When you need a document translated, it’s important to understand the differences between the two different types of translations. You need to distinguish between certified translation and notarized translation and know what sets them apart.
The difference between notarized and certified is especially good to know when you are submitting legal documents or documents for official purposes. This guide explains the distinctions between certified and notarized translations and clarifies which type your document requires.
What is the difference between certified and notarized translations?
A certified translation is a translation performed by a professional translator who signs a statement certifying that the translation is a true and accurate representation of the original document. This is a translation performed by a professional translator who then signs a statement certifying that the translation is a true and accurate representation of the original document.
A notarized translation is a certified translation with an extra step added. First, the document is translated, and then the translator takes the translation and the unsigned certificate to a notary public who checks the translator’s identification and verifies their identity. The notary public then authenticates the signature on the translation certification.
What are the requirements for notarized translations and certified translations?
The 6 key requirements that distinguish certified from notarized translations are listed in the table below:
| Requirement | Certified Translation | Notarized Translation |
|---|---|---|
| The translator needs to be proficient in both the original and target languages. | Yes | Yes |
| The translator must have a good understanding of the translation’s topic. | Yes | Yes |
| The source document should be translated fully and accurately. | Yes | Yes |
| The translated document comes with a “Certificate of Accuracy” statement that attests to the translator’s proficiency and the veracity of the translation. | Yes | Yes |
| The individual certifying the translation must sign the certificate of accuracy while the signature is witnessed in person by a notary public. | No | Yes |
| A public notary verifies the identity of the person signing, witnesses their signature on the certificate, and then notarizes the certificate with their signature and seal. | No | Yes |
What is the role of a notary public and a certified translator?
A certified translator produces the translation and signs an accuracy statement, while a notary public verifies the translator’s identity and witnesses their signature — the notary plays no role in translation quality. The certified translator must produce high quality, accurate and reliable translations that meet professional translation standards. The translator attaches a statement of truth or affidavit to their translation to give it legal validity.
The notary public, on the other hand, plays no part in the translation itself. The notary simply handles the legal formalities in the signing of the certificate and affixes their official stamp as a witness to the validity of the signature on the certificate. The notary’s role is solely to provide official verification of the procedures. They do not check the accuracy or quality of the translation.
What is the cost of certified document translation vs notarized translations?
The how much does a certified translation cost is calculated by total word count, number of pages, or hourly translator rate. The certification process incurs an additional fee because of the extra quality control involved and the translator’s personal responsibility taken when certifying that the translation is accurate. That said, the total involved varies from translator to translator, or agency to agency.
Adding a notarization to the translation services means adding the fee paid to the notary public or translator. The fee is based on the number of pages to be notarized, and this fee also varies from notary to notary. A notarized translation adds identity assurance and a notary fee to a certified translation.
You rely on Espresso Translations for transparent and reasonable pricing on certified or certified and notarized translations. Espresso Translations provides free quotes for certified and notarized translation projects.
What is the difference in legal acceptance between notarized and certified translation services?
Certified translations are accepted by USCIS and the US Department of State for immigration and federal filings, while notarized translations are required for education, administrative, and foreign-authority submissions where identity verification of the translator is mandatory.
Certified translations
- Certified translations are accepted in official and legal proceedings such as immigration and court submissions in countries like the United States or the United Kingdom.
- Universities or other academic institutions require certified translations for diplomas and other educational documents submitted.
- Governments require certified translations of official papers when you are applying for a visa or undergoing naturalization and immigration procedures.
Notarized translations
- Notarization of a translated document is required for more formal legal documents, especially for legal translations that are going to be used in foreign countries.
- Some jurisdictions or institutions require a notarization on a translated document in order to provide additional authenticity.
- Notarization is needed for documents like deeds of property, power of attorney papers, and adoption papers.
When to use a certified translation and a notarized translation?
USCIS requires a certified translation for every foreign-language document submitted with a migration application. Likewise, the US Department of State requires certified translations of all foreign-language documents submitted to it.
The extra step of notarizing a certified translation is required for education-related documents like diplomas, college degrees, and professional qualifications.
Ask the recipient of the translation to specify their certification requirement, if you are unsure which type you need. The helpful project managers at Espresso Translations offer advice based on their professional experience.
What is a certified translation?
A certified translation is a professional translation accompanied by a statement declaring that it is a true and accurate translation of the original document. This statement also includes the translator’s name, signature, address and other contact information, and the date of the translation.
What is the purpose of a certified translation?
A translator’s certification identifies the translator and assigns responsibility for inaccuracies or omissions. For documents translated for official or legal purposes, a wrong translation has costly or time-consuming implications, so getting a certified translation is particularly important. A certified translation means that the translator is taking personal responsibility for the accuracy of their translation.
When to use certified translations?
When you request a translation of any of the following documents, a certified translator working with a professional translation agency handles the following documents:
- Birth certificates
- Death certificates
- Marriage certificates
- Business contracts
- Immigration papers
- Court transcripts
Who can provide certified translations?
In the United States, unlike in many other countries, The United States requires 0 formal credentials for certified translators, though 2 recognised qualifications exist: the American Translators Association certification and the UN Language Proficiency Exam. The United Kingdom also does not have this requirement.
US universities, courts, and immigration authorities enforce additional accreditation requirements for translated documents. They ask that translated documents submitted to them be done by a translator or translation company that is accredited by a professional body in the translation industry such as a certificate from the American Translators Association or passage of the UN’s Language Proficiency Exam (LPE). Other institutions also require notarized translation of any documents submitted.
What is a notarized translation in the US?
In the United States, a notarized translation involves a verification of the identity and signature of the translator who completed the translation. This is done by using the services of a notary public. Notarized translations are required in 4 contexts: administrative filings, legal agreements, court submissions, and foreign public-entity submissions.
The procedure for a notarized translation is for a professional translator to translate the document from one language to another. The translator affixes a translation certification to the translation, taking full responsibility for the quality of the translation. Then the translator brings the documents to a notary public, who checks the translator’s identification and verifies their identity, witnessing the translator’s signature on the certificate of translation.
Thus, a notarized translation is a translation that affords another degree of credibility by verifying the translator’s identity. Please note, however, that the notary does not determine the accuracy of the translation (this is done by the certifying translator). A notarized translation simply proves that the notary has checked the translator’s identification and witnessed their signature.
Also Read: What is the difference between certified and sworn translations?
How do I get a translation notarized?
The receiving party defines the specific translation requirements for a notarized translation. You also need to ask whether the notarization should be done in the source language country or the target language country. While you are asking this, An apostille is a Hague Convention certificate that authenticates a notary’s signature for international use, and many foreign authorities require an apostille on the original document before the translation is notarized.
Next, contact a translation agency with proven experience in this field, such as Espresso Translations. You will need to provide a completely legible scan of your document, ideally with a digital (typed) version of any handwritten parts.
Before sending in the document to be translated, find out what the agency’s privacy policy is, so that you know how the agency will handle your personal data. Then let the agency proceed with your translation project. Espresso Translations takes particular care to properly translate the documents you need, including privacy protections, and will make sure that your original document is translated accurately and promptly.
When to use notarized translation?
Hire a certified translation agency like Espresso Translations to get notarized translations of legal or official documents that require certification by a notary. If you need to submit any education-based documents like diplomas, degree certificates, professional qualifications, and other administrative documents that are not in English, particularly overseas, a notarized translation is required for education-based documents such as diplomas, degree certificates, and professional qualifications submitted overseas.
Notarized translations are more accepted abroad because of the state certification of the notary public. The receiving institution defines which certification type is accepted for a submitted translation.
What does local notary public mean?
A local notary public is a person who passed an exam and applied to their state of residence to become qualified as an impartial witness who can verify the identity of persons appearing before them. For a translation, this means determining the identity of the translator providing a certified translation. Notaries carry out legal formalities like the signing of certificates and they provide stamps and follow official procedures.
Notaries do not act as translators and cannot themselves check that your document is translated correctly — that is the job of the translator.
Different requirements in different countries
In the United States, there are no official credentials for translators, although qualifications issued by the American Translators Association or the United Nations LPE (language proficiency exam) program exist. Government bodies in countries such as Italy, Spain, France, and Germany issue sworn-translator credentials for specific language pairs.
Because each country has different requirements, it is important to ascertain what the specific requirements are for a particular country before getting a document translated, such as whether the translation certificate should be certified by a notary. Contact an Espresso Translations project manager for guidance on notarized, sworn, or other official translation types, if you are unsure which one applies to your case. Get a quote today.
