Yes. If your employment contract or job offer is not in German, the Immigration Office (Ausländerbehörde) or the German Embassy will require a certified translation to verify your eligibility for a residence permit or EU Blue Card. They must ensure the contract meets specific legal criteria, such as minimum salary thresholds and social security compliance.
No. For official government purposes, "self-translations" are not accepted. The document must be translated by a court-sworn translator (beeidigte Übersetzer) who is registered with a German court. Their official stamp and signature serve as a legal guarantee of the translation's accuracy.
While many startups in Germany use English as their official language, German labor law and the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) still require a German version for official audits, work permit approvals, or in the event of legal disputes in a labor court.
Generally, the entire document must be translated, including any annexes or descriptions of duties (Stellenbeschreibung), to be considered a complete certified copy. Authorities need to see all terms, including your working hours, vacation days, and notice periods, to ensure they align with German labor standards.
The cost is typically based on the length and legal complexity of the contract. Since employment agreements often contain dense legal terminology, prices can vary.