Certified document translation

What is a certified translation?

A certified translation is a translation that’s signed, stamped and dated by the translator (or translation company) to state that it is a true representation of the original text. It can then be used by official and legal bodies.

Examples of certified translations:
• Official documents for visa applications
• Legal documents for court cases
• Academic documents for schools, colleges and universities
• Marriage, birth and death certificates for official use
• Criminal record checks for visa applications, HR and recruitment purposes

How does certification work?

Certified translations should include: a certification letter (signed, stamped and dated), the translation, and the original document. The original document doesn’t actually need to be the original; it can be a scanned and legible copy.

There are no strict regulations on how the certification letter should be written, but here’s a handy 3-point checklist to make sure that it ticks all the boxes:

What must a certified translation letter include?
• State that the translation is a “true and accurate translation of the original”
• The date the translation was completed
• The name and contact details of the translator or translation company