Certified translation
A translated document supplied with a certification statement and identifying details for formal use.
Certified translation detailsOfficial document translation
Official Translation Services for Documents in the UK
Translate personal, legal, academic, business and visa-related documents for formal submission and professional use.
Upload clear copies, choose the required language and tell us where the translation will be used. Include any instructions from the receiving organisation so the correct service and format can be confirmed.
- Secure online document upload
- Certified and specialist options
- Digital and hard-copy arrangements
Official documents
Personal, civil and administrative paperwork
Visa-related use
Supporting documents for immigration applications
Academic records
Certificates, diplomas and transcripts
Legal and business
Structured translations for professional use
What the service means
Professional translation for formal document use
Official translation services are used when a document written in one language must be presented clearly in another language for an authority, institution, employer, university, court or other organisation.
The correct format depends on the recipient. A standard certified translation may be enough for one submission, while another organisation may request notarisation, a sworn translation, an apostille or a particular certification statement.
Before you order
Check the recipient’s current instructions and send them with your document whenever possible. This reduces uncertainty about certification, formatting, delivery and supporting information.
Choose the right service
Translation options for different submission requirements
The name of the service matters less than the exact instructions given by the organisation receiving your document. Use these options as a starting point.
UKVI / Home Office translation
Certified translation support for visa, settlement, citizenship and other immigration-related documents.
UKVI translation detailsNotarised translation
An additional verification route that may be requested for overseas, consular, legal or administrative use.
Notarised translation detailsApostille translation
Translation and document support where an apostille or legalisation process is part of the recipient’s requirements.
Apostille translation detailsSworn translation
A translation completed under the formal system used in a country where sworn translators are officially recognised.
Sworn translation detailsUrgent certified translation
A priority option for time-sensitive documents, subject to the language, document length and required service.
Urgent translation detailsDocuments covered
Official document translation for personal and professional use
Send a readable scan or photograph of every relevant page, including stamps, seals, handwritten notes and reverse sides where they form part of the document.
Personal and civil documents
- Birth certificates
- Marriage certificates
- Divorce and death certificates
- Passports and identity documents
- Police and criminal record certificates
- Family registration documents
Academic and professional records
- Degree certificates
- Academic transcripts
- Diplomas and qualifications
- School and university records
- Professional registration documents
- Employment letters and contracts
Legal, financial and business documents
- Court documents
- Contracts and agreements
- Powers of attorney
- Bank and financial documents
- Company and business records
- Medical records and letters
How the process works
Order your official translation in four clear steps
Providing complete files and clear submission details at the start helps the translation team prepare the document in the appropriate context.
Upload your documents
Send a clear digital copy of every page that needs to be translated.
Provide the details
Confirm the languages, intended use and any instructions from the recipient.
Translation and checking
The document is translated and reviewed for clarity, consistency and presentation.
Receive your translation
The completed translation is delivered in the agreed format for your review.
Service comparison
Which type of official translation should you request?
Start with the receiving organisation’s wording. The table below explains the usual distinction between common service types without replacing the recipient’s own instructions.
| Service | Common starting point | What to confirm | Service page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certified | Formal UK submissions, professional records and many administrative uses. | Required certification wording, delivery format and whether a printed copy is needed. | View certified translation |
| UKVI / Home Office | Visa, immigration, settlement and citizenship supporting documents. | The current requirements for the exact immigration route and document. | View UKVI translation |
| Notarised | Overseas, consular, legal or administrative submissions requiring added verification. | Whether notarisation alone is enough or an apostille is also requested. | View notarised translation |
| Sworn | Use in a country with a formal sworn-translator system. | The country, authority and required sworn-translator jurisdiction. | View sworn translation |
| Apostille | International document use where legalisation is part of the submission route. | Which document or signature needs the apostille and the destination country’s instructions. | View apostille translation |
Requirements differ between organisations and countries. Ask the recipient to confirm the exact service before ordering whenever their instructions are unclear.
Before delivery
Details that should be checked carefully
Official documents often contain names, dates, reference numbers, stamps, handwritten notes and structured formatting. These details affect how the translation is understood and should be reviewed carefully.
- Names and spellings checked for consistency
- Dates, figures and document numbers reviewed
- Headings, labels and official wording checked
- Stamps, seals and handwritten notes considered
- Formatting and final presentation reviewed
Your review matters too
When you receive the translation, compare personal details and reference information with the original before submitting it to the receiving organisation.
What to send us
A simple document checklist before ordering
Clear, complete files make it easier to assess the document, confirm the service and avoid preventable questions during the order.
- A readable scan, PDF or photograph of every relevant page
- The original language and the language required
- The country, authority or organisation receiving the translation
- Any certification, formatting or delivery instructions supplied by the recipient
- Confirmed spellings for names where more than one English spelling is possible
- Reverse sides, stamps, seals, signatures and handwritten notes that form part of the document
UKVI certified translation
Looking for a “UKVI-approved translator”?
For UK immigration submissions, focus on whether the translation meets the current requirements for your application route and can be independently verified. Published Home Office guidance commonly requires a complete certified translation with specific identifying and certification details.
- Confirmation that the translation is accurate
- The date of the translation
- The translator’s or company official’s full name and signature
- Contact details for the translator or translation company
- Credentials where the relevant route requires them
- The original document and full translation where requested
Questions clients often ask
Official translation service FAQs
Use these answers as general guidance and confirm any document-specific requirements with the organisation receiving your translation.
What is an official translation?
An official translation is a translated version of a document prepared for formal or professional use. The exact certification, format and delivery requirements depend on the authority, institution or organisation receiving it.
Which documents can be officially translated?
Common document types include civil certificates, passports and identity documents, academic records, visa paperwork, legal papers, medical letters, financial records and company documents. You can browse the document translation services or send an unlisted document for review.
How do I order an official document translation?
Use the online order page to upload your files, select the required languages and explain where the translation will be used. Include instructions from the receiving organisation where available.
What should I upload?
Upload a clear, complete scan, PDF or photograph of every relevant page. Include reverse sides, stamps, seals, signatures and handwritten information when they form part of the original document.
Can I order a translation for UKVI or Home Office use?
Yes. Provide the original document, the required language and the immigration route or intended use. Check the latest requirements for your application and include any specific instructions with the order. See the dedicated UKVI translation service .
Does UKVI use a list of approved translators?
The phrase “UKVI-approved translator” is commonly used by searchers, but the practical requirement is that the translation meets the rules for the relevant application and can be independently verified. Current guidance should always be checked for the exact route.
What is the difference between certified, notarised, sworn and apostilled translations?
A certified translation includes a formal certification statement. Notarisation adds notarial verification. A sworn translation follows the sworn-translator system of the relevant country. An apostille is a separate legalisation step that may apply to a document or signature. The recipient should confirm which option is required.
Can I receive a digital copy or a printed copy?
Digital PDF delivery is available for certified translation orders, and hard copies can be arranged where required. State the receiving organisation’s delivery requirements when placing the order.
How long will the translation take?
Turnaround depends on the document length, language pair, service type and urgency. Standard and priority options are listed on the pricing page , and the appropriate timeline can be confirmed after the files are reviewed.
Ready to order?
Start your official translation order online
Upload your documents, provide the language details and explain where the translation will be used. Include clear files and any instructions supplied by the receiving organisation.
Questions before ordering? Email hello@officialtranslationservice.co.uk .
