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Certified translation

Employment reference

Your Employment reference as a certified translation by a sworn translator.

1. Select languages & delivery

2. Upload your document

3. Check the number of pages

Free shipping & fast delivery

  • PDF delivered to your inbox 3-4 business days* after upload.
  • Hardcopy delivered by mail 5-6 business days*, free shipping included.

* Business days only (Mon-Fri). Delivery times depend on the number of pages and may vary.

Need it sooner? Let us know and we might find a solution!

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Certified Employment reference translation, ready for authorities

  • Job abroad in sight?

    Congratulations! That sounds like a fantastic opportunity. If your new employer requires translated and officially certified certificates, you've come to the right place. Our sworn translators are authorized to provide certified translations. This way, you can demonstrate your skills in any other language.

    Certified translation of employment references, letters of recommendation, internship certificates and interim certificates.
    Does not apply to academic certificates and certificates in tabular form – please select and order the certificate.

  • When you order with Sworn Translators, you get:

    ✔ Guaranteed acceptance by offices & authorities within the EU. No second trips and no rejections!


    ✔ Delivery first & payment second. Translation arrives first, you check it, then pay with Klarna invoice


    ✔ A nice, professional translation of your document by sworn translators with official stamp & signature


    ✔ Clean formatting that looks official (not like someone scanned it in their basement)

  • Don't believe us?

    Check out our customer reviews.


    Order online anytime. Our shop is open 24/7.

    Your certified translation arrives as a PDF in your inbox 3-4 business days after upload (24 hours with express).


    Did you choose the delivery option PDF & original per post? Then shortly after, the hardcopy lands in your mailbox by priority mail or registered post. Ready to be accepted by any authority within the EU.

This is how quickly and easily you can get your certified translation:

Step 1: Upload your employment reference and select the language

Simply upload your reference at the top of this page – ideally as a high-resolution PDF or alternatively as a JPG or PNG. If you haven't scanned or photographed your reference yet, we recommend using our photo upload feature: To do so, open this page on your smartphone, take photos of all the reference pages during the ordering process (please ensure they are clearly legible), and select the source and desired target languages.

Step 2: Add your order to your shopping cart or complete your order via quick checkout

You can now complete your order with just a few clicks using our quick checkout. Alternatively, you can add your document to your shopping cart and add additional documents to be translated if needed. Once all your orders are in your shopping cart, select a payment method (e.g., PayPal or credit card), enter your contact details, and submit your order.

Step 3: Have a certified translation created

Now we take over. Your order will be automatically forwarded to our sworn translators. They will translate and certify your upload – paying close attention to the correct translation of all crucial phrases. As soon as the certification stamp is dry, we will send the translation to you. Shortly thereafter, it will be in your email inbox as a PDF and in your mailbox as a hard copy.

And if you are satisfied with it, please leave us a positive review.

  • Pay your way

    Choose from PayPal, Klarna, instant bank transfer, Apple Pay or credit card.

Frequently asked questions about translations of employment references

Why do I need a certified translation for my employment reference?

A reference contains important information about the quality of an employee's performance. Therefore, the translation should always be prepared by a sworn translator who certifies the accuracy of the translation through certification. Only then can foreign HR professionals and supervisors be confident that the content reflects the true evaluation and does not embellish or even distort it.

Where can I have my employment reference translated?

You can and should always commission the translation of your certificate of employment from a specialized translation agency. There, your certificate will be translated and certified by sworn translators. This ensures that the translation is not only grammatically correct but also accurately conveys the meaning of individual phrases in the desired language.

How much does the certified translation of my employment reference cost?

You can get a certified translation of a reference from us starting at €65.90. The price includes the translation service, the selected language combination, and the certification by our state-certified translators.

Into which languages ​​can I have my employment reference translated?

Bei Sworn Translators kannst du beglaubigte Übersetzungen in 19 Sprachkombinationen bestellen. Eine der beiden Sprachen, also die Ausgangs- oder Zielsprache, sollte Deutsch sein.

Unsere Sprachkombinationen sind:

Deutsch – Englisch
Englisch – Deutsch
Französisch – Deutsch
Spanisch – Deutsch
Russisch – Deutsch
Italienisch – Deutsch
Polnisch – Deutsch
Portugiesisch – Deutsch
Türkisch – Deutsch
Deutsch – Französisch
Deutsch – Spanisch
Griechisch – Deutsch
Niederländisch – Deutsch
Ukrainisch – Deutsch
Bosnisch – Deutsch
Serbisch – Deutsch
Kroatisch – Deutsch
Arabisch – Deutsch
Bulgarisch – Deutsch

Who translates and certifies employment references?

Only sworn, state-certified translators should translate employment references. They understand the significance of a single word on the meaning of a sentence and will translate your reference precisely and accurately. They also certify the translation. This ensures that the translation will be recognized in the country where you plan to work.

How do I determine the page count?

A single page is one side of a sheet of paper (regardless of word count). Front and back count as two separate pages. For translation purposes, we count all relevant pages of your original document. The total page count is the sum of all individual pages. Learn more here.

Are my data and document information kept confidential?

Absolutely! We handle all your data and document information with the highest level of confidentiality. In fact, we're quite fanatic about that. Our service holds certifications for translation services (ISO 17100), quality management (ISO 9001), and an excellent information security management system (ISO/IEC 27001).

A closer look – the pitfalls of certified translations of employment references

  • Certified translation of employment references, letters of recommendation, internship certificates and interim certificates.

    Aside from your resume, employment references are arguably the most important documents for convincing candidates when applying for a new job. The quality of your work, as assessed by previous employers, is a decisive factor in hiring new staff both in Germany and abroad. This makes it all the more important that an employment reference is officially and accurately translated by professional translators. Furthermore, a translation of the reference is often only valid and recognized if it is a certified translation with a stamp. Only then can you (and your new employer) be sure that all the phrases in the new language retain their original meaning.

  • Simple, qualified or in between – three types of employment references

    First of all: We translate and certify every employment reference. Nevertheless, it's always good to know what type of reference you're ordering a certified translation for. Here are three typical types (in Germany):

  • Simple employment reference

    Here, the content is limited to objective facts, without any evaluation. A simple employment reference is usually standardized and contains data such as the length of employment, position, and field of activity of the employee.

  • Qualified employment reference

    In addition to objective information, a qualified employment reference also contains evaluations. It is the most commonly used type of employment reference and is known for its precise wording, which can be converted into a kind of grading system.

  • Interim report

    An interim reference is often issued when there is a change in supervisor or a change in the company structure. It can therefore also be issued to employees during their employment.

  • Why wording is crucial for a good reference – and how we translate it

    Typically, we refer to a German employment reference as a qualified employment reference. Visually, such a reference often looks like a normal letter, but in reality, certain phrases conceal coded assessments comparable to the grades on a school report. To ensure that companies – both domestic and international – can accurately assess whether potential employees are suitable for employment, they place great value on the assessment and evaluation of previous employers. Reference translations are checked particularly carefully for international applicants.

    A simple translation is usually not enough to convince, as this can be done today with the help of online tools. The translated content is only verified through certification – and you can get that from us.

  • Employment reference or letter of recommendation – what does the employer want to see?

    The employment reference, as we know it in Germany, is not necessarily the document that HR managers or supervisors look at when applying for a job in other cultures. In English-speaking countries, the so-called letter of reference (also known as a letter of recommendation or recommendation letter) is often included in the evaluation. This is a letter of recommendation that doesn't contain the typical wording of a German employment reference. Instead, employees and colleagues also write an evaluation of you and your work.

    It's best to find out in advance what application documents are required for the new job and, if necessary, have a reference or letter of recommendation issued by your current/former employer – we will, of course, be happy to take care of the translation and certification for you.

  • Your new employer will be pleased – because we are triple certified

    The key to hiring new staff is accurately assessing candidates. HR managers and other decision-makers must be able to rely on the accuracy of the documents – even for international applicants. You can rely on our professional translations. Firstly, they are always certified and prepared by sworn translators. Secondly, our service is triple ISO-certified: for our translation services (ISO 17100:2015), our quality management (ISO 9001:2015), and our information security (ISO/IEC 27001:2013).

  • Can I translate my employment reference myself?

    You can, of course, translate your employment reference yourself, but we recommend a professional translation – ideally with a certified translation. Self-translated references are generally not very trustworthy and unconvincing. After all, your new employer won't be able to verify whether everything has been translated completely and accurately. Furthermore, translation errors can lead to misunderstandings and, in the worst case, leave a bad impression. Therefore, it's worth having your employment reference translated and certified by a certified translator.