Certification of translation
Clients often request “official, “certified,” or “legal” translations. However, many do not know the differences between these terms and are unsure about which certification suits their needs.
We offer several translation certifications including our own certification, notarized certification and legalization/apostille. In order to ensure you select the right service, it is crucial that you verify exactly what the requestor needs before authorizing the translation. The type of verification required generally depends on the document type and its purpose.
We have outlined the different types of certification services below to help you gain a better understanding of which service is most appropriate for your needs.
Certified translations
Certified translations are usually requested for documents translated for official/unofficial use by private sector entities. For example, a translation of a CV may need to be certified for submission to a prospective employer.
We stamp the translated documents with our company stamp and reference number. Your documents are returned with a certificate verifying that the documents have been translated by a qualified translator and that we believe the translations to be accurate and true.
Notarized translations
Governmental and legal entities often require notarized translations.
Documents that often must be certified by a notary include the following:
- Birth certificates;
- Marriage certificates and divorce decrees;
- Diplomas, school transcripts, or other academic documents;
- Medical reports and other official transcripts;
- Utility and household bills;
- Contracts, power of attorney documents, and other regulatory documents.
This type of certification involves a more formal process than in-house certification. In order to notarize a translation, the document’s translator must declare that the translation is true and honest before a public notary.
From there, the public notary uses a certified stamp to mark the translation. In most cases you will need the original documents, not copies. Make sure to find out exactly what the requestor needs so that you fully comply with the request.
Hieroglifs International works with public notaries and provides worldwide notarization services. A notary is an impartial, legally trained officer that authenticates and certifies the execution of documents. Because notarization requirements vary from one country to the next, including execution methods and document production, we must know the language you need certified as well as the country for which the document is intended. Contact us to discuss the notary requirements in greater detail.
Hieroglifs International guarantees reasonably priced and accurate translations as well as certification and notarization services in accordance with all laws and regulations.
Legalization/Apostille
Translations intended to be used in countries that comply with the Hague Convention such as overseas marriages, visa applications, and overseas adoptions typically require legalization/apostille certification.
The legalization/apostille process is similar to the notarization process except the original documents are always required. These documents are forwarded on to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office where an official representative finalizes the process and confirms that the public notary has the authority to sign the notarization. Once the final document has been issued, it serves as a proof that the document is authentic and should not be contested because all of the legal steps have been completed and authenticated.