If you’re budgeting for a contract, court order, or certificate, here’s the short answer for the UK in 2025:
- Legal translation (specialist): ~£0.15–£0.30+ per word. Many reputable providers publish bands in this range; some quote up to ~£0.25/word for complex cases or urgent work.
- Personal/civil documents (certified): ~£25–£60 per page (e.g., birth, marriage, police certificates). Per-page pricing is common for these short, standardised documents.
- Notarisation (if required by an overseas authority): typical minimums £80–£120 + VAT, or time-based fees (e.g., £110 minimum or £300/hour) depending on the notary.
- Apostille (FCDO legalisation): current £45 per paper document, £35 for e-Apostille (plus courier/postage).
Prices vary by language pair, complexity, certification needs, layout, security, and deadline. Use the examples below to map your document to a realistic budget.
What drives the price up or down?
- Language pair & direction — Rarer combinations typically cost more.
- Document type & complexity — Contracts, pleadings, patents and evidence bundles require subject-matter expertise and stringent QA. Rates for such content tend to sit in the upper bands agencies publish for legal and academic work.
- Certification level required
- Certified translation (UK): a translator/company signs a statement of accuracy with full contact details. The UK does not have a “sworn translator” system; what matters is that the certifying professional is suitably qualified and the certificate meets the recipient’s requirements. See the joint ATC–CIOL–ITI “Getting It Right” (2024) guidance.
- Notarised translation: a notary verifies the translator’s identity/signature (not the translation quality). Fees are separate from translation.
- Apostille: the FCDO legalises the notary’s signature; current fees shown above.
- Formatting & extras — Tables, stamps, exhibits, certified copies and multiple recipients may add time.
- Turnaround — Rush requests compress schedules and usually attract surcharges. As a general industry guide, quality-focused translators deliver ~2,000–2,500 words/day, with lower throughput for complex legal texts.
2025 Quick Reference: Typical UK Price Bands
- Short legal letters, T&Cs, NDAs (straightforward): £0.15–£0.20/word.
- Contracts, court orders, shareholder agreements (complex): £0.18–£0.30+/word.
- Certified translations of civil status documents (1 page): £25–£60/page.
- Notarisation (if requested): from £80–£120 + VAT minimum or £110 minimum / £300/hr depending on provider/complexity.
- Apostille (FCDO): £45 paper / £35 e-Apostille, per document, plus delivery.
Real-world examples (illustrative)
- Example A — 7-page share purchase agreement (3,200 words) from French to English
Rate £0.20/word ⇒ £640. Add notarisation (min £96 incl. VAT) and one FCDO apostille (£45), plus courier ⇒ ~£780–£820 all-in (provider-dependent). - Example B — UK marriage certificate for use abroad (1 page)
Certified translation £25–£60. If the foreign authority requires notarisation and apostille, add notary minimum (e.g., £96 incl. VAT) + £45 apostille ⇒ ~£166–£201 + shipping. - Example C — Court bundle extracts (6,000 words) with stamp/exhibit replication
Complex legal subject matter at £0.22/word ⇒ £1,320. Allow extra time for exhibits and QA (see throughput guidance).
Certified vs notarised vs apostilled (and where “sworn” fits)
- Certified translation (UK standard): translator/agency certifies accuracy with name, signature, date, and contact details; widely accepted by UK authorities when correctly formatted.
- Notarised translation: a notary certifies the translator’s identity/signature; sometimes requested by overseas courts/consulates. Fees are independent of the translation.
- Apostille: FCDO legalises the notary’s signature; used for documents going to Hague Convention countries; fee schedule set by the UK, not the Convention.
- “Sworn translation”: some countries (e.g., France, Spain) use court-sworn translators. In the UK there’s no sworn translator system; a well-formatted certified translation usually meets requirements unless a foreign authority demands notarisation/apostille.
How we estimate your price at Locate Translate
- We assess complexity & purpose (court filing, immigration, cross-border execution).
- We match a sector-specialist linguist with legal expertise.
- We confirm the acceptance requirements (certified, notarised, apostille).
- You receive a firm quote and timeline—no hidden extras.
- Secure delivery: PDF with certificate (and hard copies if requested).
Ready for an exact figure? Upload your file for a same-day quote.
How to reduce costs—without risking validity
- Send editable files (Word, unlocked PDFs) where possible.
- Highlight only the sections that must be translated (e.g., key clauses, judgment extracts) when permitted—an approach endorsed in professional buyer guides.
- Share prior translations, glossaries, or templates to ensure consistency.
- Plan ahead to avoid rush fees and complex courier chains.
- Confirm the minimum certification level the recipient will accept (certified vs notarised vs apostilled) to avoid unnecessary extras.
Turnaround times you can expect
Allow ~2,000–2,500 words per business day per specialist translator, with lower throughput for dense legal texts or when DTP and exhibits are involved. Larger matters are scheduled across teams with legal QA to keep timelines predictable.
When technology helps (and when it doesn’t)
Modern tools can accelerate formatting and consistency, but legal meaning and enforceability rely on human expertise and liability. For legal documents, professional human translation and review remain standard to mitigate risk.
FAQs
How much does a legal translation cost per page?
Short, standardised certificates are commonly priced £25–£60 per page. Longer legal documents are usually priced per word.
What does a “certified translation” include in the UK?
A signed accuracy statement with the translator/company’s name, date and contact details, attached to the translation. There’s no official “sworn translator” system in the UK.
Do I need notarisation or an apostille?
Only if the receiving authority asks for it. Notarisation verifies identity/signature; an apostille legalises the notary’s signature. Current FCDO fees: £45 paper or £35 e-Apostille.
How fast can you deliver?
As a planning guide, allow ~2,000–2,500 words/day per translator for quality-critical legal work; rush options are available.
Why are legal translations more expensive than general text?
They demand specialist knowledge, research, and stringent QA; industry ranges for legal/academic texts sit higher than general content.