A system comparable to that of publicly appointed or sworn translators in Germany does not exist in India. As a result, translations prepared in India are generally not recognized as certified translations within the meaning of German administrative procedures.

If a German authority requires a certified translation, applicants are advised to contact the competent authority in Germany in advance to clarify whether, in the individual case, a translation prepared in India may be accepted. In certain cases, a translation issued by a Goethe Institute (Max Mueller Bhavans or Goethe Centres) in India may be considered sufficient.

If such recognition is not possible, the translation must be prepared in Germany by a publicly appointed or sworn translator. The Regional Judicial Authorities are offering a list of translators.

Uncertified (informal) translations can generally be prepared without difficulty by translation offices in India, provided that the German authority has not specified particular requirements.

All costs and fees associated with translations must be borne by the applicant.

The German missions in India do not offer translation services and cannot confirm the accuracy of translations either.