Find a state-authorised translator by searching for the right language direction and checking who will translate. Clarify the recipient’s requirements, the scope of the document, delivery format and total price before ordering.
When do you need a state-authorised translator?
You need a state-authorised translator when the recipient requires this type of translation. Ask the recipient before ordering, because requirements vary between agencies and types of case.
A state-authorised translator, statsautorisert translatør, is a translator with a personal authorisation. This authorisation is an official permission. The translator works with written text. An interpreter works with spoken communication; that is a different service.
This guide concerns choosing and commissioning a translator. SamfunnPrep explains the document requirements themselves in its guide to foreign documents in Norway. It shows why you need to distinguish translation from authentication of the document.
Example: You need to submit a certificate to a Norwegian authority. First find the requirements for that particular certificate and case. Then send the requirement to the translator so the quote covers the right type of delivery.
Do not order a translation “for use in Norway” without naming the recipient. A document accepted by an employer may have the wrong format for another recipient.
What do language direction and personal authorisation mean?
Language direction means the language the text is translated from and the language it is translated into. Check both languages and the correct direction.
Norges Handelshøyskole, NHH, administers translator authorisations. NHH is the Norwegian School of Economics. It explains that authorisation may cover Norwegian to a foreign language, the reverse direction or both, checked on 13 October 2026.
Authorisation from Norwegian into Polish therefore does not automatically mean authorisation from Polish into Norwegian. Nor does it mean the person is authorised for Polish into English.
Clarify who holds the authorisation if you order through an agency. Ask for the person’s name and relevant language direction. A firm may arrange services from several people with different qualifications.
If the provider uses phrases such as “certified translation”, ask what this means. Request a specific explanation of which person signs and certifies the text. Compare the explanation with the recipient’s requirements.
Where can you find a state-authorised translator?
Use Translatørportalen to find members with the relevant language direction. Contact the person directly about availability and a quote.
Translatørportalen is run by Statsautoriserte translatørers forening, STF, the professional association for state-authorised translators. The portal lets you search from one language into another. STF is a professional association, not a translation agency.
As of 13 October 2026, the portal explains that no results means none of the association’s members has that language direction. It does not prove there are no other qualified translators.
You can also search for “statsautorisert translatør” together with the language you need. Check the person’s qualifications and contact details. Do not choose solely based on an advertisement or a promise of fast delivery.
If you cannot find the right language direction, ask the recipient which alternatives it accepts. Also ask STF or NHH where you can clarify qualifications. Do not order an intermediate translation through a third language without checking whether it will be accepted.
What should you clarify with the recipient first?
Ask the recipient to specify the accepted language, translator requirements and delivery format. Keep the response and send it with your request for a quote.
Skatteetaten is Norway’s Tax Administration, responsible for matters including Folkeregisteret, the National Population Register. Its guidance on marrying a foreign citizen sets specific requirements for translating certificates.
For a birth certificate under the conditions on that page, a state-authorised translation is required when the certificate is not in English or a Nordic language. This was checked on 13 October 2026. It is not a universal requirement for all documents used in Norway.
Ask the recipient:
- Which language should the translation be in?
- Is a state-authorised translator required, and what is accepted for translations done abroad?
- Must all pages and stamps be translated?
- Is the original, a paper version or a digital file needed?
- Should the translation be submitted together with the original or a copy?
SamfunnPrep has a separate explanation of apostille and legalisation. Do not assume the translator’s stamp replaces these requirements.
How do you request comparable quotes?
Send every provider the same document scope and recipient requirements. You can then compare the whole delivery rather than a simple price per page.
State the source language, desired language, recipient and deadline. Describe the document type and number of pages, including reverse sides with text. Mention handwriting, stamps and attachments.
STF’s advice for buyers explains that prices are agreed according to the assignment. Providers may use a fixed price, a price per word or other calculation methods. Ask for a total price for your particular document.
| Item in the quote | What you should establish | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Professional | Name and relevant language direction | You know who certifies the translation |
| Scope | Pages, attachments and stamps | You avoid comparing different assignments |
| Delivery | Paper, digital file and number of copies | The result meets the recipient’s needs |
| Cost | Total price and any extras | Your budget covers the entire order |
Ask about value added tax, postage, extra copies and any urgent service. Clarify what happens if a page is illegible or if you send more documents later.
How do you send documents safely and clearly?
Use the provider’s recommended channel and send clear photos or scans of the whole document. Ask before sending originals by post.
Certificates may contain names, dates of birth and other private information. Ask who gets access and how files are handled. Avoid posting sensitive documents in open requests on social media.
Send all pages in the correct order. Give files clear names and say if a reverse side is blank. Do not crop out stamps or remarks because they seem unimportant.
Provide the spelling used in your passport or another identity document when names appear in different alphabets. Ask the translator to clarify how names should be rendered. Differences between original documents should be explained, not concealed through translation.
If an original contains an error, ask the issuer about correcting it. Do not instruct the translator to change a date of birth or other content to make the documents match.
What do you check when the translation arrives?
Check that you have received the right document, all agreed pages and the agreed delivery format. Ask for a correction if something is missing.
Pay particular attention to names, dates and document numbers. You do not need to know the target language to notice that a page is missing. Ask for an explanation if a remark or stamp has not been rendered clearly.
Clarify how translation errors are corrected and whether you receive a new certified version. Do not edit the delivered text yourself and submit it as though it were still the translator’s certified work.
Submit the document package in the format the recipient requires. Keep the quote, order and completed files. SamfunnPrep’s practical tools can help you keep track of other tasks as you settle in Norway.
