Translation Services

Certified translation, accepted across the UK

Official document translation the Home Office, UKVI, the courts and UK universities will accept, with a signed certificate of accuracy.

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A certified translation is a translation that comes with a signed statement confirming it is true and accurate. UK bodies ask for one when they need to trust a document that was not written in English, such as a foreign birth certificate submitted with a visa application. Prism Linguistics provides certified translations in more than 300 languages, accepted by the Home Office, UKVI, HM Courts & Tribunals, HM Passport Office and UK universities.

We have certified thousands of documents for people applying for visas, settlement, citizenship, university places and jobs. The process is straightforward, the price is fixed before you commit, and we will tell you honestly if what you actually need is notarisation or a legalised translation instead.

What "certified" actually means here

It is worth clearing up a common confusion. Some countries appoint sworn or official translators, and a translation only counts if one of them produced it. The UK does not work that way. There is no register of sworn translators in this country.

Instead, a certified translation in the UK is one supplied by a professional translation company along with a signed certificate. That certificate states that the translation is complete and accurate, names the company, and is dated and signed. UK government departments, courts and universities accept this, and it is what they mean when they ask for a "certified translation".

If your document is heading overseas, the rules may differ. You might be asked for a notarised translation, or for the document to carry an apostille under the Hague Convention. We can arrange both. The simplest thing is to tell us which organisation, in which country, will receive the document, and we will tell you exactly what they need.

What we certify

Documents we are asked for most

If your document is not listed here, send it over anyway. We certify a far wider range than this.

Civil certificates

Birth, marriage, divorce and death certificates. The documents most often needed for visa, settlement and citizenship applications.

Academic documents

Degree certificates, diplomas, transcripts and school records, for university admissions, professional registration and Ecctis statements of comparability.

Identity and immigration

Passports, national ID cards, residence permits and police clearance certificates for Home Office and UKVI applications.

Financial documents

Bank statements, payslips and accounts, often needed to evidence finances for a visa or a mortgage application.

Legal documents

Court orders, contracts, powers of attorney, wills and statements, for solicitors, courts and personal legal matters.

Medical records

Medical reports, vaccination records and test results, for treatment in the UK, insurance claims or visa requirements.

How it works

From document to certified translation

  1. 1

    Send us the document

    Upload a clear scan or photo through the quote form. A phone photo is usually fine, as long as every word is legible. Tell us the language and which body will receive the translation.

  2. 2

    We send a fixed quote

    You get a clear price and turnaround. Standard certificates are priced per document, so there are no surprises later.

  3. 3

    A qualified translator does the work

    A native-speaker translator handles your document, and a second linguist checks it. The layout follows the original so the receiving body can match them side by side.

  4. 4

    You receive the certified translation

    We send the PDF with the signed certificate of accuracy, and post a stamped hard copy by tracked Royal Mail if you need one.

Questions people ask

Certified translation FAQs

What is a certified translation in the UK?
A certified translation is a translation supplied with a signed statement confirming it is a true and accurate translation of the original document. In the UK the statement is provided by the translation company on its letterhead, with its details, the date and a signature. It tells the receiving body that the translation can be relied on.
Who accepts your certified translations?
Our certified translations are accepted by the UK Home Office, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS), HM Passport Office (HMPO), the DVLA, NARIC/Ecctis, universities and colleges, banks, and most UK employers and solicitors.
Is there a difference between certified and sworn translation?
The UK has no system of sworn translators, unlike some countries in Europe. Here, certification is provided by a reputable translation company. If a document is going abroad and a sworn or notarised translation is asked for, we can arrange notarisation or a legalisation (apostille) as well. Tell us where the document is going and we will advise.
Do I get a hard copy or just a digital file?
Both, if you want them. We send a PDF of the certified translation, and we can also post a signed and stamped hard copy to your UK address by tracked Royal Mail. Some bodies accept a digital copy; others want paper, so it is worth checking what the receiving organisation asks for.
How long does a certified translation take?
A short, standard document such as a birth or marriage certificate is usually ready within one to two working days. Longer documents take a little more. If you have a deadline, tell us and we will confirm whether we can meet it before you commit.
What does a certified translation cost?
Standard certificates are usually priced per document, so you know the cost up front. Longer or more complex documents are priced on length. Send us a scan or a clear photo of what you need translated and we will give you a fixed quote.

Need a document certified?

Send us a scan and tell us where it is going. We will reply with a fixed price and a turnaround you can rely on.