A notary public verifies the signature of the translator or translation agency representative based on their ID. This is called a notarisation. For greater clarity, we can also use the expression "authenticating the translator's signature."
Certified Translation
001 Translations UK will assist you with all your requests for official certified translations in the UK or abroad. Your documents will be translated quickly at the most competitive rate by an expert translator. If necessary, we can take care of additional legal steps for your translation (notarisation).
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001 Translations UK will stamp your document with its professional stamp and assign it a unique reference number.
001 Translations UK will stamp your document with its professional stamp and assign it a unique reference number. A Certified Translation is a translation accompanied by an official endorsement signed by the translator and the translation agency that attests to the accuracy and authenticity of the document. Certified Translations are mainly requested by public authorities and official institutions such as universities, town halls, consulates and embassies.
Validity of a Certified Translation in the United Kingdom and abroad.
The steps to be taken depend on the country of destination and the body requesting the translation.
Certified translations are accepted in the United Kingdom and other countries that use the common law legal system, such as the United States, Canada and Australia. But a Certified Translation is not always enough. Sometimes the body receiving the document requires additional steps to legalise the Certified Translation i.e. to make the Certified Translation legally valid internationally. Additionally, if you need to present an official document issued in United Kingdom in a foreign country that has a different legal system, the authorities involved may ask you for a Sworn Translation of the document. Sworn translations are performed by expert sworn translators that are accredited by that country's Court system.
The steps to be taken depend on the country of destination and the body requesting the translation. This is why we always advise our clients to check with the requesting body to find out what type of legalisation they need:
- Certified Translation/Sworn Translation
- Notarisation
- Apostille
Little guide to legalisations
How does it work?
There are 3 levels of legalisation:
The notarised document can then be authenticated by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). This verifies the signature of the notary public. This is called an apostille or legalisation
Please note: The type of authentication will depend on the entity that will receive the documents.
If the country where the document will be used is party to the Hague Convention, an apostille will be affixed. In cases where the country that document will be used in not, the FCDO will affix an authentication, and the document will then need to be legalised.
This step is only required if the destination country is not a part of the Hague Convention. Legalisation can only be done at an embassy or consulate of the country in which the document will be used. It serves to authenticate the signature, seal and/or stamp of the Notary Public (level 1).
Notarisation
Sometimes, the body requesting the translation requires the legalisation of the translator's or translation agency representative's signature.
This formality is carried out with a notary public. It makes it possible to check the identity of the translation's signatory. The notary public affixes a seal indicating that the identity of the signatory has been verified and that the translator's signature is correct.
Apostille
the state be a guarantor of the translation process.
To apostille a translation in the UK, first, obtain a certified translation and have it notarized. Then, submit the notarized document to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) for authentication, and once verified, the FCO will attach an Apostille certificate, making the translation legally valid for international use.
This process first requires the translator to get their translation notarised before sending the documents to the Secretary of State. These steps take time and are dependent on the administration's workload. In general, it takes between 2-4 weeks to obtain the apostille. The apostille is only valid for countries that are signatories to the Hague Convention.
If the destination country for your documents is not a signatory to the Hague Convention, you may need to take different steps, such as traveling to the appropriate consulate. It is your responsibility to check with the appropriate authorities to determine the procedure.
Independent certified translator or translation agency?
Consider the various elements of your application, such as:
- How urgent is my request?
- Is a certified translator able to guarantee that I will receive a Certified Translation of my documents on time?
- Are the price differences between the freelance translators and translation agencies I contacted very different?
A high price does not mean that the translation will be of better quality, but the difference can also be justified by the means used to ensure that the translated document will be delivered to you on time (e.g., traceable envelope, Royal Mail). Furthermore, because of their position as intermediaries, translation agencies are in contact with many certified translators in the UK and abroad. Serious translation agencies, managed by professional translators themselves - which is of course the case for 001 Translations UK - have developed specific expertise in the field of certifying official documents.
A high price does not mean that the translation will be of better quality. However the difference can also be justified by the means used to ensure that the translated document will be delivered to you on time (e.g., traceable USPS envelope, Fedex, UPS). Furthermore, because of their position as intermediaries, translation agencies are in contact with many certified translators in the UK and abroad. This can be very important if the translation has to be done expressly in 24 or 48 hours for example.
What is a certified translation?
Many authorities in the United Kingdom will ask for a certified translation of your documents. But exactly what is a certified translation?
Anyone can certify a translation in the UK, and a translator does not need to be certified or have any specific qualifications in order to provide a certified translation. An individual translator can certify their translations, as can an employee of a translation company. A translator may also certify someone else's translation—as long as the translator has fully reviewed the translation for accuracy and completeness and the translation will not be changed after being certified. That is why translation companies can certify translations provided by their employees or freelance translators.
A certification statement should include the following information: A statement affirming the accuracy of the document. Identification of the translated document and language. The translator's name, signature, and date.
Since the United Kingdom does not have require a translator to have any specific qualifications in order to certify a translation, there is no legal qualification for a “certified” translator. However, many translators are considered to be certified based on certifications acquired from recognised translation organisations. In the United Kingdom, the Chartered Institute of Linguists certification is one of the industry's most respected credentials for translators and is the only widely recognised measure of competence for translation. 001 Translations UK works with members of the CIOL. As such, all of our translations are certified according to the best industry standard.
Official documents for Certified Translation
Any official document can be translated and certified by our translators
Civil or criminal procedure documents, intended to be produced in a court of law, administrative documents and public status documents, bailiff's deeds, notarial deeds, but also academic documents, as for example:
- Identity card
- Residence card
- Adoption decree
- Certificate of Incorporation
- Contract
- Last will and testament
- Police report
- Notarial deeds
- Divorce decree
- Court decisions
- Birth certificate
- Marriage certificate
- Criminal record extract
- University degree
- Transcript
- High school diploma
Clients may need certified translations for many reasons and our translators are authorised to officially translate any document written in a foreign language that must be presented in court or before the United Kingdom administrative authorities. This is all the more valid for the translation of documents which enable the authorities to draw up official civil status documents (marriage certificates, green cards divorce decrees, claiming public benefits, child adoptions, birth certificates, ...). In some states, Certificates of Accuracy of Translation may be required for specific documents (driver's licenses), so be sure to check the translation requirements with the relevant authority.
What is the difference between a certified translation and a notarised translation?
Some end users of certified translations may request or require a translation be notarised. This may cause some confusion as a translation cannot actually be notarised in the United Kingdom.
Instead, a notary public can legally acknowledge, or notarise, the identity of the individual signing the certification statement. While the terminology is inaccurate, it is helpful to know that this is commonly used. 001 Translations UK is able to provide notarisations for your translations through our in-house notary publics. Some government entities that usually ask for notarised translations may also accept certified translations bearing the CIOL-certified translator seal without notarisation. A requesting body may also ask for an affidavit of translation, particularly in cases where translations are used in Court.
For this type of document, the translator signs a document stating that they have sufficient knowledge of both languages and that the translation is true an accurate to the best of their abilities in front of a notary public. The notary public will then notarise the document, confirming the oath of authenticity.
001 Translations UK is able to provide affidavits of translations for all your translation projects. Make sure to check with the requesting entity whether you need your certified translation to be notarised. 001 Translations UK ensures that your translator has at least one university degree in foreign languages and that they have solid experience in translation.
