I have used Red Tape Translation for multiple services, including certified translations English/German, German/English, and French/German, as well as help booking bureaucratic appointments, and every time the work was punctual and impeccable. They work with you to review your translations before posting the official certified copies, and communicate in a timely manner. Every person I've worked with at RTT is respectful and professional while still approachable and human. Highly recommended! read more

I first used Red Tape Translation in 2012, and learned recently I was one of their first customers ever. Back then, they were thorough, conscientious and knowledgeable. They were adaptable, easy to work and it was a straight forward situation as they had clearly defined services available. 12 years later, I had a rather emergency situation which I couldn't complete on my own, despite my German improving through the years, and my first thought is ALWAYS of Red Tape. Why? I recall also they have continued to supply great articles and helpful information, such as during Covid-19 Corona Pandemie, when many were scrambling trying to understand what to do as foreigners and freelancers, especially. When I contacted them again this month, I saw their website and services are widely expanded. When i searched the terms I knew before, I still couldn't find the service I remembered before. Despite being in an ER situation, I wrote a query and they responded within a timely way. Since I had given precise descriptions of what I needed, they were able to direct me to the booking type I needed. I can't say I would have found it on my own, but that was my limited terminology I believe. If someone is desperate and expect miracle workers, Germany especially, and any service is just not like that. I was not success in completing the task I needed, but not due to Red Tape, it was just the German system. Red Tape offered to and refunded my payment. Individual circumstances vary, time, date, schedules, offices, bureaucracy vary. Wholesale total lack of objectivity because someone didn't read all the information they needed to, and lack of recognition they are not the only customer is not Red Tape's fault. Red Tape has always been reliable, honest and upfront with me even when situations weren't successful. I would recommend it first and foremost beyond any comparable service center. read more

I booked the Take a Translator service for my visa appointment. The booking process was easy and I received a confirmation with further details of my service ahead of my appointment. Angela met me 15 min early at my appointment as it was right when the office opened. She was so kind, patient and helpful throughout the entire process. I highly recommend using their services for any translator/translation needs. read more

They scammed us with a very well implemented system. We booked an interpretor for a registry office appointment on the 16th of October 2024 via the only possible booking on the website. We paid immediately upfront. We got a payment confirmation and invoice on the day after, which made us believe that we can rely on the service. A huge mistake, obviously! We have been asked to confirm that we do not need a sworn interpretor out of the blue today (21st of October 2024), which is five days after the booking and less than 24 hours to the appointment at the registry office! On our reply that we booked for a sworn interpretor, they responded that they need to search for one available on additional cost and that it's on short notice. Excuse me? They offer only one possible booking on the website, which do not specify that you are not booking for a sworn interpretor. Plus, sworn interpretors are required in any legal and administrative case in Germany and it does not matter weather the registry office controls the interpretor or not. They waited to the last minute to pressure us on paying higher fees. They do not answer calls and send only petty mails instead, blaming everybody else for their own behaviour. Instead of getting to us immediately after the booking and being honest, they tried to pressure us to pay additional 116,00 € less then 24 h to the appointment, because they know that it's nearly impossible to find an sworn interpretor within this time. They know exactly what they are doing. I got my money back only thanks to PayPal. People stay away from this company and save your nerves! read more

I was very happy with the services I received from Red Tape Translation. I needed a translator for my freelancers visa interview and Liz couldn't have been better! She not only made everything run smoothly in the meeting but she kept me calm with friendly conversation beforehand...something I really needed, as I was pretty nervous. Thank you Liz and Red Tape Translation! read more

I needed someone that would be able to help me navigate the bureaucracy of obtaining a visa in Germany. Everyone at Red Tape has been great to work with. They are quick to respond to any questions or issues. I used the services for both a coaching session to determine I had all the correct paperwork in order for my visa appointment, and the take a translator service. I am very grateful for Kathleen and everyone else at Red Tape for helping me through this process! I will definitely use the services again when I need a translator. read more

Incredibly helpful, responsive, informed, easy to work with and affordable. I got my visa after the first visit to the Ausländerbehörde. There were several things I had no idea about that Kathleen guided me through. There is no question, I would NOT have got the visa in the first trip without the initial guidance from Kathleen... very worthwhile 60 minute conversation over Skype. Next, I scheduled to have a translator meet me for the interview. Again... priceless. My Deutsch is OK but not great. I'm somewhere between A2 & B1 level. Having the translator there made the process very smooth. Also, I got some "post-interview" directions from the person I had the interview with regarding my insurance the things I need to have done for the renewal next year... I never would have understood. Then having to pay after the interview, it would have been incredibly confusing and awful. Bottom line, do yourself a really big favor. Setup a call and make your life easier. Then organize to have a translator there. Not just for translation, but also for a guide through the kafkaesque process. GOOD LUCK!!! read more

Where would be without Kathleen?! She has been a lifesaver helping us to translate all of our German documents, including saving us loads of money by helping me break my fitness contract in our move. We have utilized many hours of her services and she is so detailed oriented and efficient, that I never have to worry about anything falling through the cracks. I'm really detailed-oriented myself and as such, I have high expectations in this regard and Kathleen not only meets, but exceeds my expectations! She's excellent with follow thru too and will help you meet your deadlines by being super fast and very responsive. She's also very reasonably priced and gets alot of work done in a short amount of time, saving her customers money. My only wish is that she also spoke Dutch so that she could help us in Holland. read more

Red Tape Translation was an incredible resource throughout what is often an extremely daunting visa preparation process. Kathleen and her staff were well-informed, professional, and immensely helpful as I prepared to apply for a freelance artist visa over the last month. German bureaucracy is famously difficult to navigate, and Red Tape helped me to gather the information in a way that made the process as straight-forward as possible. I would highly recommend this wonderful service! read more

Outstanding service! They took care of an official/sworn document translation for a better price than any other service offered. What really impressed me was that they had promised it would be done quickly and it was done faster than expected. A+ service and skills, I'll definitely be returning for future business. read more

I have had some horrible experiences at the Auslanderbehorde, even with all my paperwork! So I am always nervous to go there. I asked Red Tape for help and they sent Liz G. And though my case worker ended up being friendly and spoke a bit if English, Liz helped me tremendously. She was extremely calming, professional, not intimidated by the Auslanderbehorde but still very friendly and extremely knowledgeable! It was worth every euro spent and will definitely use Red Tape again!! read more

Kathleen assisted us with an appointment we had at an amt in Berlin and was great! I had to call her last minute and she was so wonderful, coming to meet us early the next morning, assisting us with a very complicated issue, and asking all the questions we had on our behalf. Her knowledge of the German unemployment system was so helpful and we would have been lost without her! read more

I hired Kathleen to come to the Ausländerbehörde to translate for my work visa interview. Everything went just fine, in large part thanks to Kathleen's guidance and translating. She is a fantastic translator, and also professional and responsive. She is absolutely worth it and I highly recommend her. read more

Meticulous, thoughtful, personal and very reasonably-priced translation services. Kathleen was very communicative when I first inquried about her services, and followed up diligently. They charge by the hour, (first hour is mandatory) and after the first hour, in blocks of 15 mins. I met with one of her translator (Lucas) and he was punctual for our appointment at the Auslanderborhode. Took charge respectfully when we were at the Foreigner's Office and helped summarize the paperwork we got from our interview. Red Tape is a very effective and useful service to use while getting around bureaucracy in Berlin. What would I do without it! read more

I was recommended to Kathleen by a friend after all my German speaking friends were unable to help me out with my appointment at the Arbeitsagentur. I contacted via her website and she immediately got back to me and was able to help. Sold!! Upon meeting her before my appointment I found her to be very warm, friendly and professional! She even helped me fill out some forms after the interview. Top notch service :) Would highly recommend and will definitely use her help again! read more

I'm not sure what we would have done without the help of Kathleen and Red Tape Translation. This past month, my boyfriend and I rented an apartment in Berlin for the first time, and we enlisted the services of Red Tape Translation to help translate our 15-page, densely-written rental contract. And we needed the job done in 2.5 days. Kathleen responded to our request quickly, and we were lucky that they were able to fit us in on such short notice. Her team was incredible. We received the translated contract ahead of schedule, and the price was very reasonable for the job. They did such phenomenal work that we enlisted their help again for a lease signing appointment the following week. We had a number of questions for our property manager who only spoke German. Kathleen came with us on short notice and made us feel at ease throughout the entire process. I'm pretty sure our property manager had never received so many questions from a potential tenant, but Kathleen was patient in going through each one and making sure both parties were understood. During that appointment, we learned that we had to attend an "apartment handover protocol" the following day in order to get keys to the apartment. This procedure involved walking through the apartment with the property manager and pointing out defects to prevent getting docked on our security deposit. On the spot, we hired Kathleen again to come with and help facilitate communication. She was also an extra pair of eyes in pointing out defects. Not only were the translation services top-notch (both document translation and in-person appointment help), but there was the added benefit of Kathleen's own experience. Her knowledge of the German system and the various processes required to do just about anything in Berlin, especially as an expat, was so helpful. And she's just a lovely person to chat with. I can't express enough how grateful we are for Kathleen's help. We'd hire Red Tape Translation again in the heartbeat and highly recommend their services to anyone. read more

Kathleen is a wonderful, consummate professional! She is a delightful resource who has a tremendous amount of expertise and a great team working with her. She has helped both me and and friend and I am so happy to have such a reliable presence to guide the process of getting a VISA, obtaining health insurance, and so on. I cannot speak highly enough of Red Tape Translation and am looking forward to working with her again in the future. read more

"For English speakers facing German bureaucracy," Red Tape translation has been a lifesaver in dealing with the Standesamt.