Sworn Translator in Poland – Legal Liability in 2026

The profession of a sworn translator and the issues associated with it, including legal liability, professional powers and statutory duties, are not matters that most people encounter in everyday life. Moreover, reliable sources explaining exactly what a sworn translator does and what level of responsibility comes with practising this profession are not always easy to find.

Basic information about the profession can also be found in our article on where to find a sworn translator in Poland using official lists and registries.

In this article, we explain who a sworn translator actually is, what qualities such a professional should have, what a sworn translator is authorised to do, what duties they must fulfil and what legal and professional liability is associated with practising as a sworn translator in Poland.

Sworn Translator – Legal Liability in 2026: Who Is a Sworn Translator and What Qualities Should They Have?

In simple terms, a sworn translator in Poland is a translator who has met the statutory requirements for practising the profession and successfully passed the highly specialised state examination for sworn translators. The examination is conducted before the State Examination Commission under the authority of the Polish Minister of Justice.

After successfully passing the examination and fulfilling the remaining statutory requirements, the translator takes an official oath and is entered on the list of sworn translators maintained by the Minister of Justice.

Once authorised to practise, a sworn translator may officially prepare certified written translations and provide interpreting services within the language combination for which they hold professional qualifications.

When we look more closely at the profession, however, it becomes clear that a sworn translator — regardless of their language specialisation — needs considerably more than formal qualifications. They must have an excellent command of both Polish and the relevant foreign language.

This proficiency should include vocabulary, grammar, style and overall linguistic accuracy. Equally important is a good understanding of the culture, history, customs and institutional realities of the countries in which the relevant languages are used.

Based on our experience at Mostowy, the documents most frequently handled by sworn translators are practical and specialist texts. Written certified translations commonly include vehicle documents, civil status records, company agreements, financial statements, official and court documents, technical documentation and medical records.

Financial documentation is one example of an area in which specialist terminology and subject-matter knowledge are particularly important. More information can be found in our article on certified financial document translation.

Interpreting assignments most frequently arise in court proceedings, administrative matters and notarial activities. Depending on the circumstances and the requirements of the institution involved, interpreting may be provided consecutively, simultaneously or as sight translation.

Given the wide range of subjects covered by certified translations and interpreting assignments, a sworn translator should have at least a working understanding of areas such as civil law, criminal law, commercial law, administrative law and finance. Since no professional can specialise in every field simultaneously, the ability to conduct reliable research and continuously develop professional knowledge is also extremely important.

What Is a Sworn Translator Authorised to Do?

One of the fundamental powers of a sworn translator is the preparation and certification of translations from Polish into the foreign language for which the translator is authorised, as well as from that foreign language into Polish.

Under the Polish regulations governing the profession, Polish is therefore either the source language or the target language of a certified translation prepared within the statutory powers of a Polish sworn translator.

Another important professional activity is checking and certifying a translation that was originally prepared by another person. However, certification is not merely a formal act or the addition of a seal. The sworn translator must first verify the translation and becomes professionally responsible for the certified version.

If the translation provided for certification is inaccurate, unreliable or contains significant errors, the sworn translator may refuse to certify it in its existing form and instead recommend correcting the document or preparing a new translation.

The difference between certification and sworn translation is explained in more detail in our article on certification of a translation vs. sworn translation.

A sworn translator is also authorised to prepare certified copies of foreign-language documents, certify copies prepared by other persons and provide interpreting services for courts, prosecutors, the Police, notaries and public authorities.

Sworn translators are often involved in notarial matters, although obtaining a sworn translation does not automatically mean that a separate visit to a notary will always be required. We explain this issue in more detail here: Do I need to visit a notary after getting a sworn translation?.

What Are the Duties of a Sworn Translator?

The professional powers of a sworn translator are accompanied by a number of important duties. These include exercising particular diligence, remaining impartial, maintaining confidentiality, completing assignments reliably, continually improving professional qualifications and properly documenting professional activities.

Particular diligence means preparing translations accurately and reliably, in accordance with applicable legal requirements and professional standards, without unjustified omissions or alterations.

Accuracy is especially important in the case of names, dates, amounts, document numbers, official titles and specialist terminology, as even seemingly minor mistakes may affect the interpretation or usability of a document.

Impartiality and faithfulness to the source mean that the translator should accurately reflect the content of the original document without modifying its meaning or adapting it to the interests of the client. A sworn translator cannot remove inconvenient information or change the wording of a document simply because a client would prefer a different result.

Confidentiality applies both to the information contained in documents and to the circumstances learned by the translator while carrying out an assignment. Sworn translators frequently handle personal, financial, medical, commercial and legal information, which makes appropriate data protection particularly important.

We discuss the practical aspects of confidentiality and data protection in our article on sworn translators and GDPR.

Another important professional duty is continuous development of qualifications. Legal terminology, institutional language and specialist vocabulary evolve over time, which means that sworn translators must regularly update their knowledge and professional skills.

Sworn translators are also required to maintain a register of their professional activities, commonly referred to in Poland as a repertorium, in accordance with the applicable statutory requirements.

Their duties are particularly significant when work is commissioned by courts, prosecutors, the Police or public administration authorities. In such situations, refusal to provide translation or interpreting services is possible only where particularly important reasons justify it.

Legal Liability of a Sworn Translator

The professional responsibility of a sworn translator covers the improper or unreliable performance of statutory duties and applies both to written certified translations and interpreting assignments.

A sworn translator may therefore face professional liability for breaches such as failure to exercise the required level of diligence, violation of confidentiality, lack of impartiality, improper maintenance of professional records or other failures to comply with obligations imposed by law.

Depending on the nature and seriousness of the violation, professional sanctions may include a warning, reprimand, financial penalty, temporary suspension of the right to practise or deprivation of the right to practise as a sworn translator.

It is important, however, to distinguish professional liability from criminal liability.

A mistake in a translation does not automatically constitute a criminal offence. Criminal liability may arise where the conduct of the translator independently fulfils the legal requirements of an offence under applicable criminal law.

Similarly, when a sworn translator checks and certifies a translation originally prepared by another person, the translator assumes professional responsibility for the version they certify. This is why certification requires genuine verification of the text rather than a purely formal approval.

The profession of a sworn translator therefore involves a significant level of responsibility as well as public trust. A sworn translator is not simply a language specialist authorised to use an official seal, but a regulated professional whose activities are governed by specific statutory requirements.

For clients, this means that choosing an appropriately qualified and experienced translator is particularly important when documents are intended for courts, public authorities, notaries, universities, financial institutions or other organisations that rely on the formal validity and accuracy of translated documents.

More practical criteria for choosing a professional can be found in our article on how to choose a sworn translator in Poland.

FAQ: Sworn Translator – Legal Liability in 2026