Certified Translation

Global Voices has a proven track record in providing professional translation services to leading UK and Worldwide organisations. This includes professional certified translation services - translation that has been formally verified for official use. Some documents that may require certified translation include:

• Marriage Certificates
• Divorce Certificates
• Birth Certificates
• Death Certificates
• Legal Documents
• Passports
• Medical Documents
• Patents
• University Degrees

There are a number of terms that mean different things in different countries, which can make the process of certified translation confusing. If you are going to use British documents overseas, for business or personal reasons, you will be asked to have your documents legalised before they can be accepted.

If you are unsure of whether or not you need a particular document certified, call us first on 0845 130 1170 or email info@globalvoices.co.uk. We will be happy to guide you through the process of certification of your documents.

Certification and Notarisation

In the UK, a translation can be certified or notarised in three ways. These are: Basic certification, Sworn certification and Legalisation also known as an Apostille. The type of certification required depends on the nature of the document and its use.

Basic Certified Translation

Global Voices includes a certified letter signed on headed paper declaring that the translation has been done either from the original document or from a copy of the original document and that the translated text is true and complete.

Our certified translations are accepted by all British government offices including the Home Office, the Passport Office and the courts.

Sworn Translations

This type of certification is mostly for official documents that have been requested by public authorities/government bodies. The translation needs to be certified or notarised by Affidavit. This is a declaration which is made in writing and on oath (sworn) in front of a solicitor/attorney or a notary public that the translation is, to the best of the translator's knowledge, complete and accurate. The translation and the original are marked with a certified stamp.

Legalisation (Apostille)

This is required for documents to be presented to overseas authorities outside the UK (such as marriage or work applications). Legalisation is the same as the two above except that the signature of the Notary Public /Solicitor on the Sworn Certification has been checked (Apostilled) by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to be accepted by a foreign country (as part of the Hague Convention). The FCO normally takes up to 4 weeks to process postal Apostilles.

We also offer an emergency legalisation service, where the turnaround is less than a week.

To find out whether your particular document requires certified translation or to get your document certified, call us on 0845 130 1170, email info@globalvoices.co.uk or upload your document using our online translation quote form.