Certified translation
A translation supplied with a signed statement of accuracy, translator or company details, a date and contact information.
Common UK routeSworn translation · UK and overseas use
Sworn translation services in the UK
Arrange the correct translation route for passports, marriage certificates, legal records and other official documents being submitted to an overseas authority.
Tell us the destination country and receiving organisation. We will review its instructions and confirm whether you need a certified, sworn, notarised or apostille-supported translation before work begins.
- Sworn and certified options
- Notarisation and apostille support
- More than 120 languages
- Digital and hard-copy delivery options
The direct answer
What does “sworn translation” mean in the UK?
The UK does not operate a government-appointed sworn-translator system in the same way as many civil-law countries.
For use with a UK organisation, a certified translation is normally the relevant service. It includes a written statement confirming that the translation is a true and accurate rendering of the original.
When an authority in another country specifically asks for a “sworn translation”, the document may need to be translated, signed and stamped by a translator authorised under that country’s own system.
Requirements are set by the organisation receiving the document. Checking its written instructions before ordering can prevent the wrong certification, notarisation or legalisation route from being used.
Choose the correct route
Certified, sworn, notarised or apostilled?
These terms describe different procedures. More than one procedure may be required, but they are not interchangeable.
Sworn translation
A translation prepared by a translator authorised or appointed under the rules of a country that operates a sworn-translator system.
Often for overseas useNotarised translation
A notary verifies the relevant declaration, signature or identity-related formality. The notary does not translate the text.
Additional verificationApostille
An apostille legalises an eligible signature, stamp or seal for overseas use. It does not confirm that the translation itself is accurate.
Document legalisationOfficial documents
Documents that may need a sworn translation
The correct formalities depend on the destination authority, not only on the type of document being translated.
Passports and identity documents
Passport biographical pages, national ID cards, residence permits and driving licences.
Marriage certificates
Marriage, civil partnership, divorce and other family-status records.
Birth and civil certificates
Birth, death, adoption, name-change and civil-registry documents.
Academic documents
Diplomas, degree certificates, transcripts, school records and professional qualifications.
Legal and police records
Court orders, police certificates, powers of attorney, declarations and selected legal documents.
Company documents
Incorporation certificates, company records, resolutions and documents for cross-border business use.
Common requests
Passports and marriage certificates
These short official documents are frequently described as needing sworn translation, but the exact requirement still depends on the country and authority receiving them.
Sworn passport translation
Identity information prepared clearly and consistently.
We can translate the passport page or pages requested by the receiving authority. Names, dates, document numbers and visible endorsements are handled carefully.
- Biographical information translated in full
- Names and spellings checked against your instructions
- Visible stamps or endorsements included where requested
- Certification route confirmed for the destination country
Sworn marriage certificate translation
Civil-status details retained in a clear layout.
The translation can cover names, dates, places, registration entries, annotations, stamps and seals shown on the certificate.
- Marriage and civil-partnership certificates
- Registration entries and official annotations
- Spelling consistency across supporting documents
- Notarisation or apostille support where required
A clear process
How sworn translation works
We confirm the intended use before selecting the translator, certification statement and any additional formalities.
Send the document
Upload a clear scan or photograph of every relevant page and tell us the source and target languages.
Tell us where it is going
Include the destination country, receiving authority and any written instructions you have been given.
We confirm the route
We review whether certified, sworn, notarised or apostille-supported translation appears to be required.
Translation and delivery
The document is translated, checked and supplied in the agreed digital or hard-copy format.
What to provide
Help us confirm the right service first time
A sworn translation request cannot be assessed from the document title alone. Details about its destination and purpose are equally important.
Send these details with your document
- A clear scan or photograph of every page
- The document’s current language and required target language
- The country in which the translation will be used
- The name of the embassy, court, registry or other authority
- Any written certification or legalisation instructions
- Your deadline and required delivery format
- The preferred spelling of names already written in Latin characters
Starting rates
Sworn translation pricing
The final price depends on the language pair, document length, destination country, formatting, certification route and deadline.
We review the files and confirm a fixed quote before work begins. You can also view the website’s full translation pricing.
Single-page certified document
For many short passports and certificates
from £35
Sworn or notarised statement
Where the receiving authority requires it
from £45 add-on
Apostille or legalisation support
For qualifying documents being used abroad
from £75 add-on
Printed hard-copy delivery
First Class delivery within the UK
from £6.99
Starting rates are indicative and exclude 20% VAT. Translation, certification, notarisation, legalisation, delivery and urgency are quoted according to the requirements of the individual order.
Before ordering
Common mistakes that can delay official use
Assuming “certified” and “sworn” mean the same thing
They can describe different procedures. Use the exact wording provided by the organisation receiving the document.
Ordering before checking the destination authority
The required translator, stamp or declaration can depend on the country and the authority rather than the document type alone.
Confusing translation with apostille legalisation
An apostille authenticates an eligible signature or seal. It is a separate procedure from translating the content.
Sending cropped or incomplete document images
Missing edges, stamps, seals, handwritten notes or reverse pages can affect the translation and the formal certification.
Using inconsistent spellings of names
Share the spelling used in your passport or supporting records so names can remain consistent across the application.
Questions answered
Sworn translation FAQs
Still unsure which service applies? Send the authority’s instructions with your document and ask the team to review them.
What is a sworn translation?
A sworn translation is generally a translation produced by a translator who has been formally authorised or appointed under the legal system of a particular country. The translator normally signs, stamps or certifies the translation according to that jurisdiction’s rules.
Does the UK have sworn translators?
The UK does not have a central government system that appoints sworn translators in the same way as countries such as Spain, France, Germany or Italy. UK organisations normally request a certified translation instead.
Can I order a sworn passport translation in the UK?
Yes, sworn translation can be arranged when the organisation receiving your passport translation specifically requires that route. Send the passport page, destination country and the authority’s instructions so the correct requirements can be checked.
Can you translate a marriage certificate for overseas use?
Yes. Marriage certificates can be translated with certified, sworn, notarised or apostille-supported formalities where appropriate. The correct route depends on the destination country and receiving organisation.
Does a sworn translation need an apostille?
Not automatically. An apostille is a separate legalisation procedure that verifies an eligible signature, stamp or seal. Whether it is needed, and which document must receive it, should be confirmed with the receiving authority.
What is the difference between sworn and notarised translation?
A sworn translation is produced under a jurisdiction’s sworn-translator rules. Notarisation usually involves a notary verifying a declaration, signature or identity-related formality. The exact procedure varies according to the intended use.
How much does sworn translation cost?
Short certified documents start from £35 per page. Sworn or notarised statements start from £45 as an add-on, while apostille or legalisation support starts from £75 as an add-on. Final pricing depends on the document, language, formalities and deadline. Prices exclude 20% VAT.
How long does a sworn translation take?
The turnaround depends on the language pair, document length and certification route. Same-day or next-day translation may be available for suitable short documents, but notarisation, apostille or overseas formalities can add additional processing time.
What should I send when requesting a quote?
Send a clear copy of every page, the language pair, destination country, receiving authority, deadline and any written instructions concerning sworn translation, notarisation or apostille.
Check before you order
Send the document and its destination requirements
We will review the file and confirm the suitable translation route, total price, expected turnaround and delivery format before work begins.
For UK-only official use, you may instead need the certified translation service.