ISO 17100 CERTIFIED · SAME-DAY TURNAROUND
Document Translation Services in London and the UK
Document translation services in London and the UK deliver certified, sworn, and notarised translations in 200+ languages, ISO 17100, from £30 per page.
- ISO 17100 Certified
- Same-day Turnaround
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What we do
Our services
What are document translation services?
Document translation services are professional language services that render official, legal, business, and personal documents from a source language into a target language with a signed accuracy statement, delivered in certified, sworn, notarised, or apostilled formats accepted by UK and foreign authorities.
What is the difference between certified, sworn, notarised, and apostille translations?
The 4 UK certification tiers differ by signatory and legal weight: certified translation carries a translator or agency statement of truth; sworn translation is signed before a court-appointed sworn translator (used for foreign jurisdictions); notarised translation adds a notary public’s seal verifying the translator’s identity; apostille translation adds FCDO legalisation for use abroad under the Hague Convention.
How much do document translation services cost in the UK?
Document translation in the UK costs from £30 per page for certified translations under 250 words, £45 per page for sworn translations, £75 per document for notarised translations, and £60 per hour for in-person interpreting London, with apostille legalisation charged at FCDO statutory fees plus a courier handling fee.
How long does document translation take?
Document translation turnaround follows a 3-band ladder under ISO 17100: same-day for civil documents under 1,000 words placed in London before 11:00 GMT, 24 to 48 hours for legal and academic packs under 5,000 words, and agreed milestone delivery for technical projects above 10,000 words.
How does the document translation process work, step by step?
The document translation process runs in 5 steps: upload a scan of the original, receive a fixed-fee quote within 30 minutes, approve and pay, receive the translated document with the statement of truth by email and hard copy by post, and request notarisation or apostille if the receiving authority requires it.
Why do certified translations get rejected by UK authorities?
Certified translations are rejected by UK authorities for 6 recurring reasons: missing translator statement of truth, no translator name and address, undated certification, partial translation of a multi-page document, translation by an uncertified or unregistered translator, and submission without a copy of the original document attached.
Commissioning a translation that the Home Office, HMCTS, or a foreign consulate will accept depends on matching four UK certification tiers — certified, sworn, notarised, and apostille — to the specific document and receiving authority. This page maps that decision, publishes per-page pricing, and sets out turnaround windows tied to word count under ISO 17100.
What is the difference between certified, sworn, notarised, and apostille translations?
The 4 UK certification tiers differ by signatory and legal weight: certified translation carries a translator or agency statement of truth; sworn translation is signed before a court-appointed sworn translator for foreign jurisdictions; notarised translation adds a notary public’s seal verifying the translator’s identity; apostille translation adds FCDO legalisation for use abroad under the Hague Convention.
| Tier | Signatory | Typical use | From price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certified | Qualified translator or agency | UK Home Office, HMCTS, GRO, universities | £30 per page |
| Sworn | Court-appointed sworn translator | Italy, Spain, France, Poland courts and consulates | £45 per page |
| Notarised | Notary public + translator | Foreign embassies, overseas legal proceedings | £75 per document |
| Apostille | FCDO under Hague 1961 | Use in 125+ Hague-Convention countries | £75 + FCDO statutory fee |
What is a certified translation in the UK?
A certified translation in the UK is a translation accompanied by a signed and dated statement of truth from the translator or translation company confirming the translation is accurate and complete, including the translator’s name, credentials, and contact address, as required by gov.uk. The Home Office, HMCTS, and UK universities accept this format. The full Certified Translation Services page lists the document classes covered and the statement-of-truth wording used.
What is a sworn translation?
A sworn translation is a translation signed and stamped before a court-appointed sworn translator under oath, required by civil-law jurisdictions including Italy, Spain, France, and Poland for documents submitted to their courts, consulates, or registry offices. The translator’s court authorisation gives the document automatic legal status in the issuing jurisdiction. See Sworn Translation Services for jurisdiction-specific requirements.
What is a notarised translation?
A notarised translation is a certified translation signed in front of a notary public, who verifies the translator’s identity and applies an official seal. UK notarisation is required for documents submitted to foreign embassies, immigration authorities, or for use in legal proceedings abroad. Full process detail sits on the Notarised Translation Services page.
What is an apostille translation?
An apostille translation is a notarised translation legalised by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) with an apostille certificate, making the document valid in the 125+ countries that signed the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention. The FCDO issues the apostille; the translation must first be notarised. Routing and timelines are documented on the Apostille Translation Services page.
Which certification tier does each document need?
Document-to-tier mapping follows the receiving authority: Home Office and UKVI accept certified translations, HMCTS accepts certified or notarised depending on case type, foreign consulates require sworn or notarised, and any document for use abroad in a Hague-Convention country requires an apostille translation.
| Document | UK use (tier) | Foreign use (tier) |
|---|---|---|
| Birth certificate | Certified (Home Office, GRO) | Sworn or notarised + apostille |
| Marriage certificate | Certified (Home Office, GRO) | Notarised + apostille |
| Death certificate | Certified (UK probate) | Notarised + apostille (cross-border estate) |
| Divorce decree | Certified (HMCTS) | Sworn (EU civil-law states) |
| Academic transcript | Certified (ECCTIS, universities) | Sworn (foreign higher education) |
| Diploma / degree | Certified | Notarised + apostille |
| Police background check | Certified (Home Office, employers) | Notarised + apostille |
| Passport / ID | Certified | Certified or notarised |
| Driving licence | Certified (DVLA) | Certified |
| Medical report | Certified | Notarised |
| Court judgment | Certified or notarised (HMCTS) | Sworn or notarised + apostille |
| Affidavit | Notarised | Notarised + apostille |
| Power of attorney | Notarised | Notarised + apostille |
| Will | Certified or notarised | Notarised + apostille |
| Contract | Certified | Sworn or notarised |
| Articles of association | Certified | Notarised + apostille |
| Board resolution | Certified | Notarised + apostille |
| Financial statement | Certified | Notarised |
| Patent | Certified | Sworn |
| Tender document | Certified | Sworn or certified |
Pricing
How much do document translation services cost in the UK?
Document translation in the UK costs from £30 per page for certified translations under 250 words, £45 per page for sworn translations, £75 per document for notarised translations, and £60 per hour for in-person interpreting in London, with apostille legalisation charged at FCDO statutory fees plus a courier handling fee.
| Service | Unit | From price |
|---|---|---|
| Certified translation | Per page (≤250 words) | £30 |
| Sworn translation | Per page | £45 |
| Notarised translation | Per document | £75 |
| Apostille legalisation | Per document | £75 + FCDO fee |
| In-person interpreting (London) | Per hour | £60 |
| New-client discount | First order | −20% |
What factors change the price of a document translation?
Document translation pricing varies on 5 factors: word count per page, source-and-target language pair, certification tier required, turnaround urgency, and document complexity. Handwritten records, scanned legal scans with embedded tables, and rare language pairs (Korean, Japanese, Mandarin, Arabic into English) carry surcharges of 10 to 25 percent over the base per-page rate.
- Word count beyond the 250-word page baseline.
- Language pair rarity and translator availability.
- Certification tier — certified, sworn, notarised, or apostille.
- Turnaround — standard, 24 to 48 hours, or same-day.
- Document complexity — handwritten, technical, or legal terminology.
Are there extra fees for urgent or same-day translations?
Urgent and same-day translations carry a 20–50% rush premium on the per-page rate, waived for new clients during the introductory 20% discount window, and free for civil documents under 1,000 words placed in London before 11:00 GMT. The rush premium covers translator reallocation, dedicated revision, and same-day courier dispatch.
How long does document translation take?
Document translation turnaround follows a 3-band ladder under ISO 17100: same-day for civil documents under 1,000 words placed in London before 11:00 GMT, 24 to 48 hours for legal and academic packs under 5,000 words, and agreed milestone delivery for technical projects above 10,000 words.
| Word count | Document type | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1,000 | Civil records, ID, short legal | Same business day (London, pre-11:00 GMT) |
| 1,000 – 5,000 | Academic packs, contracts, judgments | 24 to 48 hours |
| 5,000 – 10,000 | Legal bundles, corporate filings | 3 to 5 business days |
| 10,000+ | Technical, multi-document projects | Milestone delivery, agreed schedule |
When is same-day translation possible?
Same-day translation is possible for civil and short legal documents under 1,000–1,500 words when the order is placed in London before 11:00 GMT on a business day, in language pairs covered by in-house translators (English with French, Spanish, Italian, German, Polish, Russian, Mandarin, Arabic, Korean, Bulgarian). Orders placed after the cut-off are delivered the next business morning.
How long do sworn and notarised translations take?
Sworn translations take 48 to 72 hours when court attendance is required, and notarised translations take 2 to 5 working days because the document must be signed in front of a London notary public and may then progress to FCDO apostille within 1 to 3 additional working days. Standard FCDO premium routing delivers the apostille within 1 working day; standard FCDO routing takes 2 to 5 working days.
How it works
How does the document translation process work, step by step?
1
How do you send documents securely?
Documents are sent securely through the encrypted upload form on the agency website, by email to the project manager, or in person at the London office, with all files held under ISO 27001-aligned data handling and deleted from working systems 90 days after delivery. Accepted file formats include.docx,.pdf,.txt,.pptx,.jpg,.png, and Google Docs exports. PDFs containing embedded image text or tables are processed with optical character recognition (OCR) and document-structure analysis to preserve layout in the target language.
2
How is the translated document delivered?
The translated document is delivered in 2 formats: a digitally signed PDF emailed within the quoted turnaround, and a hard copy of the certified, sworn, or notarised translation posted by Royal Mail Signed For or courier on request, with the original document returned alongside the translation. International courier delivery is available to 220+ destinations on request.
Why do certified translations get rejected by UK authorities?
Certified translations are rejected by UK authorities for 6 recurring reasons: missing translator statement of truth, no translator name and address, undated certification, partial translation of a multi-page document, translation by an uncertified or unregistered translator, and submission without a copy of the original document attached.
- Missing statement of truth — the Home Office requires explicit confirmation that the translation is true and accurate.
- No translator name and contact address — gov.uk guidance mandates a verifiable postal address, not a PO box.
- Undated certification — the date of translation must appear on the statement.
- Partial translation — every page, stamp, seal, and marginal note on the source document must be rendered.
- Uncertified translator — the translator lacks CIOL, ITI, or equivalent professional standing.
- No original copy attached — HMCTS and consulates require the translation to be physically bound to a copy of the source.
Which languages and document types are covered?
Document translation services cover 200+ languages including French, Spanish, German, Italian, Polish, Russian, Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Romanian, Arabic, Mandarin, Korean, Japanese, Portuguese, Turkish, Hindi, Urdu, and Punjabi, paired with English in both directions and across non-English language pairs on request.
- Russian Translation Services in London and the UK
- Korean Translation Services in London and the UK
- English to Italian Translation Services in London and the UK
- Bulgarian Translation Services in London and the UK
- Mandarin Translation Services in London and the UK
Which personal documents are most translated?
The most translated personal documents are 8 civil records: birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates, divorce decrees, passports, driving licences, police background check certificates, and academic transcripts. Each carries a fixed per-document price under the certified tier.
- Birth Certificate Translation — certified for UK Home Office; sworn or notarised for foreign consulates.
- Marriage Certificate Translation — certified for Home Office and GRO; apostille for use abroad in Hague countries.
- Death certificate translation — certified for UK probate; notarised plus apostille for cross-border estate matters.
- Divorce decree translation — certified for HMCTS; sworn for foreign civil-law states.
- Passport translation — certified for ID verification.
- Driving licence translation — certified for DVLA exchange.
- Background Check Certificate Translation — certified for UK Home Office, courts, and employers.
- Academic transcript translation — certified for UK universities and ECCTIS; sworn for foreign higher-education applications.
Which business and legal documents are most translated?
The most translated business and legal documents are 7 corporate and judicial records: contracts, articles of association, court judgments, affidavits, patents, financial statements, and tender documents. Each requires subject-matter terminology control by a legal or financial specialist translator.
- Contracts — commercial, employment, and licensing agreements.
- Articles of association and corporate constitutional documents.
- Court judgments and orders from civil, family, and commercial benches.
- Affidavits and sworn statements for use in proceedings.
- Patents and intellectual property filings.
- Financial statements and audit reports.
- Tender documents and procurement bids.
What accreditations should a UK translation agency hold?
A UK translation agency should hold 4 industry credentials: ISO 17100 certification for translation service quality, ISO 9001 for general quality management, ISO 27001 or equivalent for information security, and membership of the Association of Translation Companies (ATC), Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL), or Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI).
| Credential | What it certifies |
|---|---|
| ISO 17100:2015 | Translation service quality, translator qualifications, and revision workflow. |
| ISO 9001 | General quality management systems. |
| ISO 27001 | Information security management. |
| Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL) | UK professional body whose registered members produce certified translations recognised by UK government. |
| Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI) | UK professional association whose qualified members produce certified translations accepted by UK authorities. |
| Association of Translation Companies (ATC) | Trade body for UK translation companies upholding quality and ethics standards. |
How do translation agencies ensure quality and accuracy?
Reputable agencies use a multi-stage quality assurance process — translation, editing, and proofreading (TEP) by separate linguists. ISO 17100 mandates the four-eyes principle: translation by one qualified linguist and independent revision by a second. A project manager oversees the lifecycle, ensuring deliverables meet the brief, deadlines, and the receiving authority’s format before release. Native-speaker reviewers and subject-matter specialists handle legal, medical, and technical files.
How do you choose a document translation service in London or the UK?
Choose a document translation service by checking 5 criteria: ISO 17100 certification, named registered translators with verifiable CIOL or ITI credentials, transparent per-page pricing, written turnaround commitments tied to word count, and prior acceptance by the specific UK authority receiving the document.
- ISO 17100 certification — verifies translator qualifications and the revision workflow.
- Named translators with current CIOL or ITI membership.
- Published per-page pricing — £30 certified, £45 sworn, £75 notarised — not “request a quote”.
- Written turnaround tied to word count and a stated London cut-off.
- Track record of Home Office, HMCTS, GRO, ECCTIS, or FCDO acceptance.
The 6 most asked questions about UK document translation cover certification choice, pricing, turnaround, document return, language coverage, and acceptance by the Home Office, courts, and foreign consulates.
Frequently asked questions
How do you request a document translation quote?
Request a document translation quote by uploading a scan of the document through the website contact form, emailing the project team, or visiting the London office, and receive a fixed-fee written quote within 30 minutes during business hours, with a 20% discount applied to all new clients.
- Upload a scan or photograph through the secure form on Get a Free Translation Quote.
- Specify the target language, certification tier, and the receiving authority.
- Receive a written fixed-fee quote within 30 minutes during business hours.
- Approve, pay, and receive the translated document within the quoted turnaround.