Official translations for UK immigration
Thread poster: GP Translations
GP Translations
GP Translations  Identity Verified
Mexico
Local time: 03:50
Spanish to English
+ ...
Mar 21, 2014

Hi everyone,

I'm wondering if you can help me. A friend is moving back to the UK with his foreign partner and needs documents translating from Spanish to English for her visa. I don't understand what translation credentials you need to be considered official in the eyes of UK immigration. Do you need to be a member of a professional institution? What kind of certification do you need?

Any help would be appreciated.

Geraldine


 
Barbara Bonatti Divers
Barbara Bonatti Divers  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:50
English to Italian
MITI seal Mar 21, 2014

Qualified members of the Institute of Translating and Interpreting (MITI) can issue translations carrying the ITI seal, which is recognized as official.

Please refer to the ITI website for more information, as well as a list of qualified members, at www.iti.org.uk


 
GP Translations
GP Translations  Identity Verified
Mexico
Local time: 03:50
Spanish to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Does anyone know the official guidelines? Mar 21, 2014

Barbara Bonatti Divers wrote:

Qualified members of the Institute of Translating and Interpreting (MITI) can issue translations carrying the ITI seal, which is recognized as official.

Please refer to the ITI website for more information, as well as a list of qualified members, at www.iti.org.uk


Thanks, Barbara. I assume the same applies for Associate Members (and above) of the CIOL. However, does anyone know if immigration specify what they mean by certified translation, ie, does it say anywhere, "Translations needs to be certified (by a member of XXX/someone with a official qualification e.g. DipTrans, etc.)?

[Edited at 2014-03-21 17:31 GMT]


 
philgoddard
philgoddard
United States
German to English
+ ...
. Mar 21, 2014

I think you should ask the Home Office if you want a definitive answer. But I bet there isn't one - they will almost certainly just accept certification on your letterheading saying that you're a freelance translator, and mentioning any relevant memberships or qualifications.

 
neilmac
neilmac
Spain
Local time: 10:50
Spanish to English
+ ...
Most likely Mar 22, 2014

philgoddard wrote:

I think you should ask the Home Office if you want a definitive answer. But I bet there isn't one - they will almost certainly just accept certification on your letterheading saying that you're a freelance translator, and mentioning any relevant memberships or qualifications.


I don't know 100% either, but tend to agree with Phil here. For example, when I tried to apply for a "certificado de penales" from the UK, which used to be one of the residencia requirements before Spain entered the EU, all I got was blank looks. In the end, the Spanish authorities accepted a letter from the British Consulate. I imagine a similar scenario might apply in the case of "traducción jurada". In Spain, asking for an "official" or certified translation often seems to be no more than a knee-jerk hangover from the (g)olden days of Iberian bureaucracy.

You would probably be able to "certify" it yourself, along the lines of :

"I, the undersigned, hereby declare that this translation of the Spanish (etc) document into English is to the best of my knowledge and belief true and faithful..."

PS: "Does anyone know the official guidelines?" -> The people or organism that administers them should be able to provide them. I'd try the UK Consulate in Spain first, they are usually very helpful in these matters.

[Edited at 2014-03-22 08:08 GMT]


 
Karen Stokes
Karen Stokes  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:50
Member (2003)
French to English
UK Border Agency guidance Mar 23, 2014

Barbara Bonatti Divers wrote:

Qualified members of the Institute of Translating and Interpreting (MITI) can issue translations carrying the ITI seal, which is recognized as official.



The question of offical acceptability is an interesting one. Because we don't have a system of certified or sworn translators in the UK any practising translator can, in fact, 'self-certify' a translation, regardless of whether they are a member of a professional body.

The UK Border Agency's Guide to Supporting Documents is here https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/261466/documents-t4-gen.pdf and states:

- You must include a certified English translation that can be independently verified by the UK Border Agency
- The original translation must contain confirmation of the following from the translator:
- That it is an accurate translation of the original document
- The date of the translation
- The translator's full name and signature
- The translator's contact details


The ITI website actually states "The legal advice ITI has taken is that ‘a certificate is acceptable if it is accepted’ and that ITI members should certify translations and wait to see whether a certificate is challenged and, if so, by whom."


 
GP Translations
GP Translations  Identity Verified
Mexico
Local time: 03:50
Spanish to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Thanks for all your help! Mar 24, 2014

Thanks to everyone for your help.

[Edited at 2014-03-24 05:06 GMT]


 
XXXphxxx (X)
XXXphxxx (X)  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:50
Portuguese to English
+ ...
Home Office website Mar 24, 2014

If I'm not mistaken, there used to be information on this on the Home Office website but the site is rather confusing now and I can't seem to find it. If anyone else knows where it is then please do post it here as it is useful information. FWIW, the SIA appears to have taken the wording for its own website. If you follow these guidelines you shoul... See more
If I'm not mistaken, there used to be information on this on the Home Office website but the site is rather confusing now and I can't seem to find it. If anyone else knows where it is then please do post it here as it is useful information. FWIW, the SIA appears to have taken the wording for its own website. If you follow these guidelines you shouldn't go wrong: http://www.sia.homeoffice.gov.uk/Pages/licensing-translation.aspxCollapse


 
Tom Gale (X)
Tom Gale (X)  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:50
French to English
+ ...
Exactly! Jun 24, 2014

Karen Stokes wrote:

The ITI website actually states "The legal advice ITI has taken is that ‘a certificate is acceptable if it is accepted’ and that ITI members should certify translations and wait to see whether a certificate is challenged and, if so, by whom."


An agency I used to work for specialised in providing "certified" translations. There are no official guidelines (with some exceptions, of course) provided by any UK govt department on what is and what isn't an "official" or "certified" translation. I've even had clients tell me that their contact specifically asked for a "sworn" translation, which just goes to show how much they know about translation!

In our experience, a translation, a copy of the original and a statement on a separate sheet (or on the translation) stating your name, address and qualifications and with a signature would suffice. As a translation company, we only had our company details, PM signature and a stamp and seal. Stamps and seals do make it look pretty, but the vast majority of cases they just want to see that an independent professional translator has translated the document and not the client's brother who has a holiday home in Alicante

Hope that helps


 
maxokoop
maxokoop
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:50
Chinese to English
Signature and registered firm's name needed by Home Office when Chinese English translation in need. Jul 12, 2014

HI All,

I had such experience last Jan when Chinese English translation in need by customer, and customer said he already checked with the Embassy's visa officer, the officer explained the translator's signature and the firm' name and the translation date should be there, then translated files acceptable for the officer.

Hope helpful for your reference.

Maxokoop


 
Richard Pitwood
Richard Pitwood  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:50
Member (2014)
French to English
+ ...
Seals Jul 21, 2014

You can get self-adhesive seals from Staples for about £3 a pack. All they are are round red stickers with a serrated edge, and I make sure my signature overlaps it. I'm MCIL so I don't get them provided like ITI.

No idea what this does other than look good.

[Edited at 2014-07-21 10:44 GMT]


 
Oksana Gerasymets
Oksana Gerasymets  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:50
English to Ukrainian
+ ...
Certified translation is NOT translation done by a certified translator Jul 24, 2014

don't understand what translation credentials you need to be considered official in the eyes of UK immigration. Do you need to be a member of a professional institution? What kind of certification do you need?


None whatsoever. "Certified translation" is NOT translation done by a certified translator. Any translator can do the job. Translator should give her/his phone number and address and make a statement that the translation is correct:

I..... hereby certify that the attached documents, to the best of my knowledge and
belief, are true, accurate and complete translations from:
..........into ...........
of the ..........., consistent of .....pages.


David Waterman
David Lin
 
David Waterman
David Waterman
United Kingdom
separate translator and certifier? Aug 8, 2018

My Chinese wife is quite fluent in English and so is doing the translation herself, but needs someone independent to certify the translations are correct. Clearly, translating documents is a lot more effort than certifying them, so it seems reasonable that this could be a cheaper option. It seems like any 'professional person' could certify the translation, so long as they can read both languages. There is text on the UK government web site that suggests this is correct, but I also read that it ... See more
My Chinese wife is quite fluent in English and so is doing the translation herself, but needs someone independent to certify the translations are correct. Clearly, translating documents is a lot more effort than certifying them, so it seems reasonable that this could be a cheaper option. It seems like any 'professional person' could certify the translation, so long as they can read both languages. There is text on the UK government web site that suggests this is correct, but I also read that it totally depends on the organisation to whom you are submitting the documents as to whether they will accept them or not.
Any thoughts?
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Can I translate required documents by myself? Apr 12, 2019

I'm a spanish speaking person but I also speak english. Can I translate UK embassy required documents by myself? I'm not a translation professional by the way. I think I could put my contact details about myself on each document, so If they need to check the translation, so it's me.

Is it posible?


 
Mark Hemming
Mark Hemming  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:50
Slovenian to English
+ ...
Here are the official government guidelines Oct 21, 2019

I might be late to the party here, but you can find what I believe to be the official requirements here: https://www.gov.uk/certifying-a-document

In summary:

If you need to certify a translation of a document that’s not written in English or Welsh, ask the translation company to confirm in writing on the translation:

that it’s a ‘true and accurate tra
... See more
I might be late to the party here, but you can find what I believe to be the official requirements here: https://www.gov.uk/certifying-a-document

In summary:

If you need to certify a translation of a document that’s not written in English or Welsh, ask the translation company to confirm in writing on the translation:

that it’s a ‘true and accurate translation of the original document’
the date of the translation
the full name and contact details of the translator or a representative of the translation company

I think I may have come across some institutions (perhaps UKVI) requiring the agency to be ATA accredited, although I can't did up any proof of this.

Best wishes,

Mark
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Official translations for UK immigration






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