150+ LANGUAGES · ISO 17100 CERTIFIED · SAME-DAY TURNAROUND
How Much Does It Cost to Officially Translate a Document in the UK?
Official document translation costs £30 per certified page or £0.10–£0.20 per word in the UK. Certified translations accepted by UK authorities, from ISO 17100 translators.
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Pricing
How much does it cost to officially translate a document in the UK?
Officially translating a document in the UK costs from £30 per certified page or £0.10–£0.20 per word, depending on language pair, document complexity, certification type and turnaround, with same-day rush adding a 25–50% surcharge. Our Professional Translation Services in London UK team quotes each job in fixed GBP within one working hour of upload.
The four certification tiers carry different fees:
| Certification tier | Base price (GBP) | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Certified | From £30 per page | Home Office, HM Passport Office, UKVI, HMRC, universities |
| Notarised | Certified + £15–£40 notary fee | Court proceedings, some foreign consulates |
| Sworn | £0.12–£0.20 per word | Outbound use in France, Spain, Italy, Germany |
| Apostilled | Certified + £30 FCDO fee + courier | Countries under the Hague Apostille Convention |
What is the typical price range for a certified translation in the UK?
Certified translations in the UK range from £30 to £75 per page for standard personal documents such as birth and marriage certificates. Longer documents are priced per word between £0.10 and £0.20.
| Document type | Length | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Birth certificate | 1 page | From £30 |
| Marriage certificate | 1 page | From £30 |
| Academic diploma | 1–2 pages | £30–£60 |
| Police clearance | 1–2 pages | £30–£60 |
| Contract (5,000 words) | ~20 pages | £500–£1,000 |
How much does a single-page document (birth certificate, marriage certificate) cost?
A single-page birth certificate or marriage certificate certified translation costs from £30, including the certificate of translation accuracy, the certified PDF, and hard copies posted the next working day at no extra cost.
Pricing
How are translation costs calculated — per word, per page, or per project?
Translation costs are calculated three ways: per certified page from £30, per word at £0.10–£0.20, or per project for technical documents where formatting and DTP change the final cost.
- Per page — short personal documents under 250 words per page.
- Per word — longer documents above 500 words, priced by language pair.
- Per project — technical, multi-file or legal bundles.
When do translation agencies charge per word?
Translation agencies charge per word for documents above roughly 500 words — contracts, reports, medical records — where word count is a fairer measure than page count. Common European pairs sit at £0.10 per word; rarer or specialist pairs reach £0.20 per word.
When is a flat per-page rate used?
A flat per-page rate from £30 is used for short official documents under 250 words per page. These include birth, marriage and death certificates, driving licences and diplomas, where the format is standard.
When is a per-project quote appropriate?
Per-project quotes apply to technical documents, legal proceedings bundles and multi-file jobs where translation memory, terminology management and DTP change the final cost. Insurance claim files translated under our Insurance Document Translation Services are one example — upload your documents and request a quote for an accurate fixed GBP figure.
Pricing
What factors influence the cost of official document translation?
Seven factors influence the cost of official document translation: language pair, word count, document complexity, certification type, turnaround time, formatting, and the receiving authority where the translated document will be used.
- Language pair — common vs rare.
- Word count — per-word scaling above 500 words.
- Document complexity — stamps, seals, handwriting.
- Certification type — certified, notarised, sworn, apostilled.
- Turnaround time — standard or same-day rush.
- Formatting — DTP for technical layouts.
- Receiving authority — Home Office, courts, universities, foreign consulates.
How does the language pair change the price?
Prices vary depending on the language pair. Common pairs cost £0.10 per word; rare pairs reach £0.20 per word because fewer certified translators are available.
| Language pair band | Examples | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Common European | French, Spanish, Polish, Romanian | £0.10 per word |
| South Asian | Urdu, Bengali, Punjabi, Gujarati | £0.12–£0.15 per word |
| Rare or specialist | Pashto, Amharic, Icelandic | £0.20 per word |
How does document complexity affect the final cost?
Document complexity raises the final cost when a technical document needs subject-matter expert translators. OCR is required to convert scanned images to editable text. Stamps, seals and handwritten notes on the source document must be transcribed and translated.
How does turnaround time affect price?
Standard turnaround follows an ISO 17100 benchmark of 1,500–2,000 words per linguist per day. Same-day rush handling up to 10,000 words carries a 25–50% surcharge on top of the base rate.
| Job size | Standard turnaround | Rush option |
|---|---|---|
| 1 certified page | 24 hours | Same day (+25%) |
| 5,000-word contract | 3 working days | 24 hours (+50%) |
| 10,000 words | 5 working days | Same day (+50%) |
How does the receiving authority affect price?
The country where the document will be used and the requirements of the receiving authority determine whether certified, notarised, sworn or apostilled translation is needed. Home Office and UKVI accept certified translations for visa and Naturalisation Document Translation. UK courts often require notarised translations. Foreign consulates in Hague signatory countries require an apostille.
Pricing
What is the difference between certified, sworn, notarised and apostilled translations, and how do they affect cost?
Certified translations cost from £30 per page. Notarised translations add a £15–£40 notary public or solicitor fee. Sworn translations, required abroad, cost £0.12–£0.20 per word. Apostilled translations add a £30 FCDO fee plus courier under the Hague Apostille Convention.
| Tier | What it includes | Added cost |
|---|---|---|
| Certified | Certificate of translation accuracy | From £30/page (base) |
| Notarised | Notary public verifies translator’s declaration | +£15–£40 |
| Sworn | Court-registered translator (overseas) | £0.12–£0.20/word |
| Apostilled | FCDO legalisation stamp | +£30 FCDO fee + courier |
What does a certified translation include and cost?
A certified translation includes the translated document plus a signed certificate of translation accuracy on agency letterhead. It confirms accuracy and completeness, the translator’s contact details, and the date. It is priced from £30 per certified page and accepted by UK authorities including the Home Office and HM Passport Office.
What is a notarised translation and when do you pay extra for a notary public?
A notarised translation is a certified translation verified by a notary public or solicitor who witnesses the translator’s declaration. It adds £15–£40 to the base fee. Court proceedings and foreign consulates that do not accept a plain certificate of translation accuracy typically require notarisation.
When does a document require a sworn translation?
A document requires a sworn translation when it will be used in a jurisdiction where translators must be registered with a court to produce legally binding translations. These jurisdictions include France, Spain, Italy and Germany. Sworn translation is not a UK category, but affects cost when translating outbound from the UK.
How much does an apostille add to the translation cost?
An apostille adds £30 in FCDO legalisation fees plus courier costs. It is required under the Hague Apostille Convention when the translated document will be used in a signatory country abroad. Request the apostille alongside the certified translation to avoid a second round trip.
Trusted & certified
Who can certify a translation in the UK?
In the UK, a translation can be certified by a professional translator or translation agency accredited by ITI or CIOL, or by a solicitor or notary public who witnesses the translator’s declaration. Self-certification is not accepted by UK authorities. There is no state-authorised “sworn translator” system in the UK.
- ITI — Institute of Translation and Interpreting.
- CIOL — Chartered Institute of Linguists.
- ATC — Association of Translation Companies (agency-level).
Can I certify my own translation or have a friend or family member do it?
No — self-certification is not accepted by UK authorities, and a friend or family member cannot certify it either. The Home Office and UKVI require certification by an independent, accredited translator or translation agency to verify the accuracy of the translation and prevent conflict of interest.
- You cannot certify your own translation.
- A relative or friend cannot certify it, even if bilingual.
- Only an accredited translator, translation agency, solicitor or notary public can.
Can I translate a document for free or use machine translation for official purposes?
No — machine translation from Google Translate or DeepL is not accepted for official purposes. UK authorities require a human-certified translation with a certificate of translation accuracy. Free machine output cannot be certified and will be rejected by the Home Office, UKVI and HM Passport Office, forcing a costly re-do.
Rejection risks from unaccepted translations include:
- Visa or naturalisation delay of 4–12 weeks.
- Full translation fee paid twice — once wasted, once compliant.
- Missed court deadlines or academic enrolment windows.
- Untranslated stamps and seals flagged by the caseworker.
Pricing
How much should a translator charge for translating a document?
A UK translator charges £0.10 per word for common European language pairs and up to £0.20 per word for specialist or rare pairs. A flat £30 per certified page applies to short personal documents. Professional translators registered with ITI or CIOL and working under ISO 17100 sit within this range.
What is the typical turnaround time for official document translations?
Typical turnaround is 24 hours for a single certified page, 3 working days for a 5,000-word contract, and same-day for urgent jobs up to 10,000 words at a 25–50% surcharge. All are delivered as a certified PDF by email, with hard copies posted the next working day.
Pricing
How can I get an accurate quote for official document translation?
To get an accurate quote, upload your documents through our secure form and receive a fixed GBP quote within one working hour. The quote includes certification, VAT, PDF delivery within 24 hours and hard copies posted the next working day.
- Upload a clear scan or photograph of each source document.
- State the target language and receiving authority.
- Receive a fixed GBP quote within one working hour.
- Approve and pay to start the ISO 17100 workflow.
- Receive the certified PDF within 24 hours; hard copies follow by post.
Do you need the original document or is a scan sufficient?
A clear scan or photograph of the original document is sufficient for a certified translation accepted by UK authorities. We do not require the physical original. The source document must be legible so every stamp, seal and handwritten note can be transcribed accurately.
Do UK translation prices include proofreading?
Yes — proofreading is included as standard under the ISO 17100 four-eyes principle. A second qualified linguist proofreads every translation before the certificate of translation accuracy is issued, at no extra cost.