Clarification on Certified Translations or Translation Stamps and Certificates of Accuracy

Many translation buyers don’t understand the difference between certified and non-certified translation. But the word speaks for itself. Professional translator has to be “certified” or “sworn” to do the job. However, in the common law system in the UK, there is no such concept as the "sworn translator". It exists solely in civil law countries.

A certified translation or certification stamp is the official declaration bundled together with a translation and copy of a source text. In some cases the translations have to be done from original document, but if the original is not available the translator should state that in his/her translation [translation of marriage certificate from English into Russian from copy of original document].

In some cases the translation certificates have to be notarised. Notarised certificates of translations are usually required for legal purposes such as a divorce, marriage, immigration or criminal proceedings in courts, so in most cases for the UK Government, local authorities, Home Office, Passport Office, NARIC, GDC, banks and foreign embassies, etc.

To avoid complications, is it usually best to get a certified translation from a freelance translator who is a professional member of Institute of Translation andInterpreting (ITI) or the Chartered Institute of Linguists (IoL). For example, when I have to produce such certificates I have my own template completed with all my professional ITI membership details and ITI Logo stamp.  As the professional member of Institute of Translationand Interpreting (ITI) I am required to follow certain quality procedures, such as pass an entry exam or the translation be proofread before returning to the client and so on.

It is fairly rare when a local council has their own translation department, especially one that is a member of the professional body. In order to avoid disappointments I would recommend checking if whoever needs your document translated would accept a certified translation from someone who is not a member of the professional body.

In the UK, certifying or swearing has no bearing on the quality of a translation, it serves to define the translator’s identity and qualifications. When a translation is sworn before a solicitor or a notary in Scotland, the legal professional has no obligations to verify the quality of translated material, but merely verifies the translator's identity.

Certification does, however, put weight to a translation. If, for example, a document that goes in front of the court is wilfully mistranslated or a birth certificate has intentional changes that different from original, the translator could be charged with a contempt of court or perjury.


When it comes to the quality, you should expect from the translator to translate almost everything, including stamps, a template of a document, any hand written dates and markings: [seal signed], [signature] [date of issue amended and signed as official]. If any changes can be seen, for example, on the original birth certificate, it should be mentioned in his/her translation. If the text of original is not legible partially or fully the translator should also state this in his/her translation [Seal stamp of Civil Registrar Office: partially illegible]. 

The Certificate of Accuracy is what I would normally produce to verify an accuracy of document translated by another translator. This work normally would be charged separetaly for proofreading and certification.