ISO 27001 CERTIFIED · SAME-DAY TURNAROUND
Business Registration Certificate Translation
Certified business registration certificate translation for Companies House, HMRC, banks and tribunals — ISO 17100 accuracy, same-day turnaround across the UK.
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What is a business registration certificate translation?
A business registration certificate translation is a certified English rendering of a foreign company’s official register extract — such as a KRS, KvK, Handelsregister or Registro Mercantil entry — produced by a qualified translator and accompanied by a signed certificate of accuracy that UK authorities accept as legal proof of incorporation.
Who needs a translated business registration certificate in the UK?
Five groups need a translated business registration certificate in the UK: foreign companies opening a UK subsidiary or branch, overseas directors filing at Companies House, applicants for UK business bank accounts, sponsors filing Skilled Worker or Innovator Founder visas, and overseas claimants in UK commercial litigation.
Certified vs sworn vs notarised vs apostilled: which level does your certificate need?
Certified translation suits Companies House, HMRC and most UK banks; sworn translation is required when the destination country uses a civil-law sworn-translator system; notarised translation adds a UK notary’s signature for overseas use; apostille legalises the document for Hague Convention countries.
Which foreign registry extracts do you translate, and how do they map to UK requirements?
Common foreign registry extracts translated for UK use include the Polish KRS and CEIDG, the German and Austrian Handelsregister, the Dutch KvK uittreksel, the French RCS Kbis, the Spanish Registro Mercantil nota simple, the Italian Visura Camerale, and the Hong Kong Companies Registry NAR1.
How much does a business registration certificate translation cost in the UK?
A business registration certificate translation in the UK costs £30–£55 per standard civil page for certified translation, with surcharges of around 20–40% for sworn certification, an added notary fee for notarisation, and same-day delivery available at a premium on the base price.
How fast can the translation be delivered?
Single-page business registration certificates are delivered within 2–4 hours under same-day service, standard certified sets within 24 hours, and longer corporate bundles in 2–5 working days, with e-signed PDF delivery and London courier dispatch of the wet-signed hard copy.
Foreign companies entering the UK market face one consistent gate: every Companies House filing, HMRC registration, bank onboarding pack and Home Office sponsor application has to land in English, with a certified translation that proves what the foreign register extract actually says about the company, its directors and its shareholders.
What is a business registration certificate translation?
A business registration certificate translation is a certified English rendering of a foreign company’s official register extract — such as a KRS, KvK, Handelsregister or Registro Mercantil entry — produced by a qualified translator and accompanied by a signed certificate of accuracy that UK authorities accept as legal proof of incorporation. The translation preserves company numbers, legal forms and registry codes verbatim and binds an English text to a copy of the source document.
Which documents count as a business registration certificate?
Documents that count as a business registration certificate include the certificate of incorporation, the trade register extract, the certificate of good standing, the company status report, and the official register entry issued by a national companies registry. The category covers seven recurring document types:
- Certificate of incorporation issued at company formation.
- Current trade register extract (KRS, Handelsregister, KvK, RCS, Registro Mercantil).
- Certificate of good standing or active status report.
- Annual return or confirmation statement equivalent (NAR1, CS01 equivalents).
- Constitutional documents — articles of association, statutes, by-laws.
- Beneficial-ownership extract (UBO register entry).
- Director and shareholder register printouts.
Why does the UK require a certified English translation?
The UK requires a certified English translation because Companies House, HMRC, the Home Office and UK courts only process documents in English or Welsh, and gov.uk/certifying-a-document mandates that the translator confirms identity, name and address in writing on the translation itself. The certification statement establishes accountability for accuracy and lets the receiving caseworker verify the translator’s credentials without independent linguistic review.
Who needs a translated business registration certificate in the UK?
Five groups need a translated business registration certificate in the UK: foreign companies opening a UK subsidiary or branch, overseas directors filing at Companies House, applicants for UK business bank accounts, sponsors filing Skilled Worker or Innovator Founder visas, and overseas claimants in UK commercial litigation. Each receiving body imposes a slightly different format rule, summarised in the comparison table further down.
How do I register an overseas company at Companies House using OS forms?
Overseas companies registering a UK establishment under the Overseas Companies Regulations 2009 file form OS IN01 with a certified English translation of the company’s constitutional documents and current register extract within one month of opening the UK presence. The translation must be bound to a copy of the original document, signed by the translator, and accompanied by a statement of accuracy formatted to gov.uk specifications.
How do UK banks handle opening a business account for an overseas entity?
UK banks require certified English translations of the foreign registration certificate, articles of association, and a current beneficial-ownership extract as part of KYC and anti-money-laundering checks under the Money Laundering Regulations 2017. Onboarding teams at HSBC, Barclays, NatWest and the challenger banks reject uncertified translations during AML review, which restarts the account-opening clock from zero.
What do HMRC VAT registration and tax filings require for overseas entities?
HMRC requires a certified English translation of the foreign business registration certificate when an overseas entity registers for UK VAT, PAYE or Corporation Tax, when claiming double-taxation treaty relief, and when responding to compliance checks involving overseas group entities. The translation supports the VAT1 form, the non-resident landlord scheme, and the NETP (non-established taxable person) registration route.
What does the Home Office require for visas, sponsor licences and right-to-work checks?
The Home Office requires certified English translations of the overseas business registration certificate for Skilled Worker sponsor licence applications, Innovator Founder visas, Global Business Mobility routes, and when a UK sponsor links to a parent entity registered abroad. The submitted translation must include the translator’s contact details and a date, in line with Home Office guidance on supporting documents.
What translation is needed for UK courts, tribunals and commercial disputes?
UK courts and employment tribunals admit certified translations of foreign registration certificates as documentary evidence under CPR Part 32 PD 32.23, with longer commercial bundles requiring a sworn translator’s statement and, in cross-border enforcement, an apostille. Judges treat the translator’s certification as part of the evidential bundle and call the translator as a witness where authenticity is disputed.
Certified vs sworn vs notarised vs apostilled: which level does your certificate need?
Certified translation suits Companies House, HMRC and most UK banks; sworn translation is required when the destination country uses a civil-law sworn-translator system; notarised translation adds a UK notary’s signature for overseas use; apostille legalises the document for Hague Convention countries. Choosing the wrong level either wastes money on unnecessary legalisation or triggers rejection by the receiving authority. Our Certified Translation Services page sets out the certification standard in full.
What are the certification levels required by each UK receiving body?
The table below maps each certification level to the UK receiving body that accepts it for a business registration certificate, with typical cost uplift and turnaround.
| UK receiving body | Minimum level accepted | Cost uplift vs certified | Standard turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Companies House (OS IN01) | Certified | Baseline | 24 hours |
| HMRC (VAT, PAYE, CT) | Certified | Baseline | 24 hours |
| UK high-street bank (KYC) | Certified | Baseline | 24 hours |
| Home Office (sponsor licence, visas) | Certified | Baseline | 24 hours |
| FCA authorisation | Certified | Baseline | 24–48 hours |
| UK courts (CPR Part 32) | Certified; sworn for cross-border | +20–40% | 2–3 working days |
| Overseas court re-filing | Sworn or notarised | +20–40% sworn; +notary fee | 2–5 working days |
| Hague Convention country authority | Notarised + apostille | +notary fee + FCDO fee | 5–10 working days |
For each escalation route, see Sworn Translation Services, Notarised Translation Services and Apostille Translation Services.
When do I need an apostille on the translation rather than the original?
An apostille goes on the translation rather than the original when the destination authority specifically requires the apostille to authenticate the translator’s signature, which is standard practice in Spain, Italy, Portugal and many Latin American Hague Convention countries. The sequencing rule splits into three patterns:
- UK domestic use only — no apostille required; certified translation alone suffices.
- Destination authenticates the foreign registry — apostille the original abroad first, then translate the apostilled document into English.
- Destination authenticates the translator — translate first, notarise the translator’s signature, then send the notarised translation to the FCDO Legalisation Office for apostille.
Which foreign registry extracts do you translate, and how do they map to UK requirements?
Common foreign registry extracts translated for UK use include the Polish KRS and CEIDG, the German and Austrian Handelsregister, the Dutch KvK uittreksel, the French RCS Kbis, the Spanish Registro Mercantil nota simple, the Italian Visura Camerale, and the Hong Kong Companies Registry NAR1. The mapping table below shows the UK body that receives each extract and the certification level required.
| Foreign registry extract | Country | UK receiving body | Certification level |
|---|---|---|---|
| KRS extract | Poland | Companies House, HMRC, UK banks | Certified (sworn for Polish re-filing) |
| CEIDG entry | Poland | HMRC self-employment, UK banks | Certified |
| Handelsregisterauszug (HRA/HRB) | Germany, Austria | Companies House, HMRC, UK banks | Certified |
| KvK uittreksel | Netherlands | Companies House, NUFFIC, UK banks | Certified |
| Extrait Kbis (RCS) | France | Companies House, HMRC, UK banks | Certified |
| Nota simple (Registro Mercantil) | Spain | Companies House, HMRC, UK banks | Certified (sworn for Spanish re-filing) |
| Visura Camerale | Italy | Companies House, HMRC, UK banks | Certified |
| NAR1 annual return | Hong Kong | Companies House, UK banks, FCA | Certified |
| Certificate of Good Standing | Delaware, USA | Companies House, UK banks | Certified (notarised + apostille for overseas) |
| Trade licence | UAE | Companies House, UK banks, Home Office | Certified |
How do you translate Polish KRS and CEIDG extracts?
Polish KRS extracts (for incorporated companies) and CEIDG entries (for sole traders) translate into English 2–4 hours for a single page and within 24 hours for full register sets, certified for Companies House, HMRC and UK banks. Sworn certification is added when the translation is to be filed back at a Polish court or consulate; see Polish Translation Services for full coverage of KRS, CEIDG, REGON and NIP documents.
How do you translate a German and Austrian Handelsregisterauszug?
A Handelsregisterauszug (HRA or HRB extract) is translated into certified English for UK use, with legal-form terms — GmbH, AG, UG, KG, OHG — kept untranslated and explained in a translator’s note rather than substituted with English equivalents. The HRB number, registry court (Amtsgericht) and Stammkapital are preserved verbatim. See German Translation Services for the full German document range.
How do you translate a Dutch KvK uittreksel?
A KvK uittreksel from the Dutch Kamer van Koophandel translates into certified English for Companies House, NUFFIC-linked filings, and UK bank onboarding, with same-day turnaround available for single-page extracts. The KvK number, RSIN and SBI code are preserved unchanged in the English version. See Dutch Translation Services in London and the UK for related Dutch corporate documents.
How do you translate a French Extrait Kbis (RCS)?
An Extrait Kbis from the Registre du Commerce et des Sociétés translates into certified English in under 24 hours, with the SIREN, SIRET, NAF/APE code and capital social preserved verbatim and explained in a translator’s annotation. The greffe (court registrar) issuing the Kbis is identified in a footnote. See French Translation Services for related French commercial documents.
How do you translate a Spanish Registro Mercantil nota simple?
A nota simple from the Spanish Registro Mercantil translates into certified English for UK filings, with sworn translation required only when the document will subsequently be filed back in Spain or a Spanish consulate. The CIF, the provincial registry and the inscripción numbers stay in the original Spanish. See Spanish Translation Services for related corporate and notarial documents.
How do you translate an Italian Visura Camerale?
A Visura Camerale from the Italian Camera di Commercio translates into certified English for UK use, with the codice fiscale, partita IVA and REA number transliterated and explained rather than localised. Legal forms — S.r.l., S.p.A., S.a.s. — are retained in Italian. See Italian Translation Services for the full Italian corporate range.
How do you translate other registries such as Hong Kong NAR1, Delaware Good Standing and UAE trade licence?
Other translated registry extracts include the Hong Kong NAR1 annual return, the Delaware Certificate of Good Standing, the UAE trade licence, the Singapore ACRA Bizfile, and the Brazilian Junta Comercial extract — each requiring certification accepted by Companies House and UK banks. Chinese, Arabic, Portuguese and Simplified-Chinese source variants are handled by language-specific qualified translators.
Pricing
How much does a business registration certificate translation cost in the UK?
A business registration certificate translation in the UK costs £30–£55 per standard civil page for certified translation, with surcharges of around 20–40% for sworn certification, an added notary fee for notarisation, and same-day delivery available at a premium on the base price. The benchmark below itemises the components.
| Component | Price (GBP) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Certified translation per standard page | £30 – £55 | 250 source words = one standard civil page |
| Sworn certification surcharge | +20% to +40% | Applied to base translation fee |
| UK notary public attestation | £75 – £120 | Per document, fixed by notary |
| FCDO apostille (standard service) | £30.00 | FCDO Legalisation Office fee plus courier |
| FCDO apostille (premium 1-day) | £75.00 | FCDO premium service plus courier |
| Same-day delivery surcharge | +50% to +100% | Applied to base translation fee |
| Hard-copy courier (London) | £15 – £25 | Same-day bike or next-day Royal Mail Special Delivery |
What drives the price?
Four factors drive the price of a registration certificate translation: page count of the source extract, source language rarity, certification level, and turnaround tier. A single-page KvK uittreksel sits at the floor of the £30–£55 band; a 12-page KRS bundle with sworn certification and apostille sits at the top.
How do I get a free quote?
To get a free quote, send a scan of the foreign registration certificate to info@translationservicesuk.co.uk with the target use (Companies House, HMRC, bank, court) specified, and a fixed price plus turnaround is returned within the same working hour. Use the Get a Free Quote form for structured submission and instant acknowledgement.
How fast can the translation be delivered?
Single-page business registration certificates are delivered within 2–4 hours under same-day service, standard certified sets within 24 hours, and longer corporate bundles in 2–5 working days, with e-signed PDF delivery and London courier dispatch of the wet-signed hard copy. The SLA tiers are fixed contractually and trigger automatic re-credit on a missed deadline, so your submission to Companies House, HMRC or a UK bank is never held up by a late delivery.
Turnaround is calculated from the moment a legible scan is received and the fixed-price quote is approved — not from initial enquiry. Same-day express service is available for the most common language pairs, including Polish KRS extracts, German Handelsregisterauszug certificates, French Extrait Kbis documents and Dutch KvK uittreksels. Where a translation also requires notarisation and FCDO apostille — as is the case when a document must be filed back in a civil-law jurisdiction such as Poland, Spain, France, Italy or Germany — the combined process runs to 5–10 working days to allow time for the UK notary public to verify the translator’s signature and the FCDO Legalisation Office to authenticate it. All tiers produce a certified output in which the translator states their name, address and qualifications, meeting the standard required for UK official use.
| Tier | Document profile | Turnaround | Delivery format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Same-day express | Single-page extract, common language pair | 2 – 4 hours | e-signed PDF + same-day courier |
| Standard certified | 1 – 3 pages, certified for Companies House / HMRC | 24 hours | e-signed PDF + Royal Mail Special Delivery |
| Corporate bundle | Register extract + articles + UBO + good standing | 2 – 5 working days | e-signed PDF + bound hard copy |
| Sworn + apostille | Any size requiring FCDO legalisation | 5 – 10 working days | Wet-signed, notarised, apostilled hard copy |
How is the certified translation prepared and bound for Companies House?
A certified translation for Companies House is prepared by binding the English translation to a copy of the original certificate, adding a signed and dated certification page stating the translator’s name, address, qualifications and a statement that the translation is a true and accurate rendering, then issuing both a PDF and a wet-signed hard copy. The binding format matches gov.uk/certifying-a-document conventions.
What must the translator’s certification page contain?
The translator’s certification page must contain six items: translator’s full name, business address, professional qualifications or membership (CIOL, ITI), a statement of accuracy, the date, and a wet or qualified electronic signature — matching gov.uk/certifying-a-document guidance.
- Translator’s full name in capitals.
- Business address and contact telephone or email.
- Professional credential or membership reference (CIOL, ITI, ATC).
- Statement of accuracy in the form: “I certify that this is a true and accurate translation of the original document.”
- Date of certification.
- Wet ink signature or qualified electronic signature.
Digital vs hard-copy delivery: which does Companies House accept?
Companies House accepts both qualified-electronic-signature PDF translations uploaded through WebFiling and wet-signed hard-copy translations sent by post, with the digital route preferred for OS IN01 filings and the hard copy required for documents filed alongside an apostille. Hybrid filings — digital primary, hard-copy supporting — are common for sponsor licence applications.
About
How is the confidentiality of commercially sensitive register data protected?
Confidentiality is protected under ISO 27001 information-security controls and UK GDPR: register extracts containing shareholder, UBO and director data are handled on encrypted servers, processed only by vetted translators bound by NDAs, and destroyed or archived per the client’s data-processing agreement. Encryption is applied in transit (TLS 1.3) and at rest (AES-256), and access is role-limited so that only the assigned translator and reviser can view source material.
Business registration certificates routinely carry commercially sensitive data — shareholder percentages, registered capital figures, ultimate beneficial owner details and director identification numbers. Each of these categories is subject to data-minimisation obligations under UK GDPR, meaning we collect only the information strictly necessary to complete the certified translation and do not retain source documents beyond the agreed retention period. Corporate clients receive a signed data-processing agreement under Article 28 UK GDPR on request, formalising our role as a data processor and setting out lawful basis, subject rights and incident-response obligations.
- ISO 17100 governs translator qualifications, revision workflow and certified output format — including the requirement that the translator states their name, address and qualifications on every certified translation.
- ISO 27001 governs information-security management, access control, risk assessment and incident response across all translation projects.
- UK GDPR governs lawful basis, data minimisation, retention schedules and data-subject rights for all register data we process.
- Signed NDAs bind every translator, reviser and project manager to strict confidentiality before any document is assigned to them.
- Data-processing agreements (Article 28 GDPR) are issued on request for corporate clients requiring a formal contractual framework.
Why us
Why choose Translation Services UK for business registration certificate translation?
What is the acceptance guarantee and free re-work policy?
Every certified business registration translation is backed by an acceptance guarantee: if a UK authority rejects the translation on formatting or certification grounds, the document is reissued free of charge within 24 hours. The guarantee covers Companies House, HMRC, the Home Office, the FCA, UK courts and named UK retail banks.
Is there a 20% discount for new clients?
New clients receive a 20% discount on the first certified business registration certificate translation, applied automatically when the quote is requested via the contact form. The discount stacks with volume rates for corporate bundles of three or more documents.
Frequently asked questions cover seven topics: who can certify the translation, whether the original must be apostilled first, how multilingual extracts are handled, what happens with stamps and seals, how to handle long company names, what file formats are accepted, and how revisions are managed.
Frequently asked questions
How do I order a certified business registration certificate translation?
Ordering a certified business registration certificate translation is a straightforward three-step process: send a scan of the document, approve the fixed-price quote returned within the same working hour, and receive your certified PDF plus wet-signed hard copy within the agreed turnaround. Use the Get a Free Quote form for the fastest response and the automatic new-client discount.
Before sending, it is helpful to identify which UK authority will receive the translation — for example, Companies House, HMRC, the Home Office, a UK bank, the FCA or a UK court — because each body may have specific formatting or certification requirements that we apply automatically once the destination is confirmed. Documents destined for re-filing abroad in a civil-law jurisdiction such as Poland, Spain, France, Italy or Germany will additionally require a sworn translation, and in many cases a UK notary public verification followed by an FCDO apostille; flagging this at the point of order allows us to quote accurately and reserve the appropriate notary slot within the same SLA window. For certified translations accepted in the UK, the output always includes the translator’s name, address and qualifications, meeting the standard required for official UK use.
- Send the scanned source document and specify the receiving UK body (Companies House, HMRC, a bank, the Home Office, the FCA or a court) and any overseas re-filing requirements.
- Approve the fixed-price quote and turnaround tier returned within the same working hour — the price is guaranteed and does not change on delivery.
- Receive the certified PDF by email and the wet-signed hard copy by same-day courier or Royal Mail Special Delivery within the agreed timeframe.