A certificate of translation accuracy is a signed statement by a professional translator that the accompanying certified translation is a true, accurate and faithful representation of the original document.
This certificate of accuracy is also known as a statement of truth and must accompany any certified translation. In the UK, when translating official documentation, a certified translation is required and the translation certificate is attached to the completed translated document. It does not need to be witnessed or sworn under oath.
What is a certified translation?
A certified translation is a document translation completed by a professional translator and accompanied by a statement of truth which attests to its accuracy and precision. The certification process adds credibility to the translation of important documents which are required for official reasons.
In the United Kingdom, certified translations are accepted by authorities such as the Home Office, HM Courts & Tribunal Service, HM Passport Office, Ministry of Justice and most educational institutions. If you need to supply a translation of any official documents to public bodies or government entities in the UK, you will need a certified translation.
Espresso Translations has a network of accredited translators with years of professional experience who can provide a certified translation according to your specific requirements and with the necessary certification statement.
Also Read: What is a certified translation in the UK?
When do you need certified translation?
You may need to provide a certified translation to government agencies, public bodies, law courts, immigration authorities or to educational institutions. In short, for any official translation requirement in the UK, a certified translation will be needed.
In the United Kingdom, you will need a certified translation to apply for your visa usually for documents such as your passport, birth or marriage certificate or an employment contract depending on the type of visa. Identity documents form an essential part of the immigration process so these will require a certified translation as part of your visa application.
For those coming to the UK to study, not only will you need to have your identity documents translated but you will also be required to provide proof of your educational level and academic achievements. This takes the form of an academic transcript. If this is in a foreign language, you must have it translated into English and certified.
As part of a move to the UK for work, you may need to have your business or employment contract translated. The complexities of these types of contracts makes a certified translation essential for clarity and legality.
If you are moving abroad with your spouse, you will need to have your marriage certificate translated for your visa application to prove your marital status. When applying for citizenship in the UK, all of your submitted documents will need to be translated and certified.
In any kind of legal proceedings it is vital that all documents submitted are clearly understood by everyone involved so a translation will be required in the UK courts. This must be a certified translation carried out by an accredited, professional translator and accompanied by a certificate of translation accuracy.
When travelling to the UK from another country for medical treatment, it is important that your medical records are translated accurately to avoid dangerous misunderstandings. A certified translation by a qualified translator is essential in this situation. The same is true for any documents related to clinical research.
Anyone who is buying property in the UK for relocation, investment or as a holiday home, will need to provide all official documents in English. In some cases, this will require a certified translation to enable full understanding of these documents.
What is a certified translator?
A certified translator is a qualified professional who is a member of a recognised translators association such as the Chartered Institute of Linguistics (CIOL) or the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI). In countries like Spain or France, official translators have their contact details and qualifications added to a central register but there is no such regulation in the United Kingdom. This is why it is important to use only a reputable translation agency such as Espresso Translations whose members are all accredited.
While anyone with the necessary linguistic ability can carry out a translation project, official documents will only be accepted when completed by a certified translator. They are tasked with providing accurate, quality translations which will be accepted by government authorities, public bodies or professional institutions. Accompanying the translated documents will be the statement of truth attesting to the accuracy of the translation and carrying the details and signature of the translator. A certified translator may work in a self employed capacity or as part of a translation agency.
What does a certificate of translation mean?
A certificate of translation serves as validation of the true and accurate nature of the accompanying translation. By completing and signing the statement of truth, the translator is providing assurance that the translated document can be used in an official capacity as a faithful representation of the original document.
However, it does not mean that the translation is the legal equivalent of the source document. This kind of certification statement would need to be done by a sworn translator. There is no requirement in the UK for sworn translations however but they are the official requirement in different countries such as Italy, the Netherlands and Spain. As a common law country, the UK recognises the attested fidelity of the translation as certified by an accredited translator.
What is a notarized certificate of translation accuracy?
When a certificate of translation accuracy is notarized it means that it has also been signed and stamped by a notary public. This notarization does not confer any kind of legal status on the translation nor does it validate the accuracy or completeness of the translation. Instead, it confirms the identity of the translator who carried out the translation.
The translator must take an appropriate and valid form of identification with them when having a statement of truth notarized. Once the notary public affirms the identity of the translator they will add their own signature and seal thus creating a notarized certificate of translation accuracy.
Although, it doesn’t verify the contents of the translation, having a certificate of accuracy notarized adds another layer of authentication to any official document translation. This type of notarized translation may be required for legal documents, business contracts, court proceedings, academic certificates, diplomas, immigration documents and travel visas.
It is important to clarify with the requesting authority what kind of translation they want you to submit. This could be a certified, notarised or legalised translation which have different levels of verification so make sure you are clear on which to provide.
What kind of documents require translation accuracy?
Any regular translation should be accurate and precise but this is particularly important for official documents and those submitted to government authorities or public bodies.
The following documents are the most commonly requested certified translations:
- Birth certificate
- Academic transcripts
- Visa applications
- Marriage certificate
- Death certificate
- Medical treatment
- Business contracts
- Bank statements
- Adoption certificates
- University degrees
The translation certification usually is sufficient for most requesting authorities in the UK although some embassies and consulates may request a sworn translation.
Why is a certificate of translation accuracy needed?
The benefits of having a certificate of translation accuracy is the added validity it bestows on the translated document. If you have important translations to be done, rather than using machine translation and its inherent flaws, you can have professional, qualified linguists working on your document.
Medical translations, international business contracts, technical translations and applications to foreign universities are all crucial documents so it is essential to have qualified, accredited translators taking responsibility for their accuracy. This is what a certified translation and its accompanying statement of truth offers.
All of the translators at Espresso Translations are fluent in the source language and native speakers of the target language of your translation. Not only does this make the translated document more natural, it means it is checked for accuracy and faithfulness to the original.
What is included in a certificate of translation accuracy?
The translation certificate should include the following details:
- Name and contact details of the translator or translation company
- Date when the translation was completed
- Contain the phrase ‘a true and accurate translation of the original document’
- Credentials of the translator or translation agency including any national accreditation authority for translators and interpreters
- Translator’s signature, stamp or seal
The statement of truth or certificate of accuracy is then attached to the completed text translation.
What are the requirements for a certificate of translation accuracy?
A certification statement needs to fulfil the following:
- It must be issued by a professional translator or translation company with recognised credentials and who belong to a national accreditation authority for translators and interpreters.
- The translation must be complete and faithful to the original as the certificate attests to the accuracy of the translated file or document. It should retain the meaning, tone and nuance of the source document.
- Professional, certified translators or agencies must preserve the confidentiality and privacy of all clients’ documents and their personal data. This includes sending and receiving any documentation.
- The layout of the translation and its certificate should meet the requirements of the requesting authority. This usually means it should be on company letterhead and follow a certain format.
- Contact details and accreditation information of the individual translator or a translation agency must be complete, accurate and up to date.
- Professional experience and knowledge of the subject matter as well as translator qualifications are needed to ensure the faithfulness and accuracy of the translated material.
To ensure compliance with all the above you should only use an accredited translation agency such as Espresso Translations.
Who issues a certificate of translation accuracy?
The translator or translation company that provides the translation also issues the certificate of translation accuracy. This complete service provides clients with all they need to submit legal, technical, medical or personal documents to requesting authorities with the guarantee that every word of the translation has been checked and verified.
There is no difference in how a notarized certificate of accuracy is issued. Once the notary public has verified its authenticity, signature of the translator and added their own signature, seal or stamp, the translator can send the documents to their client.
Certification of translation accuracy sample
Here is an example of a translation accuracy certificate
Are certified translations accepted in every country?
Certified translations are accepted in countries which operate a common law system. This includes the UK, United States, Ireland, South Africa and Australia among others. According to the American Translators Association, translations in the US can be certified, notarized or legalized.
Civil law countries like most of continental Europe, Central and South America and parts of Asia will require a sworn translation for any official documents.
A sworn translation is carried out by a sworn translator and is attached to an affidavit or sworn statement. The affidavit is sworn in front of a court or public official and attests that the translation is a true and accurate representation of the original. This renders the sworn translation a legal document with the same validity under the law as the source document.
Under the Hague Apostille Convention, an apostille certificate allows the attached translation to be used for official purposes in countries outside of the UK who are also signatories to the Hague Convention. This is also known as a legalised translation.
How much does a certified translation cost?
The cost of a certified translation from Espresso Translations is from £30 plus VAT. However, there are factors which will influence the final price that you pay. These include:
- Length of the document or file: we operate a clear price per word policy so longer files will have a higher charge
- Language pair: rare or unusual languages can cost more due to the availability of specialists in these languages compared to more common languages
- Complexity of the text: some industries and organizations have unique terminology which only a few experienced translators may be familiar with
- Required turnaround time: expedited delivery times will incur extra costs. We offer 48-hour, 24-hour or same day turnaround depending on the exact requirements of the translation
- Hard copies: most of our translations are returned to clients as a digital file but hard copies can be posted for a small fee
To be sure of how much you will pay for your translation, simply request a free, no-obligation quote. Our excellent communication protocol means we will respond to you within an hour. There are no hidden fees in our service, the price you are quoted is what you will pay. On acceptance of our quote, your translator will begin work immediately on your document or file.
Also Read: How much does a certified translation cost?
Why choose our certified translation services
Espresso Translations offers a highly professional service with over 2000 translators, members of our ISO 17100 translation agency. Each translator has more than five years of experience in their field of expertise and works in their native tongue, having fluency in another language. This ensures all the translations we carry out sound natural and lose none of the nuance of the text.
We work in more than 150 languages and our network of colleagues spans the globe offering fast, accurate and affordable online translation no matter where you are. The team at Espresso Translations prides itself on providing services for individuals and large companies while maintaining the same exacting standards for both.
