Professional Sworn Translations in Indonesia
Sworn translation services in Indonesia, also known as, jasa penerjemah tersumpah, are essential for accurately translating documents such as legal contracts, academic records, immigration papers, academic transcripts, and other personal documents for official use.
Because these documents are submitted to government agencies or corporate institutions, the translation must not only be linguistically accurate but also legally valid. This is where the role of a sworn translator comes in.
A sworn translator, known in Indonesia as a penerjemah tersumpah, is an officially authorised individual who has undergone a strict and standardised certification process. To earn the title of a sworn translator, one must first pass the national qualification exam administered by Indonesia’s National Professional Certification Agency (BNSP).
Sworn translators in Indonesia are often listed in official registries maintained by various regional courts or government bodies such as SIHaPeI (Sistem Informasi Himpunan Penerjemah Indonesia), the Indonesian Directory of Translators and Interpreters developed by the Association of Indonesian Translators (HPI). These lists are used by government agencies and legal institutions to verify whether a translator is truly authorized to issue legally valid translations.
Sworn translations carry legal weight. Each translated document is typically stamped and signed by the sworn translator, indicating that it is a certified true translation of the original. The format of the stamp is often bilingual (Bahasa Indonesia and the target language), and this is important for international authorities reviewing the documents. Without this, translated documents may be rejected, causing delays in legal proceedings, academic admissions, or administrative processes.
In Indonesia, the number of sworn translators is relatively limited due to the strict certification process. Also, geographic disparity is a major issue. Outside of Java, particularly in Eastern Indonesia (e.g., Papua, Maluku), access to sworn translators is very limited.
This often makes their services in high demand, especially for less common language pairs. In many cases, clients must wait longer or pay a premium for certified sworn translations in languages other than English, Dutch, or Mandarin.
While sworn translations are legally valid within Indonesia, certain institutions, especially foreign embassies or international authorities, may request additional certification steps like notarisation or an apostille. Notarisation adds more legal authentication by a public notary, while an apostille certifies the document for use in countries that are part of the Hague Convention.
At Translayte, we offer sworn translations, notarisation, and apostille services through recognised Indonesian authorities, ensuring your translated documents are accepted both locally and abroad.
Requirements of a Sworn Translator in Indonesia
To become a sworn translator (penerjemah tersumpah) in Indonesia, a candidate must meet several strict legal and professional requirements. These requirements ensure that the translator is not only proficient in the language pair they work with but also trusted to produce translations that carry legal weight and are accepted by official institutions.
First and foremost, the candidate must pass the national certification exam organised by the National Professional Certification Agency (BNSP) and coordinated by Universitas Indonesia Professional Certification Institute (LSP UI). This exam is designed to assess a translator’s competence in both source and target languages, as well as their understanding of legal terminology and the standards required for translating formal documents.
However, passing the BNSP exam alone does not guarantee the status of a sworn translator. After passing the exam, candidates must take an official oath before the Minister of Law and Human Rights of the Republic of Indonesia. Some oaths are administered at the regional court level, especially for translators outside Jakarta. This decentralised process can lead to regional differences in the recognition of sworn translators. By taking this oath, the translator agrees to uphold professional integrity, accuracy, confidentiality, and ethical standards in all translation assignments.
Sworn translators are certified for specific language pairs, meaning someone sworn for English to Indonesian translation is not automatically authorised to translate between Indonesian and English. They must go through the certification process separately for each language pair they wish to be sworn in for. This is stricter than in many other countries.
All sworn translators must be registered with official bodies such as SIHaPeI (Sistem Informasi Himpunan Penerjemah Indonesia) or the HPI (Himpunan Penerjemah Indonesia). However, being an HPI member does not necessarily mean the translator is sworn. Only those authorised by Kemkumham (after passing the BNSP exam and taking the oath) are truly sworn translators (penerjemah tersumpah).
These organisations keep registries that allow government bodies and clients to verify a translator’s credentials. However, they aren’t always up-to-date and are not publicly accessible.
Their status is lifelong unless they are found guilty of professional misconduct or ethical violations, in which case their right to practice can be revoked by the Ministry of Law and Human Rights.
Why do you Need Sworn Translations in Indonesia?
Sworn translations (jasa penerjemah tersumpah) are essential in Indonesia because they provide legal validity and acceptance for documents that need to be used for official, legal, or administrative purposes.
Without a sworn translation, many institutions, including courts, government agencies, universities, and businesses, will not accept a document, even if it has been accurately translated.
Here are some of the most common reasons why you may need a sworn translation in Indonesia:
- Immigration Documents
If you're applying for a visa, residence permit, or citizenship, sworn translations are often required for documents such as passports, birth certificates, police clearance letters, and marriage certificates. Immigration offices demand certified translations to ensure the documents are accurate and legally binding.
- Business Registrations
When registering a company in Indonesia, all business documents, including articles of incorporation, shareholder agreements, licenses, and tax identification papers, must be translated into Bahasa Indonesia. Sworn translations are required to comply with legal and regulatory standards set by Indonesian authorities.
- Court Documents
Legal documents used in court proceedings, such as contracts, affidavits, lawsuits, and judgments, must be translated by a sworn translator to be admissible in court. These certified translations are considered legally valid and are recognised by judges, lawyers, and notaries.
- Diplomas and Transcripts
If you're applying to a university or educational institution in Indonesia or sending Indonesian academic records abroad, you’ll need sworn translations of your diplomas, transcripts, certificates, or letters of enrollment. These ensure that academic achievements are accurately represented and officially accepted.
- Certificates of Employment
Employers may require sworn translations of employment certificates, reference letters, and professional qualifications to validate your work history, especially in international job applications or corporate audits.
- Import/Export Documentation
For businesses involved in international trade, customs documents such as bills of lading, certificates of origin, and shipping invoices often need to be translated. Sworn translations ensure smooth processing at customs and help avoid regulatory delays or fines.
With certified translations from Translayte, you can ensure that your documents meet all legal and institutional requirements in Indonesia.
Who Requires Sworn Translations in Indonesia?
In Indonesia, sworn translations (terjemahan tersumpah) are officially recognised and accepted by the following authorities:
1. Government Institutions:
Sworn translations are accepted by ministries, immigration offices, the Directorate General of Civil Registration (Dukcapil), and other administrative bodies. These are often required for processes like visa applications, residency permits, civil registration (births, marriages, divorces), and citizenship applications.
2. Courts and Legal Bodies:
District courts, notaries, and law enforcement agencies rely on sworn translations for legal proceedings, evidence submission, and notarial acts. Because sworn translators are considered to provide legally binding translations, their work is admissible in court.
3. Educational Institutions:
Universities and schools, both in Indonesia and abroad, require sworn translations of academic transcripts, diplomas, and certificates for enrollment, scholarship applications, or credential evaluations. Indonesian institutions often demand sworn translations for foreign applicants, while Indonesian students applying abroad may need sworn translations of their documents from Indonesian into English or another language.
4. Foreign Embassies and Consulates:
Embassies frequently require sworn translations of supporting documents for visa, immigration, and legal purposes. Since sworn translations in Indonesia bear legal weight, many foreign missions accept them as part of their official documentation requirements.
5. Businesses and Corporations:
Sworn translations are also recognised by private companies, especially for corporate legal documents, contracts, financial reports, and regulatory filings. When dealing with foreign clients or regulatory bodies, companies often need legally certified translations for compliance.
6. International Recognition (in some cases):
While sworn translations done in Indonesia are primarily intended for domestic use, some foreign authorities (depending on the country and context) also accept them, particularly if they are accompanied by notarisation or legalisation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the relevant embassy.
7. Legal Firms, Enterprises, and Government Clients
Sworn translations aren’t just for individuals. Law firms, multinational businesses, and government institutions often require high-volume or recurring translation services, particularly for contracts, tenders, or compliance filings. Translayte offers enterprise-level solutions, including project management support, non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), and custom workflows to ensure accuracy, security, and speed at scale.
8. Archival and Heritage Purposes
In addition to modern documents, sworn translators in Indonesia are sometimes needed for colonial-era or historical documents, such as old Dutch-language land records. These are still used in legal land ownership disputes and must be translated with historical and legal context.
Supported Languages
- Indonesian to English
- English to Indonesian
- Indonesian to German
- German to Indonesian
- Indonesian to French
- French to Indonesian
- Indonesian to Italian
- Italian to Indonesian
- Indonesian to Spanish
- Spanish to Indonesian
- Indonesian to Russian
- Russian to Indonesian
- Indonesian to Croatian
- Croatian to Indonesian
- Indonesian to Portuguese
- Portuguese to Indonesian
- Indonesian to Turkish
- Turkish to Indonesian
- Indonesian to Chinese
- Chinese to Indonesian
- Indonesian to Arabic
- Arabic to Indonesian
- Indonesian to Japanese
- Japanese to Indonesian
- Indonesian to Norwegian
- Norwegian to Indonesian
We also accommodate other language pairs upon request. Our team of sworn translators (penerjemah tersumpah) is approved by the Ministry of Law and Human Rights of the Republic of Indonesia and provides sworn translations that meet the highest standards of accuracy and legality.
Commonly Translated Documents
Sworn translations are often required for a wide range of official documents, particularly when they are being submitted to Indonesian government agencies, courts, universities, or businesses. At Translayte, we provide certified translations for all major document types commonly needed in Indonesia, ensuring they meet legal and institutional standards.
Some of the most commonly translated documents include:
- Birth Certificates: Frequently required for immigration, visa applications, or civil registration purposes.
- Marriage Certificates: Needed for spousal visa applications, name changes, or family registration.
- Academic Transcripts: Essential for university admissions and credential evaluations.
- Diplomas and Degree Certificates: Required when applying for jobs, education, or further studies.
- Contracts and Legal Agreements: Needed in court cases, notarial acts, and corporate transactions.
- Business Registration Documents: Necessary for setting up companies, compliance, or corporate filings in Indonesia.
- Police Clearance Certificates: Often requested for work permits, immigration, and visa applications.
- Medical Reports: Required for insurance claims, medical treatments abroad, or visa applications.
- Passports and ID Cards: Commonly needed for legal identification, travel, or administrative purposes.
Please visit our documents page for a full list of documents we translate. Each translation is completed by a certified sworn translator (penerjemah tersumpah) and delivered with the official stamp and signature, ensuring full acceptance by Indonesian authorities.
Digital vs. Physical Translations
Sworn translations can be delivered in two formats: digitally (PDF with an official stamp and signature) or as physical hard copies bearing the translator’s signature. Most Indonesian institutions now accept digital versions, but some may still require printed originals, especially for legal or immigration purposes. Translayte offers both formats and provides shipping if you need hard copies.
Why Choose Translayte for Sworn Translations in Indonesia?
At Translayte, we understand the importance of delivering precise and legally recognised translations. Our commitment to excellence, experienced team of professional translators, and dedication to customer satisfaction set us apart from other translation companies.
- Certified Accuracy: All our translations are performed by sworn translators (penerjemah tersumpah) who are registered with the Minister of Law and Human Rights of the Republic of Indonesia. This means that every document we translate meets the legal standards required by government offices, universities, and businesses. You can trust our expertise to deliver translations that are accurate and reliable.
- Quick Turnaround: We know that time is of the essence, especially when dealing with official procedures. That’s why we offer fast and reliable delivery times without compromising quality.
- Guaranteed Acceptance: Our translations are recognised by government institutions like the Directorate General of Civil Registration (Dukcapil, Indonesian courts, universities, as well as businesses and legal entities. With Translayte, you can be confident that your documents will be accepted without any issues.
- Confidentiality: We understand that your documents may contain sensitive personal or business information. At Translayte, we prioritise the security and confidentiality of your data. All documents are handled with the utmost care to ensure privacy and protection.
- Simple Ordering Process: We believe that getting a certified translation shouldn’t be complicated. Our user-friendly online platform makes it easy to upload your documents, get a quote, and place your order with just a few clicks. Plus, our transparent pricing means no hidden fees or surprises.
How to Order a Sworn Translation in Indonesia
- Navigate to 'Check Prices & Place Order' on the top right side of this page.
- Select 'Certified Translation'.
- Select the source and target languages respectively.
- Upload the official document you need to be translated.
- If you want expedited services, select that option. Provide any extra instructions after this.
- Select the type of certification you require (if applicable).
- Click "PROCEED TO ORDER"
- Make the payment securely online. Once your order is placed, our team will assign it to a sworn translator, and you'll receive the translated document within the specified timeframe.
How Much Does a Sworn Translation in Indonesia Cost?
The cost of a certified Indonesian translation depends on several factors, including the length of the document, its complexity, and the language pair involved. Our pricing is competitive, starting at $25 per page, ensuring you receive high-quality translations at affordable rates.
For a free quote, please upload your document to our website or contact our customer service team, and we'll provide you with a detailed estimate at no cost.
Get Started With Sworn Translations in Indonesia
Order your Certified Translation from Indonesian to English or other languages online with Translayte for fast and legally valid translations in Indonesia.
