have to pay

980 zł

Conduct of the procedure and issuance of a decision on the recognition of professional qualifications to practise a regulated profession, shall be subject to payment of 35 % of the minimum wage, established on the basis of the Act of 10 October 2002 on the minimum remuneration for work, in force in the year of the initiation of the proceedings.  The fee shall be paid into the bank account of the Ministry of Justice.

In 2018 the minimum wage amounts to PLN 2100.

How long you will have to wait

How can you appeal

According to the Administrative Procedure Code, a decision issued in the first instance by the minister may not be appealed against; however, you can apply reconsideration of the case to the minister. 

Submit an application for reconsideration of the case to the Ministry of Justice within 14 days from the receipt of the decision