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Certification / Notarization

Certification (also called authentication or accreditation) is required when a translation is needed for official purposes. Types of documents that require certification usually include: college / university degrees, birth, marriage, death documents, divorce decrees, patents and other official or legal documents.

ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS ARE NOT REQUIRED more

In the UK, a translation can be certified / notarized in three ways. The service depends on the nature of the document and its usage. It is important to check with your legal representative which of the following certifications is most relevant for your purposes.

1. Basic certification. Example
This is a translation to which the translator or the agency has added a self-declaration saying that the translation text is accurate and complete. This is usually required for general or official documents which need to be presented to non-government bodies or academic institutions. The translation is marked with a Certified stamp but not the original.

2. Sworn Certification by affidavit / Notarization
Example
For official documents and deeds requested by public authorities, government bodies and courts, the translation needs to be certified / notarized by Affidavit. This is a declaration which is made in writing and on oath (sworn) in front of a solicitor/attorney or notary public that the translation is, to the best of the translator's knowledge, complete and accurate. Both the translation and a copy of the original document are stamped.

3. Legalization (Apostille)
Example
This is required for documents to be presented to overseas authorities outside the UK (such as marriage or work applications). First, a Sworn Certification must be obtained (2. above), then Legalisation consists of the signature of the Notary Public/Solicitor on the Sworn Certification to be checked (Apostilled) by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to be accepted by a foreign country (as part of the Hague Convention). If you are not sure what documents you need to legalize, you should contact the relevant Consulate/Embassy. Please check that the destination country where you are presenting your Apostilled Document(s) is on the list of Member Countries of the Hague Convention. If not, after legalisation there is one last step, which is to send your document(s) to the relevant foreign embassy/consulate in the UK to add their own certificate. The FCO takes 2 weeks to process postal Apostilles. For a fastrack service, we offer a 3-day or a 1-day service. The translation and a copy of the original are marked with a Certified stamp along with an FCO Apostille notice appended to the first page of the translation.

Europe

Certification / authentication is different in the UK (and other English speaking countries) than in Europe and the rest of the world in general.

In Europe, a translation can be certified by a sworn professional translator who has been duly authorised by the government of the country in question to translate and certify a document. Any certified translation produced by a sworn translator is an official document in its own right. The translation is certified with a stamped declaration which is written in the relevant language, as well as in English. It is usually slightly more expensive than a normal translation. In some cases, documents may also be required to be certified by a European notary public.


We provide all of the above for each set of languages. Our translators are qualified and experienced. They ensure that your documents are translated and certified accurately for acceptance by any court or government agency in the United Kingdom or abroad.

Documents are sent by recorded post or special delivery.

Copies are accepted, but must be legible.

Translation/certification of five standard pages usually takes two working days. Expect an extra day for delivery of documents by special delivery and up to 3 days by recorded post, unless they are collected from our office.

Legalisation/Apostille takes longer.