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Clients often ask us if we can do an ‘official’ translation when requesting our help. This usually means they need a certified translation so here is a simple definition and some circumstances when you may need one.
In essence, a certified translation is a trustworthy way to show that a document has been correctly translated for official use.
This type of translation is often required for official purposes, such as legal documents, academic records, or immigration paperwork. The key components of a certified translation include:
- Translated document: The original document is translated into target language.
- Translator’s declaration: A statement from the translation provider confirming that the translation is accurate and a true representation of the original document.
- Signature and contact details: The declaration must be signed by the translator or a representative of the translation company. It also includes their contact information.
- Date of translation: The date when the translation was completed.
Certified translations are often needed for things like legal documents, birth certificates, school records, or immigration papers. The certification assures whoever is reading the document that it’s a true and accurate translation of the original.
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In the UK, there is no official governing body for sworn or certified translations. Instead, the process relies on the professional integrity of the translator or the translation company. Translations are verified by members of professional bodies such as the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI), the Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL) or the Association of Translation Companies (ATC).
These different bodies recognise the validity of each other’s standards and you can read more about this here.
STB is an accredited member of both the ITI and ATC and our certified translations are stamped with the official ATC certification stamp which attests to the high quality of our translations and working practices.
If you need any help with certified translations, the team at STB would love to hear from you.