Registered with the Greek Consulate - what does it mean?
We are writing this blog post following several client communications indicating unnecessary confusion over the years of our experience regarding what it means to be registered with the Greek Consulate.
We believe in transparency and our clients' right to know exactly what they buy, how, and from whom. It's easy to misunderstand certain relationships, particularly when an industry is unregulated and words can be used for marketing and selling purposes, inconsistently by its suppliers.
Let's start with the basics and what you need to know
The place
Translators are registered with the Greek Consulate, not the Embassy. The Consulate deals with administrative tasks, the Embassy is the diplomatic sector. They are two different offices and very different missions.
The authority
The Greek Consulate does not approve translators. The Consulate does not have the authority to do that. It is not an Educational Institute or an Assessment Centre. They are not in a position to approve any type of professional.
CIOL and ITI regulate translators in the UK. Translators may be members of these two Institutes, and as a result Translators can register their signature with the Consulate.
When a Translator stops being a member of either two institutes, they can no longer be registered with the Consulate.
The relationship
Translators do not work for the Consulate. They are not hired by it and they are not its contractors. They are not external associates etc. In general, Translators and the Consulate are two very different, very separate entities.
Legalisation of translations
The Consulate does not legalise translations. It legalises the signature of the translator on the translation.
This means the translator has to sign and certify the translation. This is certification of the translation by the translator which is one thing. Legalisation of the translator's signature on the translation by the Consulate is another.
Be aware
That's it. It doesn't get any simpler than that.
Anyone arguing anything else or different is simply miss-selling, so be extra careful and aware when a translator markets themselves as "approved by the Greek Embassy" as this is simply impossible.
Vasiliki is a translator, interpreter, transcreator, blogger, consultant and director of Greek to Me Translations Ltd. She works with English, Greek and French herself and has a team of trusted colleagues who can cover other languages. The offered language services serve mainly the legal, creative, and psychometrics industries.
Vasiliki is a Chartered Linguist, member of the Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL), the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI) and Panhellenic Association of Greek Translators (PEM). She is registered with the Greek Embassy in the United Kingdom as a certified translator and interpreter. She holds a BA in English Language and Linguistics and Masters in Business Translation and Interpreting. She is a Steering Group Member of the CIOL Translating Division (CIOL TD) and CIOL Business, Professions and Government Division (CIOL BPG). She is an Associate Lecturer in Legal Translation at London Metropolitan University teaching Legal Translation, Translation for International Organisations, Linguistics, Translation Theory and Strategy. She is a public speaker and writer for industry magazines.
Her mission is to help organisations and individuals achieve their goals through the powerof words. Through mentoring, Vasiliki helps aspiring or young translators to overcomeself-limiting beliefs, build a business mindset and achieve their highest potential.
