The following are 4 examples of the 4 levels of Certification of Translation.

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. 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 Declaration including the details of the translator's credentials verifying that it is an accurate translation of the original document.

2. SWORN CERTIFIED TRANSLATION

This type of translation certification is usually required for official documents from the UK or other countries 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 Commissioner for Oaths (Solicitor). We also attach a Sworn Certification of Translation Declaration (Affidavit) including the translation entity's credentials swearing on oath that it is an accurate translation of the original document. This Sworn Certification of Translation Declaration is also dated and includes the signature of the translation entity and is signed and stamped by the Solicitor.
*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 UK 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.

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 Power of Attorney, Passport for employment abroad, Academic Diploma, Declaration of Single Status for marriage abroad, 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.

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). (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 .

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. The samples below show a Legalised Sworn Certified Translation.