INTRODUCTION

These two terms, "official" and "certified" translation, mean exactly the same thing. "Official translations" are certified translations that one can use for a specific purpose, i.e., to submit them to a certain authority, body or organisation (Tax Office, Civil Service, University, Tenders, Banks, etc.). By the term "Certified Translation" we refer to a translation that has been certified by a competent authority, i.e., a translation whose validity is certified. It should be emphasised that non-certified translations of texts for personal use or for websites etc. do not need a certified translation.

Official - certified translations

Prerequisites of a certified translation.

• 1. The original document must be valid, if it is a photocopy of the original document, it has to be a certified true copy. Greek documents are certified by the Hellenic Police, lawyers or by the KEP (Citizen Service Centres). Lawyers and competent foreign authorities certify documents that are not Greek.
  2. The translation is to be attached to the original document.
  3. The translation has to be officially certified by a competent authority.

Where do I go for a certified translation?

The translation office "METAFRASIS" located in Kavala undertakes "official" or "certified" translations of all sorts and in any language combination. You can contact us at +30 2510 226590 and at e-mail info@e-metafrasis.gr

 METAFRASIS in Kavala certifies translations in the following ways:

• • Τhrough our associates, graduates of the Department of Foreign Language, Translation and Interpreting of the Ionian University (Presidential Decree no. 169. Only certain language pairs are certified, not all languages.
  • Through our associates, lawyers who are members of Bar Associations. The document that is certified by a lawyer, is only valid if his/her linguistic aptitude of both the original and the translated text has been declared to the Bar Association (articles 52-53 Legislative Decree 3026/1954. Code of Lawyers).

Other ways to validate translations are at consulates of foreign countries in Greece. Specific procedures, prices and delivery times vary from consulate to consulate, but it is generally quite time-consuming and bureaucratic 

As regards certified translations, METAFRASIS in Kavala cooperates with lawyers and official translators who have a special license to carry out certified translations. The certified translations we provide are in accordance with the current Greek legislation on official translations.

Some the documents that often must be translated and validated are:

• • Translation and validation of degrees
  • Translation and validation of accompanying/support documents and public documents
  • Translation and validation of divorces and adoptions
  • Translation and validation of court decisions
  • Translation and validation of passports, residence permits, driving licenses, etc.
  • Translation and validation of contracts
  • - Translation and validation of documents that are to be submitted to the Supreme Council for Civil Personnel Selection (ASEP) and as supporting documents when bidding for public tenders in general.

"METAFRASIS" has a plethora of specialised translators, interpreters, proofreaders and editors, in all language pairs and in all specialisations. Today, we are able to cover all European language pairs but also all major world languages and also facilitate unconventional language pairs, consequent to prior customer request and a somewhat longer deadline.

More specifically, our translation office offers the following services:

• Official and legally certified translations of all kinds, valid for any legal use – Legal validation of documents.

• Translation of texts of all types and specialisations into all European and global languages
• Real time interpretation, both consecutive and simultaneous. We facilitate conferences, press conferences, business appointments and business trips, guided tours, tourism businesses, reception and escorting of visitors, social events, etc.
• Translation and localisation of websites and software
• Editing and proofreading of texts in any language combination σε κάθε γλωσσικό συνδυασμό
• Subtitling of all types of visual material
• Last-minute urgent projects