CERTIFIED TRANSLATION, SWORN TRANSLATION, NOTARIZED TRANSLATION, LEGALIZATION OF TRANSLATION DOCUMENTS
WHAT IS A CERTIFIED TRANSLATION?
A certified translation in the UK is the translation of a document or certificate (such as birth, marriage, divorce, degree certificate/diploma) which is required for official use. It is translated by an accredited translation professional entity who attests that the translation is complete and accurate and stamps the translation. The process of certification of a translation involves a declaration of accuracy including the name of the translator which is attached to the stamped certified translation and a copy of the original document (sometimes the original document or certified true copy of original document is also stamped and attached).
A certified translation in the UK is sometimes also called an official translation, legal translation, sworn translation, notarised translation, authorised translation or legalised (Apostilled) translation. How a certified translation is called is not as important as the 'level' of translation certification required and we explain in a comprehensive manner the levels of certification that are usually required in the UK and abroad.
The certification of the translation usually has four levels of certification, depending on how the certified translation will be used and to whom it will be submitted. The translation can be either simply certified by the translation entity, sworn in front of a person of legal standing (usually a solicitor) or notarised (by a notary public), and legalised (Apostilled) at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO). CertifiedUK translation provides all four levels of certification for all languages and all types of documents. Please check with whoever you are submitting the certified translation to the level of certification required.
A certified translation in the UK is the translation of a document or certificate (such as birth, marriage, divorce, degree certificate/diploma) which is required for official use. It is translated by an accredited translation professional entity who attests that the translation is complete and accurate and stamps the translation. The process of certification of a translation involves a declaration of accuracy including the name of the translator which is attached to the stamped certified translation and a copy of the original document (sometimes the original document or certified true copy of original document is also stamped and attached).
A certified translation in the UK is sometimes also called an official translation, legal translation, sworn translation, notarised translation, authorised translation or legalised (Apostilled) translation. How a certified translation is called is not as important as the 'level' of translation certification required and we explain in a comprehensive manner the levels of certification that are usually required in the UK and abroad.
The certification of the translation usually has four levels of certification, depending on how the certified translation will be used and to whom it will be submitted. The translation can be either simply certified by the translation entity, sworn in front of a person of legal standing (usually a solicitor) or notarised (by a notary public), and legalised (Apostilled) at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO). CertifiedUK translation provides all four levels of certification for all languages and all types of documents. Please check with whoever you are submitting the certified translation to the level of certification required.
1. BASIC CERTIFIED TRANSLATION
This type of translation certification is usually required for documents from a foreign language to be translated into English for submission to official UK organisations such as the UK Border Agency (Home Office), Passport Office, UK Naric, Universities, etc. The original document is usually not required for this certification type because it is the translation that is being Certified (signed & stamped), not the original document. We just attach a copy of your original document to the Certified Translation and when you present the translation to your destination, you may be asked to submit your original document along with the Certified Translation. We also attach a Certification Letter including the details of the translator's credentials verifying that it is an accurate translation of the original document. This Certification Letter is also dated and is signed. (see 'Examples')
2. SWORN CERTIFIED TRANSLATION
This type of translation certification is usually required for official documents issued in the UK or issued in some other country to be translated into a foreign language for submission abroad or for submission to UK Courts of Law, some UK government agencies requiring a more official level of accuracy and some Consulates. The original document is usually required for a sworn certification of translation because it is the translation and the original document (or certified true copy of original document*) that will be Sworn Certified in front of a Solicitor. We also attach a Sworn Affidavit Translation Declaration including the translation entity's credentials swearing on oath that it is an accurate translation of the original document. This Sworn Affidavit Translation Declaration is also dated and includes the signature of the translation entity and is signed and stamped by the Solicitor (see 'Examples').
*A Certified True Copy of Original Document means that the Original Document is photocopied, signed & stamped as a True Copy by a Legal person (usually a Solicitor or Notary Public). You can get a Certified True Copy yourself done at any solicitor or we can do it for you as part of the Sworn Certification Translation process. Certified True Copies are not applicable to UK Crown Copyright certificates such as General Register Office (GRO) Birth, Marriage, No Impediment to Marry, Death certificates, etc. We can only stamp originals or extracts of originals issued by the GRO. You can request extracts direct from the GRO website (see 'Useful Links').
3. NOTARISED TRANSLATION
This type of translation certification is usually required for official documents issued in the UK or issued in some other countries to be used in a higher official capacity such as Notarised Translation of Power of Attorney, Notarised translation of Passport for employment abroad, Notarised translation of Qualification, Notarised translation of Declaration of Single Status for marriage abroad, Notarised translation of documents for buying property abroad, any other transaction abroad involving commercial activity or for High Court proceedings and some Consulates. Please check with whoever your are submitting the translation to whether you are specifically required to submit a Notarised Translation sworn in front of a Notary Public as some organisations still use the archaic term 'Notarised translation' when they only mean a Sworn Certified Translation in front of a Commissioner for Oaths (solicitor).
The original document is usually required for a Notarised Translation because it is the translation and the original document that will be signed and stamped in front of a Notary Public. We also attach a Notarised Translation Declaration including the details of the translation entity's credentials swearing on oath that it is an accurate translation of the original document. This Notarised Translation Declaration is also dated and includes the signature of the translation entity and is signed and stamped by the Notary Public (see 'Examples').
We can start the translation quickly with a copy of your original document which you can Upload (Scan) or Fax (see 'Sending documents') but we will need your Original document at the Translation Notarisation stage.
Usually, when a Notarised Translation is required, the Original document may also need to be Notarized. In which case, you will need to supply us with the already Notarised Original document or request from us to have your Original Document Notarised which we can do at the same time as the Translation Notarisation stage.
4. LEGALISATION OF TRANSLATION (APOSTILLE)
If the document is to be submitted abroad, you may also need to have your Sworn or Notarised Translation legalised at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) (see 'Legalisation/Apostille'). (The FCO will not legalise Basic Certified translations, they have to bear the signature of either a Solicitor or Public Notary).
Legalisation is the official confirmation that a signature, seal or stamp on a UK public document is genuine. It does not authenticate the content of the document. Please check with whoever you are submitting the certified translation to whether legalisation of the translation is required. You can legalise the Sworn or Notarised Translation yourself at the FCO or we can do it on your behalf in two ways:
- Postal Service: We post the Sworn or Notarised Translation to the FCO in Milton Keynes (50 Miles north of London) for legalisation and they return it by post (The FCO can take up to 10 days to return the Legalised document).
- Premium Service (one day): We go to the FCO direct on your behalf.
Please check that the destination country where you are presenting your legalised translation is on the list of Member Countries of the Hague Convention (see 'Legalisation (Apostille)'). If not, after legalisation you may also need one last step, which is to present the legalised translation to the relevant foreign consulate in the UK for further legalisation. We do not offer Consular Legalisation (see 'Examples').
Usually, when a Sworn/Notarised Translation is legalised (Apostille), the Original Document may also need to be legalised. In which case, you will need to supply us with your already Legalised Original Document or request from us to have your Original Document Legalised.
