There is no system of “approved” or “sworn” translators in the UK and this can lead to confusion about legalising or certifying translations. However, as an Accredited Member of the Association of Translation Companies and a Member of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting, City Legal Translations can provide certified translations, notarised translations and translations sworn on affidavit, as well as providing sworn translations for use in other countries.
The most important thing to remember is to check with the relevant authority or person requesting the translation exactly what they require. This can sometimes differ according to each requirement, requesting body or even between judges.
What is translation legalisation? There are a few types which we outline below:
Certified translation
This may also be known as a Statement of Truth and a Certificate of Accuracy. Once your document has been translated, we will provide you with a letter on company letterhead confirming that your document has been translated by a qualified translator, in a format and with wording approved by the Association of Translation Companies. The letter will then be stamped with the Association of Translation Companies stamp. This certifies that the document is a true and honest translation.
Sworn translation or affidavit
A sworn translation may be necessary for official documents intended to be in a court of law or for official purposes. An affidavit is a statement in which it is testified that the attached translation is a true and accurate translation of the original document, this being sworn in front of a qualified solicitor.
Notarised translations
A notarised translation (also known as notarisation of a translation) is often required for official documents and is more formal than a certified translation. Once the translation has been completed, it will then be declared on oath and in writing before a Notary Public that the translated document is a true and accurate translation of the original document. The Notary will then sign and stamp the certifying letter with their embossed seal and signature and add the date. This will be attached to the document to acknowledge that it is genuine. This is often requested for use abroad or for translations required for financial matters, such as when applying for a mortgage or opening a bank account.
The legalisation of a translation by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) (Apostille)
Introduced in 1961 at the Hague Conference on Private International Law, an apostille is a form of certification that takes the form of a special stamp placed on the original document itself. In the UK, this process is handled by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), who can legalise a sworn or notarised translation. This may be required if your document is to be used abroad and ensures UK documents are recognised as true and accurate all around the world. Once the document has been legalised by the FCO the document can then be used abroad without further need to question its authenticity. You will need to check with the country requiring the certified translation whether it needs to be legalised by the FCO. You can legalise the Sworn or Notarised Translation yourself at the FCO or we can do it on your behalf.
Translation sworn in-country
Unlike in the UK, many countries have a system of sworn and approved translators and our global network of translators means we are able to provide you with a translation by an in-country sworn translator for any language and in any country in the world that adopts this system.
In addition, we are an Accredited Member of the Association of Translation Companies and a Member of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting. Certified to ISO 9001 standard, we can also provide certification for all translations to the level required for your case – whether overseas or in the UK.
- Worked for 19 of the UK’s top 20 law firms
- Accredited Member of the Association of Translation Companies
- All types of legalisation and certification available
To discuss your legal translation requirements further call 0800 0966 825 or alternatively click below for a quote.
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