A translation of a public document is not, in itself, a public document, but there are certain circumstances in which you may need to present a notarised or legalised translation. How is this done, and when might you require it?
If you are moving to, studying in, or doing business in a country where English is not an accepted working language, it is likely you will have to have a number of documents translated. Currently, English remains a procedural language in the EU. This means that in the majority of situations, you should be able to use English-language documents in EU countries. However, there are specific situations in which translations are necessary. For instance, universities often request translations of academic documents. Depending on the country and the use, you may require anything from a standard translation to a ‘certified’, or ‘sworn’ translation. You may also need to have a translation notarised or legalised.
The UK does not have a particular governmental body which oversees ‘sworn’ translations [1]. Instead, a certified translation in the UK is simply a translation which has been verified by the translator. Usually, this will involve attaching a signed statement by the translator. The statement attests to the accuracy of the translation and provides their details. Essentially, there is no external verification process for the quality of the translation in the UK. However, the translator should have suitable qualifications. In the event of any inaccuracy, this statement ensures that the translator is held accountable. Often a certified translation will be the final stage in the process, especially if the translations are alongside originals and are complete with translations of the apostilles, but certified translations can undergo further processes when and if necessary.
Notarising a translation that has a translator’s certificate attached is fairly straightforward. Something to bear in mind is that it is not actually the quality or accuracy of the translation itself to which the notary will be attesting, because they are not translators and likely will not speak the language. Rather, the notary can attest to the validity of the translator’s certificate. They may also be able to certify the translations as copies of the original documents. The accuracy of the translation rests with the translator.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) cannot legalise translations unless they have been certified, even if they are translations of public documents.
Regardless of what type of translation you require, we are happy to help you through the process. We work with a network of professionals and can easily arrange the translation, notarisation, and legalisation of your documents. Once you have an idea of what you require, please feel free to get in touch.