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Take a Translator

Do you have to go to a public office but aren’t sure how you’ll get through it with your limited German language skills?

 

A skilled interpreter will accompany you to your appointments and guide you through the whole process.

With Kathleen’s stellar assistance I walked out of the Ausländerbehörde with a smile on my face and a nice shiny new visa!

Visiting public offices in Berlin can be stressful if you haven’t yet mastered German. Most of the case workers at the public offices in Berlin do not speak English, and visitors are often sent away and told to “come back with a German speaker”.

How frustrating! Hiring an immigration lawyer or a relocation agent is costly and unnecessary when all you need is affordable help with the language. That’s why Red Tape Translation began.

Having an interpreter is a small price to pay for the relief that comes with getting everything done quickly and efficiently. And once you’ve cut through all the red tape, you can get on with the fun stuff: learning German, starting work or study, getting your business off the ground, meeting friends, and discovering Berlin!

Let’s Get Started!

Fill out the form below, make your payment for the first hour and I’ll take care of the rest.

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  • Choose a few date/time slots when you would be available to go to the office.

    Please include at least one date that is at least two working days in the future. In the unlikely event that no interpreter is free on any of the date/time slots that you suggest, we will email you with some alternatives or refund you if necessary.

  • Please let me know the address of the office you're visiting as soon as you can.
  • 1. The client (that’s you!) only engages the services of Red Tape Translation for translation and/or interpreting once payment has been transacted.
    2. The translation and/or interpreting services may be provided by Kathleen Parker or by another translator and/or interpreter instructed by her.
    3. The fee for interpreting on-site is 75 EUR per hour, including VAT, with a minimum callout fee of one hour.
    4. The client and Red Tape Translation must agree upon a proposed date and time for the appointment in advance.
    5. Red Tape Translation will travel to any address within the Berlin AB Metro area, within the Frankfurt am Main city zone, and within the Münich Inner District. Extra fees may apply for appointments held outside of this area.
    6. Red Tape Translation’s fee for interpreting consists of a minimum callout fee for the first hour, agreed upon in advance by Red Tape Translation and the client. If the appointment takes longer than one hour, Red Tape Translation calculates additional time in blocks of 15 minutes and charges it at the same hourly rate.
    7. The client is made aware that Red Tape Translation only offers translating/interpreting services. Red Tape Translation does not offer legal advice. Red Tape Translation therefore accepts no liability for the outcome of the client appointments with German authorities or for the further progress (or lack thereof) of the client’s case.
    8. If necessary, the client should seek his or her own legal advice.
    9. The client must pay the minimum callout fee prior to the appointment.
    10. Payments made to Red Tape Translation are non-refundable, except if Red Tape Translation is unable to attend and no suitable alternative appointment can be found.
    11. If the client cannot attend an appointment or reschedules the appointment, the client has to inform Red Tape Translation at least 1 full working day before the scheduled time of the appointment. The client can then use the pre-booked payment for another appointment. If the client fails to inform Red Tape Translation at least 1 full working day before the scheduled appointment, the payment will be forfeited. Working days are Monday – Friday. This means appointments scheduled for Mondays must be cancelled or rescheduled during the day on the Friday prior, or the fee will be forfeited.
    12. Some German authorities may request a power of attorney which authorises the interpreter/translator to be present while a case being discussed. In this case, Red Tape Translation will provide the client with a suitable power of attorney. If the client does not sign it, the case worker may refuse to allow the interpreter/translator to attend. In this case, the minimum callout payment won’t be refunded to the client.

  • First, some definitions

    1. Personal data: any piece of information concerning an identifiable person, including their factual circumstances. These may include name, postal address, e-mail address, telephone number, communication ID (e.g. Skype, Hangouts), and other details you leave in notes or send as attachments. The personal data may be sensitive in nature (e.g. you might attach a medical report for translation).

    2. Processing: this means working with these pieces of personal data on your behalf. This could include collection, storage (including cloud-based), amendment, transfer, translation, proofreading, discussion or deletion.

    The Data Protection Policy

    1. Kathleen Parker takes data protection issues seriously and strives to protect customer rights.
    2. Kathleen Parker processes personal data only with customer consent or if a legal provision allows it. Personal data, including that of a sensitive nature, is only processed in a way necessary for responding to inquiries and processing orders, and only after the client has consented to this voluntarily. When you tick the box agreeing to the privacy policy before you submit information on this contact form, you consent to the processing of your personal data in a lawful, fair and transparent manner.
    3. Personal data will be stored for as long as necessary to perform service or maintain the relationship desired by the customer. The customer can request deletion of personal data at any time following delivery of the service requested. Mandatory data retention periods (e.g. for tax purposes) remain unaffected by this provision.
    4. Personal data is processed by Kathleen Parker, her employee/s and/or other authorised representatives or translators commissioned by her, all of whom are contractually obligated to treat personal data in compliance with this policy and with statutory provisions.
    5. Kathleen Parker has set up organisational and security measures to protect your data from unauthorised access or misuse. These measures are updated regularly in line with relevant statutory provisions.
    6. To find out more about how this website processes your personal data, read my Data Privacy Policy (https://www.redtapetranslation.com/data-privacy-policy/).
    7. At any time, the customer can request information at no charge about the information stored or the security measures taken by Kathleen Parker. Incorrect entries can be rectified. Data stored unnecessarily can be deleted upon customer request. A simple email request is fine.

    For more information, please contact Kathleen Parker: e-mail info@redtapetranslation.com, tel: 030 2089 6634, postal address: Red Tape Translation, c/o Factory Berlin, Rheinsberger Str. 76/77, 10115 Berlin.

    You'll receive the occasional email with helpful information or special offers.
    We respect your privacy and won't give out your email to anyone and you can unsubscribe at any time.
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    This payment is for the first hour (the minimum fee). This is necessary to book and confirm the appointment. If the appointment lasts longer than one hour, we will send an invoice for the difference.
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  • The Red Tape Translation bank account details are:
    IBAN: DE27 1005 0000 1067 3570 13
    BIC/SWIFT: BELADEBEXXX
    Bank Address: Landesbank Berlin - Berliner Sparkasse
    Alexanderplatz 2
    10178 Berlin
    Germany

    Make a transfer with TransferWise or make a bank transfer and we'll confirm the appointment as soon as we receive payment.

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  • We need to check to make sure the translator we send to your appointment has the right qualification or experience. Submit this form and we'll respond with a quote.
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The Details

Where we go, how long it takes and how much it costs

Residency Permit / Visa appointment

Where?
Ausländerbehörde (Foreigners' Office) This is where you get a work permit, a freelance visa, the artist’s visa, a Working Holiday Visa or an extension (Fiktionsbescheinigung). Make sure you check which office is responsible for your nationality and permit type before you visit! Or get Red Tape Translation to figure it out for you. Just check "yes" to the question "Would you like us to find out which office you need to visit and/or book you an appointment?" and I'll take care of it.
How Long?
If you have an appointment booked, it takes 50-70 minutes on average. If you’re walking in without an appointment, get there 2.5 hours before they open to minimise your waiting time. The good news is that Red Tape Translation caps costs at five hours per visit to the Ausländerbehörde - even if you’re there all day!
How Much?
Price: 75 EUR per hour including tax. No travel costs/time. Minimum one hour.

Consultation on getting married / appointment to submit documents for marriage

Where?
Standesamt (Registry Office) You can take any interpreter with you to the appointments leading up to your ceremony. You’ll need to show the Standesamt certified translations of your birth certificates if they’re not in German - send the certificates to me as a PDF and I’ll get you a quote and post them to you before your appointment.
How long?
If you have an appointment, it will take around 30-60 minutes. If you don’t, you might have to wait an hour or two just to be seen.
How much?
Price: 75 EUR per hour including tax. No travel costs/time. Minimum one hour.

Wedding ceremony

Where?
Standesamt (Registry Office) or a location of your choice The civil servant marrying you might insist that you bring a court-sworn interpreter (beeidigte / vereidigte Dolmetscher) with you on your wedding day. If that’s the case, Red Tape Translation would be happy to organise an interpreter with the right qualification. The pricing will be different, though (see below).
How long?
The ceremony usually takes around 30 minutes.
How much?
Price: If the civil servant marrying you is happy to have a regular Red Tape Translation interpreter at the ceremony, it will be 100 EUR, including tax, and you don’t have to worry about travel time or travel costs. If they insist on a court-sworn interpreter, expect to pay around 280-320 EUR including VAT and the interpreter’s travel time to and from the ceremony. Fill out the Take a Translator booking form for a quote.

Paternity / maternity declaration

Where?
Standesamt (Registry Office) It’s fine to get this done before your baby is born so that the father’s name can appear on the birth certificate. If you also want to submit a custody declaration at the same time, you’ll have to go to the Jugendamt. Confused about the paperwork surrounding having a baby in Germany? Book a Baby Bureaucracy coaching with Kathleen Parker.
How long?
The paternity declaration (Vaterschaftsanerkennung) on its own usually takes around 45 minutes. If you also need a maternity declaration, it might take a bit longer.
How much?
Price: 85 EUR per hour including tax. No travel costs/time. Minimum 1 hour.

Paternity declaration plus custody declaration

Where?
Jugendamt (Department of Youth Welfare) When the baby’s father acknowledges paternity legally, many couples decide to submit a joint custody declaration at the same time. You can get it all done at once by visiting the Jugendamt. If you’re stuck, get Red Tape Translation to figure out which department is responsible for your file and I’ll book an appointment for you too. Just check "yes" to the question "Would you like us to find out which office you need to visit and/or book you an appointment?" and I'll take care of it.
How long?
Both matters together usually take around 70-90 minutes.
How much?
Price: 85 EUR per hour including tax. No travel costs/time. Minimum 1 hour.

Custody declaration

Where?
Jugendamt (Department of Youth Welfare) If parents are not married, the mother will automatically have sole custody of the child from birth, according to German law. If you want to submit a joint custody declaration, visit the Jugendamt.
How long?
The custody declaration alone usually takes around 40-50 minutes.
How much?
Price: 85 EUR per hour including tax. No travel costs/time . Minimum 1 hour.

Enquiries about Kita vouchers / Elterngeld applications

Where?
Jugendamt (Department of Youth Welfare) Berlin’s systems for processing parental allowance applications and issuing Kita vouchers can be absolute chaos. If you’ve got a Kita waving a contract in front of your nose, you’ll want to react quickly. Sometimes the best solution is to show up in person and plead! P.S. If you need help with newborn-related paperwork, you can book a Baby Bureaucracy coaching with Kathleen Parker.
How long?
If you have an appointment, it usually takes around 30-40 minutes. Walking in without an appointment is anyone’s guess.
How much?
Price: 75 EUR per hour including tax. No travel costs/time. Minimum 1 hour.

Registering your address, applying for a passport, applying for a driver’s license

Where?
Bürgeramt (Citizen’s Registration Office) A year ago, “black market” appointments at the Bürgeramt were selling like hotcakes for premium prices as the waiting lines snaked down the block. Luckily, things have relaxed a bit in 2017. If you’re not sure how to get an appointment, just check "yes" to the question "Would you like us to find out which office you need to visit and/or book you an appointment?" and Red Tape Translation will book it for you.
How long?
Registering your address takes around 20-30 minutes if you have an appointment and they’re running on time. Other matters (e.g. a foreign driver’s license exchange) might take longer.
How much?
Price: 75 EUR per hour including tax. No travel costs/time.  Minimum 1 hour.

Meeting at the Agentur für Arbeit / Jobcenter

Where?
Agentur für Arbeit / Jobcenter There are unemployment benefits (ALG I) and then there’s welfare (ALG II or “Hartz IV”). These two types of payments are handled by different organisations. It can be really hard to figure out which office is responsible for your case - it’s not always as clear-cut as just visiting the one closest to your home. If you’re not sure where to go, I’ll find out which office you should be visiting based on your personal circumstances. Just check "yes" to the question "Would you like us to find out which office you need to visit and/or book you an appointment?" and I'll take care of it. A walk-in is required for your first visit, so I won't be able to book the appointment, but I will locate the proper office for our visit together.
How long?
A typical meeting takes 50-70 minutes if you have an appointment. If you’re walking in, you might have to wait for an hour or two, but don’t worry - they’ll give you plenty of paperwork to fill out while you wait, and I'll be there to help!
How much?
Price: 75 EUR per hour including tax. No travel costs/time. Minimum 1 hour.

Visiting the tax office

Where?
Finanzamt I mostly help freelancers get their freelance tax number at the Finanzamt, but there are other reasons for visiting. You might have a question about your most recent tax return or how your business is being treated for tax purposes. Go to the office in the district where you’ve registered your address.
How long?
The waiting rooms are not usually crowded, and you’ll probably only spend about 10-15 minutes talking to a person. Hot tip for freelancers: since you’re paying for a 1 hour minimum with an interpreter, why not get help filling out the 7-page form to apply for a freelance tax number before you go in?
How much?
Price: 75 EUR per hour including tax. No travel costs/time. Minimum 1 hour.

Rental contract signing / apartment handover

Where?
Real Estate Agency / Your New Apartment Congratulations on your new apartment! Before you sign on the dotted line, you might have some questions for your real estate agent. It’s also handy to have a German speaker at the apartment handover, in case there are holes in the wall or other damages to report. If you want your German rental contract translated into English before you sign, talk to Red Tape - I'm fairly good at accommodating rush jobs.
How long?
An appointment to sign a rental contract usually takes less than an hour, unless you’ve prepared a few pages of questions! The handover appointment can take longer, depending on the state of your apartment and how thorough you are.
How much?
Price: 75 EUR per hour including tax. No travel costs/time. Minimum 1 hour.

Purchase contract read-through with notary

Where?
Notary’s Office Even if your notary doesn’t insist on having a court-sworn interpreter present at a purchase contract read-through, Red Tape Translation does - I won’t send anyone who isn’t well-versed in contract law. I work with interpreters who have the right qualification and many years of work experience to help you negotiate and sign on the dotted line.
How long?
You should allow at least two hours to get through an average 15 or 20-page purchase contract, at least 3 hours if it’s any longer than that.
How much?
Price: This will depend on the contract length and travel time, but you’ll probably pay around 650-700 EUR altogether for an experienced court-sworn interpreter for around 2 hours.

Red Card (Certificate of Food Hygiene and Safety)

Where?
Gesundheitsamt (Department of Health) If you plan on working in the food and beverages industry, you’ll need a certificate to say you’ve been instructed in food hygiene and safety by the Department of Health (Gesundheitsamt). It’s known as the “Rote Karte” or a “Lebensmittelbescheinigung” and usually involves watching a film. If you don’t speak German, the Department of Health might ask you to bring a translator with you.
How long?
The average appointment takes 60-80 minutes.
How much?
Price: 75 EUR per hour including tax. No travel costs/time necessary. Minimum 1 hour.

Lost/stolen passports, police reports, etc.

Where?
Police Station (Polizeiabschnitt) If your wallet or passport gets stolen, you’ll have to submit a report to the police, if for no other reason, to make an insurance claim or to get your passport re-issued! You can do it online in German, but if it’s urgent and you’d rather visit the police station in person, I would be happy to go with you.
How long?
If it’s a quiet day on the beat, you can be in and out within 1-2 hours.
How much?
Price: 75 EUR per hour including tax. No travel costs/time necessary. Minimum 1 hour.

Visiting the pension office

Where?
Deutsche Rentenversicherung (Pension Office) Once you start working in Germany, you’ll probably get membership in the German pension scheme. It’s called the Deutsche Rentenversicherung (the office might also be called Deutsche Rentenversicherung Knappschaft-Bahn-See). If you’ve got questions about your membership, I would be happy to visit the office with you. Not sure where to go? Let me help you find out. Just check "yes" to the question "Would you like us to find out which office you need to visit and/or book you an appointment?" and I'll take care of it.
How long?
The average appointment at a pension office takes 30-60 minutes.
How much?
Price: 75 EUR per hour including tax. No travel costs/time necessary. Minimum 1 hour.

Visiting your health insurer’s office

Where?
Krankenversicherung: ServiceZentrum (health insurance service point) You might need a stamp, a certificate or a solution to a health insurance problem. Or maybe you want to sign up for membership. There are hundreds of offices all around the country and sometimes the quickest way to get answers is to simply walk in. Take a translator with you to make sure you get the right information.
How long?
The average appointment at a health insurance service point takes 30-60 minutes.
How much?
Price: 75 EUR per hour including tax. No travel costs/time necessary. Minimum 1 hour.

Custom – e.g. business meeting, parent/teacher conversation, etc.

Take a translator with you to fit out a new kitchen. Talk to a lawyer at the German Rental Association (Mieterverein). Discuss plans for your new apartment with your architect or say your piece at a parent teacher meeting.
How much?
Price: it will most likely be 75 EUR per hour including tax, no travel costs/time, minimum 1 hour. If if the subject matter is complex, specialised or legal in nature, it will cost more. Give me as much detail as possible and I’ll get you a quote.  

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  • I've used Kathleen for a lot of telephone translation work, and would highly recommend her.

    Elliott H., Berlin, Germany

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