Sworn interpreter

When do you need a sworn interpreter?

A sworn interpreter may interpret for courts, civil-law notaries, the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND), and the police, among other audiences. Non-certified interpreters may not. Specifically, there is a Dutch law which prescribes that criminal and immigration law proceedings may only be handled by interpreters who are currently registered in the Register of Sworn Interpreters and Translators (Rbtv). Civil-law notaries, as well, are required — on the basis of Article 42, paragraph 1 of the Civil-Law Notaries Act — to make use of a civil-law notary interpreter if one of the parties at an execution appointment has no or insufficient mastery of the Dutch language. A civil-law notary interpreter must always be a sworn interpreter.

Entry to the Rbtv is possible if an interpreter has a diploma or certificate from an interpreter degree programme which is at least at the bachelor’s level, from an Rbtv interpreter test, or from the Association of SIGV Court Interpreters and Legal Translators (SIVG) course ‘Court Interpreter in Criminal Proceeding’”. By registering with the Sworn Court Interpreters and Translators (Wbtv) Agency, therefore, a sworn interpreter has a special competence.

What precisely does the Wbtv Agency do?

The Wbtv Agency checks whether an interpreter has met certain requirements with respect to quality and integrity. This is important if sensitive information is discussed in court proceedings. Moreover, an interpreter must take an oath or make a solemn affirmation:

‘I swear/affirm that I will perform my work as a sworn interpreter honestly, accurately and impartially and that, in the practice of interpretation work, I will behave as befits a proper sworn interpreter.’

If the interpreter satisfies the requirements and has taken the oath or made the solemn affirmation, he/she may then call themselves a sworn interpreter. Is a sworn interpreter better than one who is not sworn, a non-certified interpreter? No, that is not the case. A sworn interpreter must meet requirements with respect to diplomas, certificates and work experience. A non-certified interpreter does not have to meet these qualifications but is nevertheless evaluated by us for quality and integrity.

Would you like to discuss the possibilities? We’re happy to contribute ideas to help find a suitable solution.
Feel free to contact us on +31 (0)85 049 92 49 or at info@hearheartolken.nl.

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From the information you have entered, it appears that the interpretation must be to one language in a busier setting and for two or fewer listeners at a longer event. There are two possible solutions here:

- Two simultaneous interpreter with an interpreting booth;
- Two simultaneous interpreters with a whisper set.

We advise you to enter your contact details so we can provide you with an appropriate recommendation.

From the information you have entered, it appears that the interpretation must be to multiple languages at a longer event in a busy setting and for two or fewer listeners. The best solution is probably two simultaneous interpreters with an interpreting booth (two per language).

We advise you to enter your contact details so we can provide you with an appropriate recommendation.

From the information you have entered, it appears that the interpretation must be to one language in an intimate setting, but for a longer event. There are two or fewer listeners. The best solution is probably two simultaneous interpreters with a whisper set.

We advise you to enter your contact details so we can provide you with an appropriate recommendation.

From the information you have entered, it appears that the interpretation must be to one language in a busy setting and for two or more listeners at a longer event. The best solution is probably two simultaneous interpreters and an interpreting booth.

We advise you to enter your contact details so we can provide you with an appropriate recommendation.

From the information you have entered, it appears that the interpretation must be to multiple languages at a longer event for two or fewer listeners. The best solution is probably two simultaneous interpreters with whisper set (for each language) or two simultaneous interpreters with an interpreting booth (for each language).

We advise you to enter your contact details so we can provide you with an appropriate recommendation.

From the information you have entered, it appears that the interpretation must be to multiple languages in a busier setting for two or fewer persons during a brief event. The best solution is probably a simultaneous interpreter with an interpreting booth (one for each language to which must be interpreted).

We advise you to enter your contact details so we can provide you with an appropriate recommendation.

From the information you have entered, it appears that the interpretation must be to multiple languages in a busier setting for more than two persons during a longer event. The best solution is probably two simultaneous interpreters with an interpreting booth (one for each language to which must be interpreted).

We advise you to enter your contact details so we can provide you with an appropriate recommendation.

From the information you have entered, it appears that the interpretation must be to multiple languages in an intimate setting during a brief event for two or fewer listeners. The best solution is to use two whispering interpreters (with or without equipment).

We advise you to enter your contact details so we can provide you with an appropriate recommendation.

From the information you have entered, it appears that the interpretation must be to multiple languages in a quiet setting for more than two persons during a longer event. The best solution is probably two simultaneous interpreters and an interpreting booth (one for each language to which must be interpreted).

We advise you to enter your contact details so we can provide you with an appropriate recommendation.

From the information you have entered, it appears that the interpretation must be to multiple languages in an intimate setting during a brief event for more than two persons. The best solution is probably a simultaneous interpreter with whisper set (one interpreter and whisper set for each language) or a simultaneous interpreter with an interpreting booth (one interpreter and interpreting booth for each language).

We advise you to enter your contact details so we can provide you with an appropriate recommendation.

From the information you have entered, it appears that the interpretation must be to one language in an intimate setting during a brief event for two or fewer listeners. The best solution is to use a whispering interpreter without equipment.

We advise you to enter your contact details so we can provide you with an appropriate recommendation.

From the information you have entered, it appears that the interpretation must be to one language in an intimate setting for more than two persons during a brief event. The best solution is a simultaneous interpreter with a whisper set.

We advise you to enter your contact details so we can provide you with an appropriate recommendation.

From the information you have entered, it appears that the interpretation must be to one language in an intimate setting for two or more persons during a longer event. The best solution is probably two simultaneous interpreters with a whisper set.

We advise you to enter your contact details so we can provide you with an appropriate recommendation.

From the information you have entered, it appears that the interpretation must be to one language in a busier setting for a larger number of listeners during a brief event. The best solution is probably a simultaneous interpreter with a whisper set or interpreting booth.

We advise you to enter your contact details so we can provide you with an appropriate recommendation.

From the information you have entered, it appears that the interpretation must be to multiple languages in a busier setting for more than two persons during a brief event. The best solution is probably a simultaneous interpreter with an interpreting booth (one for each language to which must be interpreted).

We advise you to enter your contact details so we can provide you with an appropriate recommendation.

From the information you have entered, it appears that the interpretation must be to one language in a busier setting with two or fewer listeners. It is a brief event. The best solution is probably to use a whispering interpreter without equipment but, depending on the details of your event, a whisper set or interpreting booth may be advisable.

We advise you to enter your contact details so we can provide you with an appropriate recommendation.

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