ISO 17100 CERTIFIED · SAME-DAY TURNAROUND
Criminal Record Check Translation
Certified criminal record check translation accepted by the Home Office, UKVI, and UK courts. ISO 17100 and ISO 27001 certified, same-day London turnaround.
- ISO 17100 Certified
- Same-day Turnaround
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What is a criminal record check translation?
A criminal record check translation is a certified conversion of a police clearance certificate or DBS document into English (or another target language), accompanied by a signed translator’s statement of accuracy that UK authorities, courts, and overseas governments accept as legally equivalent to the original.
Why do you need a certified translation of a criminal record check?
UK authorities require a certified translation of a criminal record check because the original is issued in a foreign language and immigration officers, judges, employers, and university admissions teams cannot rely on uncertified or self-translated copies for decisions on visas, settlement, employment, or admission.
What is the difference between certified, sworn, notarised, and apostilled criminal record translations?
Certified, sworn, notarised, and apostilled translations differ by who validates them and which authority demands each: certified translations carry the translator’s signed statement, sworn translations are issued by a court-appointed translator, notarised translations add a notary public’s signature, and apostilled translations carry a Hague Convention stamp for overseas use.
How does the criminal record check translation process work?
The criminal record check translation process runs in 5 steps: upload a scan or photo, receive a free quote within 1 hour, approve the order, receive the certified translation by e-signed PDF or London courier, and submit the translation alongside the original to the requesting authority.
How long does a criminal record check translation take?
A criminal record check translation takes 2–4 hours for a single-page certificate, within 24 hours for standard certified document sets, and 2–5 working days for longer legal sets, with same-day London courier or e-signed PDF available on request.
How much does a certified criminal record check translation cost?
A certified criminal record check translation costs £30–£55 per page for standard civil-document formats and £0.10–£0.16 per source word for longer legal record sets, with same-day, sworn, notarised, and apostille services priced as surcharges on top.
Certified translation of a criminal record check converts a police clearance certificate or DBS document into the language a UK authority or overseas government accepts as evidence, paired with a signed statement of accuracy that meets Home Office, UKVI, and court requirements.
What is a criminal record check translation?
A criminal record check translation is a certified conversion of a police clearance certificate or DBS document into English (or another target language), accompanied by a signed translator’s statement of accuracy that UK authorities, courts, and overseas governments accept as legally equivalent to the original. The certification statement names the translator, lists their credentials, includes the date and contact details, and declares the translation true and complete — the four elements UKVI demands. Our Certified Translation Services meet these requirements on every criminal record file we issue.
Which documents count as a criminal record check?
Criminal record checks include UK DBS certificates (Basic, Standard, Enhanced), ACRO Police Certificates, and overseas equivalents such as the Czech Výpis z rejstříku trestů, Polish KRK, Spanish Certificado de Antecedentes Penales, Italian Certificato del Casellario Giudiziale, and German Führungszeugnis. The matrix below maps the document variants we handle most often to their issuing authority.
| Document | Country | Issuing authority |
|---|---|---|
| DBS Basic, Standard, Enhanced | United Kingdom | Disclosure and Barring Service |
| ACRO Police Certificate | United Kingdom | ACRO Criminal Records Office |
| KRK (Krajowy Rejestr Karny) | Poland | Polish Ministry of Justice |
| Výpis z rejstříku trestů | Czech Republic | Czech Ministry of Justice |
| Certificado de Antecedentes Penales | Spain | Spanish Ministry of Justice |
| Certificato del Casellario Giudiziale | Italy | Italian Ministry of Justice |
| Polizeiliches Führungszeugnis | Germany | Bundesamt für Justiz (Federal Office of Justice) |
| Cazier Judiciar | Romania | Romanian Police / Ministry of Internal Affairs |
| Свидетельство о несудимости | Russia / Ukraine / CIS states | National police authority |
| Bulletin n° 3 | France | Casier Judiciaire National |
Is a police certificate the same as a criminal record check?
A police certificate and a criminal record check are functionally the same document in UK immigration contexts: both are issued by a national police authority and list (or confirm the absence of) prior convictions for the named individual. UKVI uses the terms interchangeably in settlement and citizenship guidance, and our certification statement covers both wordings on the translated cover page.
Is a background check the same as a criminal record check?
A background check is broader than a criminal record check: background checks aggregate employment history, credit, and identity verification, whereas a criminal record check covers only convictions, cautions, and pending prosecutions held by the issuing police authority. The distinction matters when an employer requests “a background check translation” — only the criminal record component carries the police certification we translate.
Why do you need a certified translation of a criminal record check?
UK authorities require a certified translation of a criminal record check because the original is issued in a foreign language and immigration officers, judges, employers, and university admissions teams cannot rely on uncertified or self-translated copies for decisions on visas, settlement, employment, or admission. UK bodies cannot conduct criminal background checks abroad, so the certified translation is the only legally workable substitute for direct verification.
When is a criminal record check translation required?
A criminal record check translation is required for 6 main UK use cases:
- Visa and settlement applications submitted to UKVI
- Indefinite leave to remain (ILR) applications
- British citizenship and naturalisation applications
- Regulated employment in the NHS, education, finance, security (SIA), and aviation
- University enrolment, particularly in medicine, nursing, teaching, and law
- Adoption, fostering, and child-protection assessments
Which UK authorities accept certified criminal record translations?
Certified criminal record translations are accepted by the Home Office, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), HM Passport Office, UK courts, the Disclosure and Barring Service, NHS trusts, UK universities, and regulatory bodies including the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), General Medical Council (GMC), and Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). The Security Industry Authority (SIA), Civil Aviation Authority, schools, and registered charities also accept our certified translations for vetting purposes.
What is the difference between certified, sworn, notarised, and apostilled criminal record translations?
Certified, sworn, notarised, and apostilled translations differ by who validates them and which authority demands each: certified translations carry the translator’s signed statement, sworn translations are issued by a court-appointed translator, notarised translations add a notary public’s signature, and apostilled translations carry a Hague Convention stamp for overseas use. The table below maps each variant to the UK or foreign authority that requires it.
| Variant | Who validates it | Authority that demands it | Typical use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certified translation | Qualified translator or ISO 17100 company | Home Office, UKVI, HM Passport Office, DBS, NHS, UK universities | UK visa, settlement, citizenship, employment |
| Sworn translation | Court-appointed sworn translator | Civil-law jurisdictions: Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Poland | Overseas court filings, foreign work permits |
| Notarised translation | UK notary public witnessing translator’s signature | Foreign consulates, some UK courts, overseas employers | Dual-jurisdiction legal proceedings |
| Apostilled translation | FCDO Legalisation Office under the 1961 Hague Convention | Hague Convention member states | Cross-border use in 125+ countries |
When does the Home Office require certified translation only?
The Home Office and UKVI require only certified translation for criminal record checks submitted with UK visa, settlement, and citizenship applications, provided the certification statement includes the translator’s credentials, date, contact details, and a declaration of accuracy. No notary, sworn translator, or apostille is needed for the translation itself when the receiving body is UKVI.
When is a sworn or notarised translation needed instead?
Sworn or notarised translations are needed when the destination country is a civil-law jurisdiction (Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Poland) or when a UK court, foreign consulate, or overseas employer specifically requests a notary-witnessed signature on the translator’s affidavit. Our Sworn Translation Services use court-appointed translators in the destination jurisdiction, and our Notarised Translation Services route the file through a UK notary public for signature witnessing.
When does an apostille come before — or after — the translation?
An apostille is applied to the original criminal record check before translation when the destination country requires the apostille legalised together with the source document; the apostille is applied after translation when the receiving authority requires the translator’s certification itself to be legalised. Two worked examples for Home Office settlement applications:
- Spanish settlement applicant: the FCDO Legalisation Office stamps the original Certificado de Antecedentes Penales first; the apostille and the certificate are then translated together as a single document set for UKVI.
- UK applicant moving abroad with a DBS Enhanced: the DBS original is apostilled by the FCDO first, then translated into the destination language with our certification page bound to the apostilled original.
Our Apostille and Legalisation Services handle the FCDO sequencing under the 1961 Hague Convention on your behalf.
How it works
How does the criminal record check translation process work?
1
How do you submit a criminal record check for translation?
Submit a criminal record check by emailing a clear scan or smartphone photo of every page to info@translationservicesuk.co.uk, or upload through the quote form; the file is encrypted in transit and handled under ISO 27001 information-security controls. Photos taken on a phone are accepted as long as every line of text is legible and no page corners are cropped.
2
How is quality assured under ISO 17100?
Quality is assured under ISO 17100 through a translator-plus-independent-reviser workflow, terminology checks against legal glossaries, and a final QA pass before the certification page is signed and dated by a qualified linguist. ISO 17100:2015 is the international standard for translation service quality and specifies the core processes, resources, and quality management required to produce legally reliable output. Our Legal Translation Services share the same dual-linguist QA workflow for court documents and legal record sets.
3
How is the certified translation delivered?
The certified translation is delivered as a digitally e-signed PDF for online UKVI submissions and as a wet-ink signed and stamped hard copy by same-day London courier or next-day UK Royal Mail for in-person applications. Both formats carry the same legal weight; the PDF is preferred by UKVI’s online portal, while a wet-ink copy is required for court filings and certain regulator submissions.
How long does a criminal record check translation take?
A criminal record check translation takes 2–4 hours for a single-page certificate, within 24 hours for standard certified document sets, and 2–5 working days for longer legal sets, with same-day London courier or e-signed PDF available on request. These turnaround windows apply to documents across all common issuing authorities — including the ACRO Criminal Records Office, the DBS, and overseas registries such as the Krajowy Rejestr Karny in Poland and the Czech Ministry of Justice. The tiering below reflects our verified delivery windows.
| Document scope | Turnaround | Delivery |
|---|---|---|
| Single-page police certificate (DBS Basic, ACRO, KRK) | 2–4 hours | E-signed PDF |
| Standard certified set (DBS Enhanced, Führungszeugnis with annex) | 24 hours | E-signed PDF + optional London courier |
| Long legal sets (multiple certificates, court extracts, annexed judgments) | 2–5 working days | PDF + tracked Royal Mail or courier |
| Same-day London rush | Within 4 hours | Same-day London courier |
What affects turnaround time?
Turnaround time is determined primarily by the complexity of the source document, the certification level required, and the rarity of the source language. A Basic DBS certificate is a single page and is delivered as an e-signed PDF within a few hours, whereas a full Enhanced DBS disclosure with supplementary police notes constitutes a standard certified set and requires up to 24 hours. Legal sets — which include multiple overseas police certificates, annexed court extracts, and certified translations of supporting judgments — are the most involved category and require 2–5 working days to complete to the quality standard demanded by the Home Office and UKVI.
Certification type is a key scheduling variable. A plain certified translation is the fastest output; sworn translation (required for civil-law jurisdictions such as Spain, Italy, France, Germany, and Poland, where a court-appointed translator must sign) adds procedural steps that extend delivery by at least 24 hours. Notarisation, in which a notary public witnesses the translator’s signature on a formal affidavit, adds a further scheduling dependency. Where an apostille is additionally required — issued by the FCDO Legalisation Office under the 1961 Hague Convention — the total process extends by 2–3 working days beyond the translation itself.
Turnaround time is affected by four principal factors:
- Page count and total source word volume — each additional page adds proportional processing time, particularly for handwritten or complex formatted certificates.
- Source-language rarity — widely spoken languages such as Polish or Spanish have immediate resource availability; lower-density languages such as Amharic, Tigrinya, or Khmer require specialist scheduling and add 24–48 hours.
- Certification tier — certified is the fastest; sworn, notarised, and apostilled translations each introduce additional steps and extend delivery by 24–72 hours per tier.
- File legibility — clean, high-resolution scans process fastest; smartphone photographs with perspective distortion or low contrast require page reconstruction before translation can begin, adding time to any tier.
Pricing
How much does a certified criminal record check translation cost?
A certified criminal record check translation costs £30–£55 per page for standard civil-document formats and £0.10–£0.16 per source word for longer legal record sets, with same-day, sworn, notarised, and apostille services priced as surcharges on top. New clients receive a 20% discount on the first order.
| Service | Price band | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Certified translation, per page | £30–£55 | Single-page police certificates and short DBS documents |
| Certified translation, per source word | £0.10–£0.16 | Long legal sets, court extracts, annexed judgments |
| Sworn translation surcharge | From £25 per document | Civil-law jurisdictions abroad |
| Notarisation surcharge | From £75 per document | UK notary public witnessing |
| FCDO apostille | From £80 per document | Hague Convention countries |
| Same-day London delivery | From £20 | Rush turnaround |
When is per-page pricing used vs per-word pricing?
Per-page pricing is used for standard 1–4 page criminal record certificates and police clearance documents; per-word pricing is used when the record runs beyond 4 pages, contains technical legal commentary, or includes annexed court judgments. The cheaper option is applied to your file by default — we calculate both and quote the lower figure.
What surcharges apply on top of the base rate?
Surcharges apply for 5 add-ons:
- Same-day delivery (London courier or rush PDF)
- Sworn certification by a court-appointed translator
- Notarisation by a UK notary public
- Apostille via the FCDO Legalisation Office
- Rare-language pairs (Amharic, Tigrinya, Khmer, Pashto) sourced from specialist linguists
Which languages do you translate criminal record checks into and from?
Criminal record checks are translated from and into 60+ languages, including Polish, Romanian, Bulgarian, Czech, Slovak, Hungarian, Russian, Ukrainian, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, German, Dutch, Arabic, Mandarin, Punjabi, Urdu, Hindi, Bengali, Tagalog, Turkish, and Albanian. Our Polish Translation Services handle the highest UK volume — the Polish KRK is the most-requested overseas criminal record on our books.
Which overseas criminal record documents do we handle most often?
The overseas criminal record documents handled most often are the Polish KRK (Krajowy Rejestr Karny), Czech Výpis z rejstříku trestů, Romanian Cazier Judiciar, Spanish Certificado de Antecedentes Penales, Italian Certificato del Casellario Giudiziale, and German polizeiliches Führungszeugnis. The table below names each document’s issuing authority for cross-reference when applying to UKVI.
| Document | Issuing authority | Typical UK use |
|---|---|---|
| Polish KRK | Krajowy Rejestr Karny, Polish Ministry of Justice | Settlement, NHS employment |
| Czech Výpis z rejstříku trestů | Czech Ministry of Justice | ILR, regulated employment |
| Romanian Cazier Judiciar | Romanian Police / Ministry of Internal Affairs | Settlement, SIA licence |
| Spanish Certificado de Antecedentes Penales | Spanish Ministry of Justice | Citizenship, GMC registration |
| Italian Certificato del Casellario Giudiziale | Italian Ministry of Justice | NMC registration, university enrolment |
| German Führungszeugnis | Bundesamt für Justiz (Federal Office of Justice) | Banking and finance employment |
Can a solicitor certify a criminal record check translation?
A solicitor cannot replace the translator’s certification on a criminal record check translation. The Home Office and UKVI require the certification statement to be signed by the qualified translator or translation company that produced the document — a solicitor’s signature on its own is not an accepted substitute. The persistent misconception that any solicitor can certify a translation arises from conflating two entirely different acts: certifying a copy of an original document (which a solicitor is legally empowered to do) and certifying the linguistic accuracy of a translation (which only a qualified translator or an ISO 17100-certified company can do). These are separate legal and professional functions, and using one in place of the other leads directly to UKVI rejection.
A solicitor’s role in the translation process is limited but valid: a solicitor may act as a notary public — or instruct one — to witness the translator’s signature on a sworn affidavit, a step required for certain court submissions and some immigration applications. In that scenario, the translator still produces and signs the certified translation; the solicitor or notary simply witnesses and authenticates that signature. The translator’s certified statement of accuracy is the legally necessary foundation, and the notarisation sits on top of it.
Where a document must be legalised beyond notarisation — for example, for use in a country that is party to the 1961 Hague Convention — an apostille is issued by the FCDO Legalisation Office and attaches to the notarised translation package. This three-layer process (certified translation → notarisation → apostille) is distinct from solicitor certification at every stage. Submitting a solicitor-only signed translation without proper translator certification remains a leading cause of preventable UKVI delays, and it is a risk that is entirely avoidable by instructing a qualified provider from the outset.
How is your data kept confidential?
Criminal record data is handled under ISO 27001 information-security controls and UK GDPR. Every file submitted to us is encrypted in transit using TLS, stored on access-controlled UK-based servers, and accessible only to the vetted linguists and project managers assigned to your specific job. All personnel with access to sensitive documents operate under signed non-disclosure agreements, and files are permanently deleted from our systems on request once the project has closed.
ISO 27001 is the internationally recognised standard for information security management. It requires an organisation to identify information risks, implement proportionate controls, and subject those controls to regular independent audit. For criminal record check translations — which contain sensitive personal data including conviction histories, caution records, and biometric references — this standard is not a marketing credential but a substantive operational requirement. Our certification to ISO 27001 means that our data-handling practices have been independently verified against that framework, not merely self-declared.
We hold dual certification to ISO 17100 (the international standard for translation quality processes) and ISO 27001 (information security management). ISO 17100 governs the entire translation workflow — translator competence verification, revision procedures, and final quality checks — while ISO 27001 governs how the data flowing through that workflow is protected. Together they mean that both the quality of your translation and the security of your personal data are subject to audited, structured controls. This dual-certified framework is the same standard of assurance demanded by the Home Office, UKVI, the NHS, and UK universities when accepting translated criminal record documents.
Practically, confidentiality is maintained through several concrete measures: documents are never processed on unsecured personal devices, linguists access files only via authenticated, encrypted channels, and no data is shared with third parties outside the project team without your explicit consent. If your application requires it, we provide a written data-processing confirmation for submission alongside your immigration or employment file.