Certification and Notarisation

Also know as authentication or accreditation, certification is required when a translation is needed for official purposes. Types of documents that require certification usually include:

• birth, marriage and death certificates,
• divorce decrees,
• patents, and,
• other official or legal documents.

In the UK a translation can be certified or notarised in three ways depending on the nature of the document and its usage. It is important to check with your legal representative which of the following certifications is most relevant for your purposes.

Certificate of Accuracy

K international will certify the translation is an accurate representation of the original. This is usually required for general or official documents which need to be presented to non-government bodies or academic institutions. The translation is marked with a K International certified stamp and accompanied with a K international Certificate of Accuracy.

Notarisation/Sworn Certification

For official documentation and deeds requested by Government bodies, the translation may need to be certified/notarised by Affidavit. This is a declaration which is made in writing and on oath, sworn in front of a solicitor, attorney or notary public that the translation is, to the best of the translator's knowledge, complete and accurate. The translation and a copy of the original are then marked with a certified stamp.

Legalisation/Apostille

This is required for translated documents that are to be presented to overseas authorities outside the UK, such as marriage or work applications. Legalisation is the same as Notarisation/Sworn Certification, except that the signature of the solicitor, attorney or notary public has been checked, or Apostilled, by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to be accepted by a foreign country, as part of the Hague Convention.

Certification outside the UK

Certification of a translated document is different in the UK than in Europe, and generally the rest of the world.

In Europe, a translation can be certified by a sworn professional translator who has been duly authorised by the Government of the country in question to translate and notarise a document. Any translation produced by a sworn translator is an official document in its own right. The translation is certified with a stamped declaration which is written in the relevant language, as well as in English.

How to Order

All of the services above can be ordered from K International by calling 01908 572600, emailing info@k-international.com or by using our contact us page on this website.