In much of Europe an official translation means a state-appointed sworn translator. Ireland works differently. Here is what Irish bodies actually ask for, what ATII is and is not, and where the word "sworn" still matters.
"Sworn translation Ireland" is a common search among people who have just moved here, and it makes perfect sense. In Poland, Spain and many other countries, an official translation means a translation by a sworn translator, a person appointed by the state and entitled to stamp documents. So people arrive in Dublin or Cork, look for the Irish equivalent, and find it does not exist. That is not a gap in the market. It is how the Irish system works.
A sworn translator is a translator whose status comes from the state. The European e-Justice Portal describes two typical models. In Poland there is "a list of sworn translators and interpreters kept by the Polish Ministry of Justice" (e-Justice, Poland). In Spain, to qualify as a sworn translator "it is necessary to pass the examination organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs", and holders "are authorised to make official translations" (e-Justice, Spain). The stamp of a sworn translator is the thing that makes the document official.
Ireland has no state appointment, no ministry list and no protected title of "sworn translator". The e-Justice page that each Member State maintains about its own legal translators says, for Ireland, only this:
There is no Irish government register to point to, because none exists. Irish authorities instead describe the translation they want and who may provide it. Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) is typical:
The operative word in Ireland is certified, not sworn. A certified translation carries a signed, dated statement of accuracy with the translator's name, occupation, address and phone number. Our certified translation guide sets out the exact wording ISD and the DFA ask for.
If a form, a solicitor or a relative tells you to get a "sworn translation" for use in Ireland, what you almost always need is one of these:
When in doubt, ask the receiving body a precise question: "Do you need a certified translation, or an affidavit from the translator?" The answer tells you everything.
ATII was set up in 1986; Citizens Information still refers to it by its earlier name, the Irish Translators’ and Interpreters’ Association. It is a voluntary professional association, not a regulator, and no Irish law makes membership a condition of translating. It runs its own examinations, publishes a directory of members and has a code of practice.
ATII's highest tier for certified work is a title it awards itself. According to ATII, it introduced an examination in 2006 leading to the title "ATII Certified Translator", renamed in 2016 to "ATII Certified Legal Translator" (ATII, About certified translation). Only existing Professional Members may sit it, candidates translate a short document such as a birth certificate and a longer legal text, and applications open once a year (ATII, Certified Legal Translator).
ATII sets its own rules for how its title may be used:
ATII also says its certified legal translators may only certify their own translations, only in their certified language pairs, and may not certify a translation made from a scanned or faxed copy of the original. These are association rules for its members, not rules of Irish law.
For translations used in Ireland, the rules we have checked (ISD, the HSE Civil Registration Service, the Passport Office, citizenship) do not require ATII membership. Citizens Information does mention the association as a place to find a professional translator for a citizenship application, as a suggestion rather than a rule (Citizens Information, naturalisation).
The notable exception runs in the other direction. When the DFA legalises or apostilles a translation of an Irish document for use abroad, its guidance says translators "must be registered on ATII or be from an Irish registered translation company with CRO number", and the translation must then be notarised (DFA, Authentication and Apostille). That applies to Irish documents leaving Ireland, not foreign documents arriving. Our apostille guide covers it, including why we do not offer that route.
The word "sworn" is used in Irish legal practice, just not about translators. It is about affidavits. Under the Rules of the Superior Courts, a foreign language affidavit must be translated "by a translator who is suitably qualified for the purpose", and the translator files an affidavit in which they:
So a court does not ask whether the translator is "sworn" in the continental sense. It asks for a sworn statement by a qualified translator. The same Order allows affidavits for the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court to be sworn abroad before an Irish diplomatic or consular officer or, where none is conveniently near, before a notary public authorised to administer oaths in that country (rule 11). The court and probate guide explains when a translator's affidavit is needed.
If you had a document translated by a sworn translator in another EU country, EU law may help. Regulation (EU) 2016/1191 on public documents provides that a certified translation carried out by a person qualified to do so under the law of a Member State "shall be accepted in all Member States" (Article 6(2)). That covers civil status and similar public documents within the Regulation's scope, such as birth, marriage and criminal record documents. It does not cover every document, and it does not help with a translation into Polish or Spanish, because an Irish body still needs to read the document in English or Irish. Our EU forms guide explains the Regulation.
Ireland has no state list of sworn translators. The e-Justice Portal page for Ireland names only a voluntary association.
ATII was founded in 1986. Its earlier name, the Irish Translators’ and Interpreters’ Association, still appears on Citizens Information.
The "ATII Certified Legal Translator" title dates from 2016; its predecessor, "ATII Certified Translator", was introduced in 2006.
In Irish courts, the translator swears an affidavit exhibiting the translation. The oath attaches to the affidavit, not to the translator's status.
Under EU Regulation 2016/1191, a certified translation made under another Member State's law must be accepted for public documents within its scope.
We are not sworn translators, because nobody in Ireland is, and we do not claim ATII status. We provide certified translations by professional human translators, with a signed Certificate of Accuracy that mirrors ISD and DFA wording, the translation date, the translator's name and signature, our company address, phone and email, a company stamp and a reference number. The price is €29.95 per page (300 words) in any of 100+ languages, with 24-hour standard turnaround for 1 to 3 pages. For court and probate use, ask your solicitor how a translator's affidavit should be handled.
Popular requests include birth certificates, court documents and foreign wills. You can get a quote or start an order online.
Checked 25 September 2026. Rules change, so confirm with the receiving body before you apply.
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