Certified, Notarised & Apostilled Translations in the UK
Certified, notorised, apostilled, legalised? What’s the difference?
If you have been asked to provide a translation of an official document, such as a birth certificate, passport or academic transcript, you may have come across terms like "certified," "notarised" or "apostilled." In the United Kingdom, these terms have specific meanings and it is important to understand the difference to ensure the prompt legal recognition and acceptance of your translated documents.
Certified Translations
Certified translations are carried out by a professional translator who attests to the accuracy of the translation by attaching a self-certification statement confirming that the translation is a “true and faithful rendering of the original French,” for example. Certified translations should include the translator’s name, signature, contact information, and the date of the translation.
It is important to note that translations carried out by members of the Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL) or the Institute of Translation & Interpreting (ITI) have a better chance of being accepted by the UK authorities. It should also be noted that while certified translations are suitable for most purposes, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, academic transcripts, etc., it is strongly recommended that you check with the authority in question (Home Office, Passport Office, UK Border Agency) exactly what kind or translation you need before you proceed.
Notarised Translations
Notarised translations in the United Kingdom are often required for legal documents that need a higher degree of authentication, such as affidavits, wills and powers of attorney. Once the translation has been completed and certified by a professional translator, a Notary Public (a solicitor authorised to provide this service) will then append his or her signature and stamp to the translator’s certifying statement, and add the date. This will then be attached to the translated document to acknowledge that it is genuine.
However, it is important to understand that the notary does not confirm the accuracy of the translation itself (most notaries are not multilingual), but rather the translator’s self-certification statement and signature. Notaries also charge a fee, which will be added to the cost of the certified translation.
Apostilled or Legalised Translations
An apostille is a form of authentication that seeks to simplify the process of legalising and authenticating official documents so that they can be recognised in foreign countries that are signatories to the 1961 Hague Convention Treaty. It is not a translation per se, but rather a certificate that verifies the authenticity of the document itself, including any translations attached to it. In the UK, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) issues the apostille thus confirming the document's legal status for use in other Hague Convention countries.
Only documents issued in the UK can be apostilled. Documents issued in other countries must be legalised in the country in question. For more information about apostilled or legalised translations, visit the UK government’s website.
Key Takeaways
In the United Kingdom, certified, notarised and apostilled/legalised translations serve distinct purposes, therefore it is very important to find out exactly what you need to ensure the prompt legal recognition and acceptance of your translated documents.
Certified translations are generally accepted for most purposes, e.g. academic transcripts, passports, driving licences, marriage certificates, and so forth. Documents that have been translated by a member of CIOL or ITI have a better chance of being accepted by the UK authorities.
Notarised translations offer an added level of verification through the involvement of a notary public, and are often required for wills, power of attorney, etc.
Apostilled translations involve the authentication of the document itself by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to make it legally valid for international use. You cannot get documents issued outside the UK apostilled, they must be legalised in the country they were issued.
A translation must be certified before it can be notarised. Similarly, a legalised or apostilled translation must first have been certified and notarised.
Usually, a scanned copy or photograph of your document is sufficient, however if you need to apostille or notarise your translation, you may need to provide the original hard copy.
Need help?
Do you have a question or require a French to English certified or notarised translation of your documents?
Acte de naissance (birth certificate)
Passeport (passport)
Etat civil (personal record)
Permis de conduire (driving licence)
Livret de famille (family record book)
Acte de marriage (marriage certificate)
Relevé officiel / Relevé de notes (academic transcript)
Contrat de travail (employment contract)
Extrait de compte bancaire (bank statement)
Acte de décès (death certificate)
Etc.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me at: lucy@teasdaletranslations.com
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