Legal Translation in Lebanon: Sworn Translators and Apostille Process
AdvisorLB Team
A sworn translator (مترجم محلَّف) in Lebanon is appointed by the Ministry of Justice and registered at the courts. Only their stamp on a translation has legal force. Regular translators — however good — cannot produce documents accepted by embassies or courts abroad.
When You Need a Sworn Translation
- University applications abroad — diplomas, transcripts.
- Embassy/visa applications — civil records, criminal records, marriage certificates.
- Court filings — contracts, judgments, depositions.
- Business — articles of incorporation, board resolutions, audited financials.
The Full Workflow for Diaspora-Bound Documents
- 1. Get the original document (or certified copy from the issuing authority).
- 2. Sworn translator translates and stamps.
- 3. Ministry of Foreign Affairs legalization (single stamp).
- 4. Embassy of destination country legalization (their stamp).
- Lebanon is not party to the Hague Apostille Convention — so the full embassy chain is needed for most destinations.
Pricing (USD, per page)
- Standard text (CV, simple contract): $15-30.
- Technical/legal (court ruling, audit report): $30-60.
- Notary stamps and embassy legalization: $20-100 per document on top.
- Rush (48h): typically +50%.
How to Choose a Translator
- Verify the stamp shows Ministry of Justice registration number.
- Specialization matters — a legal translator for contracts, medical translator for clinical reports.
- Sample turnaround on small jobs before trusting a long urgent translation.
- Receipt with full firm info for embassy submission.