Document Translation - Why is it Necessary?

Foreigners wishing to handle many official matters in Norway must be prepared to translate necessary documents. They will be needed not only to obtain social benefits but also for basic matters such as obtaining residence registration or recognition of a profession obtained in Poland. Check which documents you should have translated to ensure the fastest possible handling of Norwegian official matters.

Family Reunification

Individuals who wish to bring family members to them, namely a spouse and/or child, must, after submitting an application to UDI and attending an appointment at the police, bring a birth certificate/marriage certificate containing an Apostille. If these documents are not on EU print, it will be necessary to translate them into Norwegian or English. Additionally, it is important to emphasize that the translation must be done by a sworn translator.

Social Benefits

We can distinguish several benefits for which document translation is necessary. The first group is benefits related to the birth of a child, namely:

• maternity grant – can be applied for by mothers who have not earned income in Norway to apply for parental benefit. The one-time maternity grant is 92,648 NOK. It can be applied for as early as the 22nd week of pregnancy or up to 6 months after the child's birth. If the child's mother is carrying the pregnancy in Poland or has given birth in Poland and wishes to apply for the maternity grant, she must translate the pregnancy card or the child's birth certificate.
• parental benefit – here, as with the maternity grant, it is necessary to translate the pregnancy card or the child's birth certificate.
• paternity leave – to apply for paternity leave, it is necessary to translate the pregnancy card or the child's birth certificate, and if the father intends to take the benefit for the mother, it is also necessary to translate the mother's certificate of return to work or study.

The second group of benefits for which document translation is necessary is child and care benefits. The basic documents to apply for benefits are the child's birth certificate and marriage certificate. In the case of applying for care benefits, it is necessary to document affiliation with the social security system for a minimum of 5 years, both for the mother and the father of the child. Therefore, if you have not lived in Norway for more than 5 years, you must obtain a certificate from NAV, which must also be translated.

The last group of income-replacing benefits includes:

• sickness and rehabilitation benefits (AAP) – in the case of receiving these benefits, you will be required to repeatedly send documentation regarding your health condition, treatment, and recovery forecasts to NAV.
• unemployment benefits – when applying for unemployment benefits due to job loss, you can apply for a child supplement. If you wish to receive it, you must attach translated birth certificates of the children.

Recognition of Profession in HK-dir and/or DSB

Individuals who, after moving to Norway, wish to work in their profession, or those who intend to find a new, better job, should apply for recognition of their education. Depending on the type of profession you have, you must submit the appropriate application to HK-dir or DSB. It will then be necessary to prepare, for example, diplomas from completed schools, diplomas, syllabuses, work certificates. All documents for the applications must be translated by a sworn translator. If you are wondering which documents apply to you, you can find more information on the website.

Tax Settlements and Corrections

If you work in Norway but have family (wife/child), independent property, or a mortgage in Poland, you have the right to apply for additional tax deductions during the tax settlement period in Norway. Depending on your situation, you should prepare:

• the child's birth certificate/marriage certificate,
• certificate of registration with the family for the entire year to which the settlement or correction applies,
• property deed in Poland/rental agreement for an apartment in Poland,
• certificate from the bank of paid interest on the mortgage in a specific year,
• certificate from the nursery/kindergarten/activity center for your child, if you incur costs related to them.

All the above documents should be translated if you want to take advantage of commuter deductions, parental contributions, or mortgage interest deductions.