🇩🇪 What documents must be translated for the Germany Working Holiday

Volare Editorial | August 30, 2026

When preparing your folder for the Germany Working Holiday, language is a determining administrative factor. Although Germany is an international powerhouse, its bureaucracy operates strictly under its own linguistic rules. Presenting documents in the correct language is not just a matter of courtesy, but a technical requirement for your visa to be processed without rejections at the counter.

At Volare, we explain when it is truly mandatory to translate, when it is an unnecessary expense, and what standards your translators must meet.

The General Rule according to the application location

The official language of all procedures before the Federal Foreign Office of Germany (Auswärtiges Amt) is German. However, there is immense flexibility depending on the office where you submit your physical application:

• Embassies in Latin America (Argentina, Chile, Uruguay): The German consulate perfectly understands your native language. They accept official supporting documents (such as proof of funds and penal certificates) in their original Spanish format, without the need to translate.

• Embassy in Brazil: It is common for the consulate to require sworn translations into German for critical security documents.

• Application within Germany (Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand): If you apply directly at the local Ausländerbehörde (Foreigners' Office), the requirement is at its highest: all documentation in a foreign language (other than English in most cases) must have an official translation into German.

Summary Board: What to translate and what not to

To ensure a smooth approval and prevent you from spending money on translations the consulate hasn't asked for, be guided by this official matrix:

Document in your Folder	Required Language for the Visa	Detail and Recommendation
💼 Curriculum Vitae (CV)	English or German (Mandatory)	A CV in Spanish will be immediately rejected. It must follow the German tabular format.
📝 Motivation Letter	English or German (Mandatory)	It is your opportunity to demonstrate your real interest in the country in a language they master.
💰 Bank Statements	Spanish or English	If the figures and the account holder's name are clear, Latin embassies do not ask for a translation.
🛂 Passport	Not applicable	Its data already comes in a standard bilingual/international format.

The myth of Criminal Records

There is a lot of confusion on the internet claiming that you must translate and apostille your criminal records.

Volare Rule: If you apply from Argentina, Chile, or Uruguay, this is false. You can present the original PDF issued by the government in Spanish with its digital validation code. Paying a public translator for this specific document is an expense you should avoid. (If you apply from Brazil or present a health certificate from South Korea, the translation is indeed mandatory).

Who must perform the translation

For documents that do require translation into another language (or if you decide to apply for a professional job once in Europe and need to translate your university degree), not all translations are valid. There are two professional levels:

1. Public Translator (In your home country): For procedures you submit to your local consulate. The translation usually requires legalization by the corresponding Translators' Association.

2. Sworn Translator (Beeidigter Übersetzer): If you are already in Germany and performing an internal procedure with the government, the foreigners' office will only accept translations done by sworn professionals authorized by the German courts. You can search and hire them through the official State portal: Justiz-Dolmetscher.

Complete Volare Guide

Having your documents in the correct language and knowing when to save on translations is the secret of a smart traveler. To review motivation letter examples, how to build your resume, and the step-by-step form guide, we invite you to study our Official Germany Working Holiday Visa Guide.