Certified Translation in the UK

Yes. All our certified translations fully meet the requirements of UKVI, the Home Office, UK courts, universities and all official bodies in the United Kingdom.
Each translation includes:

• A signed translator’s declaration confirming accuracy
• Our official certification stamp
• Company letterhead with full contact details
• The exact wording required by UK authorities
• A digital PDF version accepted for online submissions

Our translations have been successfully used for thousands of immigration, visa, settlement and citizenship applications.

No — you do not need to bring originals.
A clear scan or photo of your document is sufficient in almost all cases. This is accepted by UKVI, solicitors and UK courts for certified translations.
However, if an authority specifically requires a translation made from the physical original (rare), we will let you know in advance. For 99% of documents, a digital copy is perfectly fine.

Yes. A digital certified PDF with our signature and certification stamp is fully valid for:

• UKVI online applications
• Home Office uploads
• University admissions
• Online legal submissions
• Digital document portals (e.g., Sopra Steria, TLS, gov.uk)

If you also need a printed copy, we can post it within the UK — but for immigration purposes, a PDF is normally all you need.

Pricing depends on three factors:

1. Document type
2. Standard civil documents (birth certificate, marriage certificate, criminal record, academic certificate) have fixed prices.
3. Legal or multi-page documents are priced by volume.
4. Language combination
5. Common languages (Spanish, Polish, Russian, Ukrainian, Italian) cost less; rare languages (e.g., Punjabi, Urdu, Chinese) may vary.
6. Deadline / urgency
7. Same-day translations have a small express fee, while 24-hour or standard delivery is often included.

Before we start, you always receive a final written quote — no hidden fees, no extras.

If your original document contains errors (misspellings, incorrect dates, typing mistakes), we can translate it exactly as written, maintaining accuracy for certification.
If the mistake may cause problems in your application, we will:

• Flag the issue to you before translation
• Offer options (annotation, translator’s note, or translation with explanation if allowed)
• Coordinate with your solicitor or advisor if clarification is required

If our translation contains a typo or error (rare), we correct and reissue the certified translation free of charge, immediately.

In the United Kingdom, certified translations and sworn translations are not the same — and the distinction is important.
Certified translation (UK standard)
A certified translation in the UK is a translation accompanied by:

• A signed translator’s declaration
• Certification wording confirming accuracy
• A stamp and official letterhead
• Full contact details of the translation provider

This format is accepted by UKVI, the Home Office, UK courts, universities and most official bodies.
It is the standard form of official translation used in the UK.
Sworn translation (used in some EU countries, not in the UK)
A sworn translation refers to a system used in countries like Spain, Poland, Italy, France and others, where translators are officially appointed by the government and have legal authority to “swear” a translation as legally equivalent to the original.
The UK does not operate a sworn translator system.
Instead, UK authorities require certified translations, not sworn ones.
Which one do you need?
If your document is being submitted within the UK, you almost always need a certified translation, not a sworn one.
If your document is going to a foreign country that requires a sworn translation (e.g., Spain), we can arrange this as well through our network of government-appointed sworn translators in Europe.

In most cases, no.
For the majority of immigration, legal and administrative procedures in the UK, a standard certified translation is fully sufficient and does not require notarisation or an apostille.
When notarisation is not required
UKVI, the Home Office and most UK courts accept translations that include:

• A signed translator’s declaration
• Certification stamp
• Company letterhead
• Contact details of the translation provider

This is the standard format for official translations in the UK.
When notarisation may be required
A notary certification may be needed if:

• The receiving institution explicitly requests a notarised translation
• The document is being used abroad (outside the UK)
• A solicitor or court requires a formal verification of the translator’s identity

These cases are relatively rare and depend on the foreign country’s legal requirements.
When an apostille is required
An apostille is never applied to the translation itself — only to the original document.
If your original document needs legalisation for use abroad, it must be apostilled before translation.
Examples: birth certificates, marriage certificates, police clearances for Spain, Italy, France, etc.
If you’re unsure
Send us the document or the institution’s instructions — we will confirm whether a standard certified translation is enough or whether notarisation/apostille is required.

No. UKVI and the Home Office do not accept self-translations — even if you are fluent in English or a professional translator yourself.
For immigration, legal and official purposes, translations must:

• Be completed by an independent, qualified translator or translation company
• Include a signed certification statement confirming accuracy
• Contain contact details of the translator or agency
• Be issued on official letterhead with a certification stamp

A person cannot certify their own translation, and translations completed by family members, friends, colleagues or acquaintances are also not accepted.
Why self-translations are rejected
UK authorities require translations to be independent and verifiable. If a document is translated by the applicant, it cannot be objectively reviewed or validated, which is why UKVI automatically considers such translations invalid.
If your document is simple
Even for short or straightforward documents (birth certificates, bank statements, marriage certificates), a formal certified translation is still required.