Notarised Translation Services for Official Documents
Professional document translation, certification and coordination with a UK Notary Public for documents being submitted overseas. Send us the destination country and receiving authority, and we will confirm the appropriate route before work begins.
- Translation and notarial stages coordinated together
- Certified, notarised, sworn and apostille guidance
- Digital and wet-ink hard-copy delivery
- Standard and urgent options after file review
What is a notarised translation?
A notarised translation combines a complete translation and accuracy declaration with a notarial act. The translator or translation company is responsible for the linguistic accuracy of the translation. The Notary Public normally verifies the identity and authority of the person signing the declaration, witnesses or authenticates the signature and issues a notarial certificate.
The translation is complete and accurate
We translate the relevant visible text, including headings, entries, stamps, seals and handwritten information, and issue an accuracy declaration identifying the translation and its source.
- Names, dates, figures and reference numbers checked
- Stamps, signatures and seals represented appropriately
- Certification statement connected to the translation
The declaration and signatory have been authenticated
The notary performs the particular notarial act required, which may involve witnessing a signature, verifying identity, authenticating a declaration and applying a notarial signature and seal.
- Identity and authority of the signatory
- Notarial certificate describing the act performed
- Signature and seal that may later be eligible for apostille
Certified, notarised, sworn or apostilled?
These terms describe different procedures. The correct route depends on the country, authority, document and intended use.
| Route | What it usually confirms | Who provides it | When it may be requested |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certified translation | Accuracy and completeness of the translated document. | Professional translator or translation company. | UKVI, HM Passport Office, universities, employers, courts and many UK organisations commonly request certification rather than notarisation. |
| Notarised translation | Identity, signature or declaration connected to the translation. | Notary Public, after the translation provider prepares the relevant declaration. | Overseas property, probate, corporate, citizenship, legal and administrative procedures may request a notarial certificate. |
| Sworn translation | Official status under a foreign legal system. | A translator authorised or appointed under the destination country’s rules. | Countries such as Italy, Spain, France and others may require a locally recognised sworn or court-authorised translator. |
| Apostille | Authenticity of an eligible signature, stamp or seal against official records. | UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Legalisation Office. | Authorities in countries participating in the Hague Apostille Convention may request an apostille after an eligible UK signature or seal. |
The authority says “certified translation”
A standard UK certified translation may be sufficient. Do not add notarial or apostille costs unless the instructions require them.
The authority says “notarised” or “notary-certified”
Send us the exact wording. We will assess what declaration and notarial act appear to be required and identify any original-document or signature conditions.
The authority says “sworn”, “apostilled” or “legalised”
These requirements may involve a different translator, the FCDO or an embassy. We will provide an itemised route based on the destination and instructions supplied.
How our notarised translation service works
The destination and authority are reviewed before we confirm the quotation, so translation, notarial certification, apostille and delivery are planned as one process.
Upload the document
Send clear, complete scans showing every page, reverse side, stamp, seal, signature, handwritten entry and existing apostille.
Confirm the authority
Tell us the destination country, receiving organisation, intended use, deadline and the exact certification wording you have been given.
Translate and review
A suitable linguist translates the complete content. Names, dates, figures, reference numbers and document structure are checked.
Complete the notarial stage
The agreed declaration is signed and the Notary Public performs the required notarial act and issues the notarial certificate.
Legalise and deliver
Where ordered, we coordinate apostille or further legalisation and dispatch the digital or physical document package.
Three separate responsibilities
Clear accountability makes the completed package easier for an authority to examine and prevents inaccurate claims about what a notary or apostille confirms.
Accuracy and completeness
The translator or translation company confirms that the target-language text faithfully represents the source, including relevant stamps, seals and handwritten entries.
Identity and signature
The notary verifies the signatory and witnesses or authenticates the declaration in accordance with the particular notarial act being performed.
Recorded signature or seal
Where an apostille is requested, the Legalisation Office checks an eligible signature, stamp or seal against its records and attaches the apostille.
Documents we translate and coordinate for notarisation
Not every document below automatically needs notarisation. The receiving authority determines the certification and legalisation route.
Birth certificates
Civil registry certificates for citizenship, family, inheritance and overseas registration.
Birth certificate translation →Marriage certificates
Marriage and civil partnership records for registration, visas and nationality matters.
Marriage certificate translation →Death certificates
Certificates used for probate, estate administration, repatriation and foreign registries.
Death certificate translation →Powers of attorney
Personal and corporate authorities used for property, litigation, banking and overseas transactions.
Legal document translation →Court and police records
Judgments, orders, affidavits, statements, DBS certificates and police-clearance documents.
Translate legal documents →Academic documents
Degrees, diplomas, transcripts, professional qualifications and institutional letters.
Request an academic document quote →Company documents
Companies House records, board resolutions, certificates, contracts and corporate powers.
Companies House translation →Identity and status records
Passports, identity cards, driving licences, adoption records and declarations of status.
Upload identity documents securely →Notarised translation cost and turnaround
The total can include several professional and official stages. We itemise those components before the order begins rather than advertising a headline price that excludes notarisation.
What affects the quotation?
Translation scope
Language pair, document length, legibility, handwritten content, tables, stamps and formatting.
Notarial requirements
The declaration, person signing, original-document requirements and type of notarial certificate.
Legalisation and delivery
Paper or electronic apostille, embassy stages, binding, UK post or international courier.
Deadline
Urgent translation, notary availability, Legalisation Office processing and delivery destination.
One quote for the complete route
Your quotation will show the stages that apply to your document. Charges that do not apply will not be added.
- Translation
- Accuracy certification
- Notary fee
- Document assembly
- Apostille
- Embassy legalisation
- UK postage
- International courier
Many straightforward certificates can be translated within 1–2 working days. Notarial, apostille and courier stages add time and are confirmed after the complete file and destination instructions are reviewed.
PACKAGE
What your completed package may include
The bundle is tailored to the receiving authority’s instructions. A typical wet-ink notarised translation can contain the source copy, translated pages, certification declaration and notarial certificate securely assembled together.
What we check before certification
Official-document translation is not just fluent wording. Small omissions, inconsistencies or document-route errors can cause delays and repeated fees.
Every page and endorsement
We ask for complete scans and account for relevant stamps, seals, handwriting, reverse-side entries, apostilles and attached pages.
Names, numbers and dates
Personal details are checked closely. Where the source contains an inconsistency, the translation reflects it rather than silently changing the official record.
Written instructions
We use the destination and authority requirements supplied to identify whether certification, notarisation, sworn translation or legalisation appears appropriate.
Document package
Where a physical package is required, we confirm how source copies, translation pages, declarations and notarial certificates should be connected.
Apostille eligibility
We distinguish between legalising an original UK public document and legalising an eligible signature placed on a translation or copy.
Digital or hard copy
We confirm whether you need a PDF, wet-ink hard copy, tracked UK delivery, international courier or a complete legalisation route.
A precise service without certification guesswork
The safest approach is not to promise universal acceptance. It is to identify the receiving authority, prepare the specified route, document every stage and tell you where confirmation is still required.
UK power of attorney for use overseas
This example shows why the document route should be confirmed before translation. The actual requirements always depend on the foreign lawyer, notary, registry or authority receiving the document.
Property transaction abroad
A client needs an English power of attorney translated for an overseas property transaction. The foreign lawyer asks for the signed document, translation, notarial authentication and apostille.
One controlled instruction across every stage
Translating an unsigned draft, apostilling the wrong signature or notarising a copy when the authority expects the original can force the entire process to be repeated.
- 01Confirm the required documentOriginal, certified copy or final executed version.
- 02Confirm the signature processWho must sign, in whose presence and whether witnesses are required.
- 03Translate the final documentUse the executed version and account for every attached page and endorsement.
- 04Complete the notarial actPrepare the declaration and notarial certificate appropriate to the instructions.
- 05Legalise and deliverSubmit the eligible signature or seal for apostille and dispatch the assembled package.
Answers before you order
These answers cover common UK enquiries. The receiving authority’s current written requirements always take priority.
What does a Notary Public verify on a translation?
A Notary Public normally verifies the identity and authority of the person signing the translation declaration, witnesses or authenticates the signature and issues a notarial certificate. The translator or translation company certifies the linguistic accuracy and completeness of the translation.
Is a notarised translation the same as a certified translation?
No. A certified translation includes a signed statement confirming that the translation is true, complete and accurate. A notarised translation adds a notarial act concerning the declaration or its signatory. Many UK applications require certification only, while some overseas authorities specifically request notarisation.
Do UKVI or HM Passport Office require notarised translations?
They commonly request a certified translation rather than notarisation, but requirements vary by application and document. Follow the current instructions for the relevant application and contact the authority where the wording is unclear.
Do I need to send the original document?
A clear scan is normally sufficient for quotation and translation. The notarial or legalisation stage may require the original, a certified copy or a particular type of signature. The receiving authority should confirm what it accepts.
Can you certify or notarise a translation prepared by someone else?
Locate Translate cannot issue its own accuracy declaration for work it has not translated or independently reviewed to an appropriate standard. In many cases, retranslation is the safest route. A Notary Public must separately decide whether they can perform a notarial act relating to an existing document.
Can a notarised translation receive an apostille?
An eligible UK notarial signature or seal may be capable of legalisation by the FCDO. The apostille confirms that the signature, stamp or seal matches official records; it does not certify that the translation itself is accurate.
What is the difference between a paper apostille and an e-Apostille?
A paper apostille is physically attached to an eligible paper document. An e-Apostille is issued for an eligible electronically signed PDF. Not all documents or receiving authorities accept the electronic format.
How long does a notarised translation take?
Many standard certificates can be translated within 1–2 working days. Notarial, apostille and courier stages add time and depend on availability, document eligibility, destination and urgency. A combined schedule is supplied before you order.
How much does a notarised translation cost?
The quotation may include translation, certification, notarial fees, binding or document assembly, apostille or legalisation and delivery. Each applicable stage is itemised after the complete document and requirements are reviewed.
Will I receive a digital copy or a hard copy?
We can provide a digital reference copy and, where required, a wet-ink physical package. UK tracked, recorded and Special Delivery options are available, as well as international courier delivery. Some authorities will not accept a scan of a notarial certificate.
Is a notarised translation accepted in every country?
No single certification format is automatically accepted everywhere. Some countries require a local sworn translator, an apostille, embassy legalisation or particular notarial wording. Confirm the requirement before ordering.
How should I scan my documents?
Include every page at full size with all edges visible. Capture reverse sides, stamps, seals, signatures, handwritten notes and any existing apostille. Avoid cropped photographs, shadows, glare and low-resolution screenshots.
Independent guidance
See GOV.UK guidance on certifying documents and translations, GOV.UK guidance on apostilles and legalisation, and the Institute of Translation and Interpreting guidance on official translations. Always follow the receiving authority’s current requirements.
Send the document before deciding which certification to buy
We will review the language, destination, authority and deadline, then provide an itemised route for translation, notarisation, apostille and delivery.
Information on this page is general guidance, not legal advice. Certification and legalisation requirements are set by the receiving authority and may change. Confirm the required route before relying on a translation for an official submission.