Process

From document to delivered, in five steps.

A sworn translation is a small, careful production. Here's exactly how it moves through Padan — what we do, what you do, and what to expect at each stage.

01Send

You send the document.

Upload, email, or WhatsApp — whichever you prefer. We need the document itself, not a description.

Submit your document through the submission form, email it to [email protected], or send via WhatsApp at +62 813 9104 6972. PDFs, photos, and Word files all work. Scans should be legible at full size; photographs should be straight-on with no glare and the entire page in frame.

Tell us, in any form: who the translation is for (which embassy, university, court, registrar), when you need it, and whether the document needs apostille / legalisation. The clearer you are about the destination, the more accurately we can quote and translate.

02Quote

We send the written quote.

A real number — pages, turnaround, total — within one business day. No estimates, no ranges.

Within 24 hours (Monday–Friday, Jakarta time) of receiving your document, you'll get a written quote with: page count (we count to the Indonesian standard of ~250 words per page), per-page rate, service tier (standard / expedited / rush), any extras (apostille fees, courier, additional bound copies), and the total in IDR.

The quote also names the turnaround commitment in working days, and includes a validity date (typically 14 days). There's no obligation to proceed — if the quote isn't right for you, that's the end of the engagement and your document is deleted on request.

03Translate

We translate.

The work starts on receipt of a 50% deposit. One translator, one document, end to end.

Once you accept the quote and the deposit clears, the document enters the queue. Padan does not subcontract or split documents — Hafidh handles the translation from first read to final binding. Terminology is consistent across the document because one person made every decision.

If we encounter a smudged section, an ambiguous abbreviation, a name with multiple Romanised spellings, or anything else that warrants confirmation, we'll reach out before guessing. Silent decisions on uncertain source content are not the standard here.

04Certify

We certify.

Sworn statement, translator's seal on every page, red ribbon binding. The document becomes legally usable.

The completed translation is bound with the original (or a certified copy of it), sealed with the sworn-translator stamp on every page, and signed. A bilingual certification statement at the front declares that the translation is a true and accurate rendering of the source, naming the translator's SK Menkumham reference. The binding mark — Padan's red ribbon — fastens the pages so the document cannot be substituted page-by-page after the fact.

This is what makes the translation legally certified for use in Indonesian courts, ministries, and registrars, and — with standard apostille / legalisation — recognised by foreign institutions.

05Deliver

You receive the document.

Digital PDF first; physical copy by courier in Jakarta or pickup. Balance due on delivery.

A high-resolution PDF of the bound, stamped, signed document is sent to you within hours of certification — this is hash-verifiable and mirrors the physical document page-for-page. The physical original is then sent by courier within Jakarta, or held for pickup at the studio.

The remaining 50% balance is due on delivery — bank transfer is standard, other methods on request. After delivery, source files and translation memory are deleted on the thirty-day mark unless you ask us to retain them for follow-up work.

Questions we hear often

Frequently asked.

How long does a translation actually take?

It depends on length and document type. As rough orientation: a one-page civil document (birth certificate, marriage certificate) can usually be ready within 1–3 working days. A multi-page legal contract or full academic transcript is more typically 3–5 working days. A long dissertation or large case file can be a week or more. Expedited (24–48h) and rush (same-day or next-day) options exist with surcharges — we'll quote those if you ask.

Will my translation be accepted by [embassy / university / court]?

A sworn translation issued under SK Menkumham is the standard legally certified format in Indonesia and is recognised by virtually every Indonesian institution. For foreign institutions, requirements vary: most accept a sworn translation directly; some require additional apostille (for Hague Convention countries) or consular legalisation (for non-Hague countries).

Tell us where the document is going when you submit it — we'll flag any additional steps you'll need, and can help arrange the apostille if needed.

Do I need to send the original physical document?

For most documents, no — a clear scan or photograph is sufficient for the translation work itself. The certified translation will be bound either with a printed copy of your source, or — if you prefer — with the physical original you bring to the studio.

Some embassies or registrars require the certified translation to be bound directly to the original; let us know if that's your case.

How do you handle confidentiality?

Every document is treated under NDA terms from the moment it arrives, whether or not the engagement proceeds. Source files and translation memory are deleted 30 days after delivery on request. We do not subcontract, share, or store documents in third-party translation memory services.

What's your payment policy?

50% on acceptance of the quote (this starts the work) and 50% on delivery. Bank transfer (BCA / Mandiri / BRI) is standard; we can accommodate other methods including QRIS on request. For institutional clients with established invoicing relationships, net-30 is available — ask when you submit.

Can you translate from a photo of a document?

Yes, provided the photograph is legible. Straight-on, even lighting, the entire page in frame, no glare on the seal or stamp. For very old or damaged documents we may need to ask about specific sections — we'd rather ask than guess.

Do you work in languages other than English ↔ Indonesian?

No. Padan is a single-pair studio. If your document is in or needs to reach a third language (Arabic, Mandarin, Dutch, Japanese, etc.), you'll need a sworn translator for that pair. We can refer you to colleagues if helpful — just ask.

What if I need a translation reviewed or revised?

If you've received a translation back and have questions about a specific rendering, we'll always discuss it — translation choices are defensible decisions, not pronouncements. If a revision is needed because of source-content changes or a destination-institution requirement that surfaced late, we'll do the revision and quote any additional work separately and transparently.

Ready when you are

Begin with step one.

Submit your document. The rest is on us.

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