Which Documents Require a Certified Translation?

You may have heard the term ‘certified translation’ from time to time, and you might assume that it’s an article or paperwork that is accurately translated. This is true. A certified translation is any document that’s been signed by the translator and ‘certified’ to be accurate. More often than not, documents that are translated like this include both the original and the translated copy. But when do you need a certified translation, and what documents may require this?

When and Where Do You Require Certified Translation?

Documents that require a certified translation often fall under the category of legal paperwork, such as documents that are required by a legal body or institution. Common examples of documents requiring certified translation are those for immigration. The legal documents of an immigrant are often written in the person’s native language, and to be accepted by the immigration office, these need to be properly translated and certified. The accuracy is crucial as it involves laws, which often need to be interpreted literally.

In immigration, for example, certified translated documents are necessary for things like residency or even something like a temporary visitor’s permit. Other examples that require certified translations are universities and colleges – especially if the institution is in a different country. Because your school diplomas and the like are often written in the original language, it’s necessary that these are translated accurately.

Certified Translation and Normal Translation

Now you may be wondering why you need to have a professional translate a document when you can do it yourself. Because the documents in question often deal with intricate subjects (such as legal paperwork), it’s important that the translation is as accurate as possible. Take law, for example. There are some statutes and legal descriptions that are not literal and need interpretation. A professional translator has knowledge of what these are, and will then translate it properly to the right language. Discounting the fact that most legal bodies and schools do not accept non-certified translations, you are placing a huge risk if you translate your important documents on your own. It may affect the success of your application and even get you in trouble.

At Lingua Technologies International, we provide certified translation for your varying needs. Our translators are certified and knowledgeable in a range of languages, and we provide accuracy in all our translated work. Get in touch with us today to learn more about our certified translation.