Certified Translation of Malaysian Documents for Switzerland

Oct 18

Short answer: Swiss authorities work in German, French or Italian, depending on the canton, and a foreign document in another language can be refused unless it comes with a certified translation. For Malaysian documents, the Swiss representation accepts translations into English, German, French or Italian made by a translation office the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs accepts, attested at Wisma Putra together with the document and then legalised by the Swiss Regional Consular Centre in Bangkok.

What we do: certified translations of Malay and English documents into German, French, Italian or English by translators Wisma Putra accepts, plus the Wisma Putra attestation and the Swiss legalisation in Bangkok. Our translations follow the Swiss representation's requirements for Malaysia. Send your document on WhatsApp and tell us the canton and the office.

Last reviewed: October 2026. For the legalisation chain, see legalising Malaysian documents for Switzerland.

Which language

German: Zurich, Bern, Basel, Lucerne, St. Gallen and most other cantons.
French: Geneva, Vaud, Neuchâtel and Jura, and the French-speaking parts of Fribourg, Valais and Bern.
Italian: Ticino and parts of Graubünden.
English: the Swiss representation for Malaysia accepts English translations for marriage and civil-status matters, and many universities accept English documents. Ask the Swiss office before you order a German, French or Italian translation.

Who may translate

For Malaysian documents: the Swiss representation's Malaysia leaflets ask for the translation to be made by "a translation office approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs" of Malaysia and legalised by that ministry. Wisma Putra accepts translations by Malaysian court translators, ITBM and DBP-certified translators, which is how our translations are made.
Inside Switzerland: there is no federal sworn-translator register; each canton sets its own rules. Geneva, for example, has its own sworn translators, while in Zurich a notary certifies only the translator's signature. Translations made in Malaysia and legalised through Wisma Putra and the Swiss representation are the route the Swiss representation describes for Malaysian documents.
Universities: the University of Zurich needs no translation for documents in German, English, French or Italian. The University of Fribourg asks for translations made abroad to be confirmed by the Swiss embassy, which the Bangkok legalisation covers.

Translate before or after legalisation?

Before. For Switzerland the order is different from many countries: the Swiss representation asks for Malaysian documents and their translations to be legalised by Wisma Putra before they reach the Regional Consular Centre in Bangkok. So we translate first, Wisma Putra attests the document and the translation, and the Swiss centre in Bangkok legalises both. See legalising Malaysian documents for Switzerland.

Which offices need what

Civil registry offices (marriage): documents not in German, French or Italian can be refused without a certified translation into one of them; the translation can be limited to the relevant content. Through the Swiss representation for Malaysia, English is also accepted.
Cantonal migration offices: legalised documents, with a translation into the canton's language if the office asks for one.
Commercial registers: the translator signs the translation and states their qualification; complex company documents usually go into the register's language, for example German in Basel.
Universities: English degrees and transcripts are often accepted as they are; see degree and transcript attestation.

Our certified translations are covered by our guarantees: if an authority rejects a certified translation we prepared within 30 days of delivery, we re-do it free.

Common questions

Can a translation made in Malaysia be used in Switzerland?

Yes. The Swiss representation for Malaysia describes exactly this route: a translation by a translation office the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs accepts, legalised by Wisma Putra and then by the Swiss Regional Consular Centre in Bangkok.

Do I need German, French or Italian, or is English enough?

It depends on the office. Civil registry offices work in the canton's language but, through the Swiss representation for Malaysia, accept English. Many universities accept English. Tell us the canton and the office and we will tell you which language to order.

My document is in Malay. What do I do?

We translate it directly into German, French, Italian or English, then arrange the Wisma Putra attestation and the Swiss legalisation of both the document and the translation.

Is there a Swiss sworn translator list I must use?

No federal one. Cantons set their own rules, and for Malaysian documents the Swiss representation accepts translations made in Malaysia and legalised through Wisma Putra.

Related guides

Sources:

Zhihan Chew