150+ LANGUAGES · ISO 17100 CERTIFIED · SAME-DAY TURNAROUND
Video Localization Services
ISO 17100 certified video localization services in the UK: subtitles, voice-over, dubbing and on-screen text in 150+ languages, from £30 per page, same-day turnaround.
- 150+ Languages
- ISO 17100 Certified
- Same-day Turnaround
Get a free, no-obligation quote
What we do
Explore our services
What do video localization services mean?
Video localization services adapt a source video for a new locale by transcribing dialogue, translating the script, recording voice-over or dubbing, generating subtitles or closed captions, and rebuilding on-screen text so meaning, timing and cultural references land natively for the target audience.
What types of video localization services are available?
There are 5 core types of video localization services: subtitle translation, closed captioning, voice-over, full dubbing (lip-sync), and on-screen text and graphics localization.
How much do video localization services cost in the UK?
Video localization services in the UK cost from £7–£12 per minute for subtitles, £18–£35 per minute for voice-over, and £45–£90 per minute for full lip-sync dubbing, per target language.
What are the benefits of video localization?
There are 6 measurable benefits of video localization: expanded international audiences, higher watch-through rates, better accessibility compliance, improved SEO for foreign-language queries, stronger brand trust in target markets, and a higher return on the original video production investment.
What is the process for video localization?
The video localization process runs 7 stages: creative brief, transcription and time-coding, script translation, cultural adaptation, subtitle or voice-over production, video engineering and on-screen text replacement, and ISO 17100 four-eyes quality assurance before final delivery.
How long does video localization take?
Video localization takes 24 hours for a single 3-minute subtitle job, 3 working days for a 10-minute voice-over in one language, and 5–10 working days for a 10-minute lip-sync dub across 5 languages, based on the ISO 17100 throughput of 1,500–2,000 words per linguist per day.
What we do
What do video localization services mean?
Video localization services adapt a source video for a new locale by transcribing dialogue, translating the script, recording voice-over or dubbing, generating subtitles or closed captions, and rebuilding on-screen text so meaning, timing and cultural references land natively for the target audience.
How it works
How much do video localization services cost in the UK?
Video localization services in the UK cost from £7–£12 per minute for subtitles, £18–£35 per minute for voice-over, and £45–£90 per minute for full lip-sync dubbing, per target language.
What’s included
What are the benefits of video localization?
There are 6 measurable benefits of video localization: expanded international audiences, higher watch-through rates, better accessibility compliance, improved SEO for foreign-language queries, stronger brand trust in target markets, and a higher return on the original video production investment.
Complete guide
Everything you need to know
UK businesses publishing marketing, eLearning, corporate and social video into international markets need one professional partner to transcribe, translate, subtitle, voice, dub and re-engineer their video content for each locale. This page sets out video localization services, GBP pricing, ISO 17100 process, turnaround and language coverage from a London-based translation company serving the whole UK.
What types of video localization services are available?
There are five core types of video localization services: subtitle translation, closed captioning, voice-over, full dubbing (including lip-sync), and on-screen text and graphics localization. A sixth supporting service — time-coded video transcription — underpins all five by generating the source script that translators, voice talent and video engineers work from. Each type suits a different combination of content format, audience, platform and budget.
| Modality | Best for | UK price / finished minute | Turnaround (per 10 min, 1 language) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subtitle translation | Social, corporate, eLearning | £7–£12 | 24–48 hours |
| Closed captioning | Accessibility, WCAG 2.2 AA | £8–£14 | 24–48 hours |
| Voice-over | Explainer, training, documentary | £18–£35 | 3 working days |
| Full dubbing (lip-sync) | TV, film, premium marketing | £45–£90 | 5–10 working days |
| On-screen text | Product demos, kinetic type | Quoted per project | 2–5 working days |
What is subtitle translation?
Subtitle translation renders spoken dialogue as timed on-screen text in the target language, delivered as SRT, VTT, TTML or burnt-in files and produced in strict adherence to the BBC formatting guidelines of 42 characters per line and a maximum reading speed of 17 characters per second. These parameters are not arbitrary — exceeding them forces viewers to pause or re-read, breaking the viewing experience. SRT and VTT files enjoy broad compatibility with web players, streaming platforms and social media, making subtitle translation the fastest and most cost-effective entry point into video localization at £7–£12 per finished minute. Explore the full Subtitling Services for broadcast, streaming and social workflows.
What is closed captioning versus open captioning?
Closed captions can be toggled off by the viewer and include non-speech cues — music, sound effects, speaker identification — for accessibility; open (burnt-in) captions are permanently rendered into the video frame and cannot be disabled. Closed captioning is the appropriate choice for compliance with WCAG 2.2 AA success criterion 1.2.2, which requires captions for all pre-recorded video content, and aligns with UK Equality Act 2010 accessibility expectations. Open captions are preferred for social media autoplay environments where the viewer may not activate captions manually. Both formats are produced with identical translation quality; the distinction is purely a delivery and rendering decision.
What is voice-over in video translation?
Voice-over layers a translated narration on top of the original audio at reduced volume, using one professional native-speaker voice talent per target language — the fastest and most affordable spoken-language localization option for corporate, eLearning and documentary video content. Priced at £18–£35 per finished minute, voice-over runs roughly 30–50% cheaper than lip-sync dubbing and is typically ready in three working days per language. Because the original speaker’s voice remains audible beneath the narration, audiences familiar with the source talent can still follow the emotional register of the performance. Full detail on modalities and voice talent lives on our Voice-Over Services page.
What is dubbing and lip-sync dubbing?
Dubbing replaces the original audio track entirely with a translated dialogue performance by voice actors; lip-sync dubbing additionally times every line to the on-screen mouth movements of the speaker, requiring multiple native-speaker performers per role for TV, film and premium marketing content. At £45–£90 per finished minute, dubbing is the highest-investment modality and takes four to six times longer to produce than voice-over, reflecting the precision of the sync edit, studio recording sessions and post-production mix. The result is a seamless viewing experience in which the target audience has no awareness that the content was originally produced in another language. See the dedicated Dubbing Services page for casting and studio detail.
What is on-screen text and graphics localization?
On-screen text and graphics localization rebuilds titles, lower-thirds, callouts, kinetic type, chart labels and product UI shown in the video frame, matching the original video’s fonts, animation timing and brand style in the target language. Video engineers work in After Effects, Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve to keep the localized version visually indistinguishable from the source. Languages with longer word lengths — German, for instance — require layout reflow to prevent text overflow, while right-to-left scripts such as Arabic and Hebrew require full graphic re-composition. On-screen text localization is quoted per project because complexity varies significantly with the number of graphics layers and the animation density of the original edit.
What is video transcription and time-coded scripting?
Video transcription produces a time-coded written record of every spoken word in the source video; this script feeds directly into subtitle, voice-over and dubbing workflows and acts as the authoritative source of truth for every translator and video engineer on the project. Accurate transcription is the foundation of accurate localization — errors or omissions in the source script propagate into every translated language version, multiplying the cost of correction. Time-coded scripts also allow translators to flag lines where the spoken pace is too fast for subtitle reading-speed compliance, enabling adjustments before any recording begins. See our Transcription Services for standalone transcription of audio and video files.
Pricing
What is the process for video localization?
1
Step 1 — How is the creative brief captured?
The creative brief captures target languages, target audience, tone, glossary, brand references, deadline and delivery format, so translators and video engineers work from one aligned source of truth. A kickoff call locks scope inside 24 hours.
2
Step 2 — How is the video transcribed and time-coded?
Native speakers transcribe every spoken word into a time-coded script (SRT-compatible) with speaker labels, non-speech cues and on-screen text captured verbatim from the original video. Time-code accuracy at this stage prevents subtitle drift downstream.
3
Step 3 — How is the script translated?
Professional translators translate the script into the target language using CAT tools and client glossaries, preserving intent, tone and industry terminology without losing meaning. The TEP workflow — Translation, Editing, Proofreading — is mandatory under ISO 17100.
4
Step 4 — How is the translation culturally adapted?
Cultural adaptation reworks idioms, humour, units, currency (GBP → target-market currency), dates, imagery references and pop-culture callbacks so the localized video reads natively rather than translated. This step is what separates a translation of audio from true localization.
5
Step 5 — How are subtitles or voice-over produced?
Subtitles are time-cued to 42 characters per line and 17 CPS reading speed; voice-over and dubbing are recorded in professional studios with native-speaker voice talent matched to the original speaker’s age, gender and register. Voice actors receive the time-coded script plus reference video.
6
Step 6 — How does video engineering handle on-screen text and mixing?
Video engineers rebuild on-screen text and graphics in the target language, remix voice-over against the M&E (music and effects) stem, sync lip-movement for dubs, and export broadcast-ready MP4, MOV or ProRes masters. Delivery matches the client’s platform spec.
7
Step 7 — How does ISO 17100 quality assurance work?
ISO 17100 quality assurance requires a second qualified linguist to revise the entire translation, followed by an in-context video review checking timing, readability, terminology and cultural fit before client sign-off. ISO 17100 is the international standard for translation service providers, published by the International Organization for Standardization.
How long does video localization take?
Video localization turnaround depends on the modality, runtime and number of target languages: a single-language subtitle job on a short video is ready in 24–48 hours, a 5,000-word voice-over script in one language takes three working days, and a ten-minute lip-sync dub across five languages takes five to ten working days. All timelines are grounded in the ISO 17100 throughput benchmark of 1,500–2,000 words per linguist per day, which governs how many translators must be assigned to meet any given deadline without compromising the mandatory four-eyes review step.
| SLA lane | Scope covered | Rush surcharge |
|---|---|---|
| Same-day (under 24 h) | Up to 10,000 words | 25–50% |
| 3 working days | Up to 5,000 words, 1 language | None |
| 5–10 working days | Dub or multi-language voice-over | None |
Multi-language projects run in parallel — translators working on Spanish, French and German do so simultaneously rather than in sequence — so adding languages extends the budget but not the calendar. The critical path in any localization project is not translation but video engineering: the time needed to sync subtitle timecodes, record and mix voice-over, or perform lip-sync edit passes on dubbed dialogue.
What turnaround should I expect per modality?
Subtitles are the fastest modality, typically ready in 24–48 hours for five minutes of content in a single language; voice-over adds one to two studio days per language for recording and audio mixing; and full lip-sync dubbing adds three to five days per language for casting confirmation, studio recording sessions and the sync editing pass. On-screen text and graphics localization runs in parallel with translation and does not extend the critical path on most projects. The most reliable way to compress any turnaround is to supply a clean, reviewed source script at briefing — this eliminates the transcription step entirely and removes the most common source of rework delays.
How does same-day rush turnaround work?
Same-day rush delivery handles projects of up to 10,000 source words within 24 hours by parallelising multiple translators, video engineers and QA reviewers simultaneously, with a 25–50% surcharge applied to cover out-of-hours studio time and extended linguist capacity. The workflow is condensed — brief, transcription, translation, subtitle or voice production, and ISO 17100 four-eyes review all run in overlapping shifts — but the quality standard is identical to standard-lane delivery. Rush jobs are accepted subject to capacity confirmation at the point of briefing; submitting the source video and a clean script at the same time maximises the chance of same-day acceptance.
Languages
What languages are supported for video localization?
Video localization is supported in 150+ languages, covering every major EU, EMEA, APAC, LATAM and African market — including Spanish, French, German, Mandarin, Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, Japanese and Hindi, as well as right-to-left scripts such as Arabic, Hebrew and Urdu, and complex-script languages such as Thai and Hindi. Every language is handled by a qualified native-speaker translator who translates into their first language, as required under ISO 17100. Voice-over and dubbing assignments are matched to native-speaker voice talent from the precise target region — not a generic speaker of the language — to ensure the accent, register and cultural cues are authentic.
- EN → Spanish (Spain and LATAM variants available)
- EN → French (France and Canadian variants available)
- EN → German
- EN → Italian
- EN → Simplified Chinese
- EN → Arabic (Modern Standard and Gulf/Levantine variants)
- EN → Brazilian Portuguese
- EN → Japanese
- EN → Polish
- EN → Dutch
Is AI translation suitable for video localization?
AI translation is suitable for low-risk video content — internal training videos, social shorts and high-volume user-generated content — but is unsafe as a standalone solution for regulated medical, legal, financial or brand marketing video, where errors carry reputational, legal or patient-safety consequences. The fundamental limitation is that AI systems optimise for statistical likelihood, not for cultural nuance, brand voice, or the precise timing constraints that subtitle and dubbing workflows impose. ISO 17100 human review by professional translators is required wherever the consequences of a mistranslation exceed the cost of correction.
| Content type | AI-only | Hybrid AI + human QA | Human-only |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal training | Safe | Recommended | Overkill |
| YouTube auto-caption clean-up | Safe | Recommended | Overkill |
| Product demo / eLearning | Unsafe alone | Recommended | Safe |
| Brand marketing / TV ad | Unsafe | Unsafe alone | Required |
| Medical / legal / financial | Unsafe | Unsafe alone | Required |
A practical rule of thumb: if publishing the video with an error in it would embarrass the organisation, cost money, or create a compliance liability, AI-only is the wrong choice. If the video would otherwise go out with no translation at all — because the budget or timeline prohibits full human localization — a hybrid approach combining an AI draft with human post-editing delivers the best risk-adjusted outcome.
When is AI voice-over a safe option?
AI voice-over is a safe option for internal eLearning modules, product tutorials and social shorts where production speed and cost efficiency matter more than emotional performance depth; premium marketing campaigns, broadcast advertising and any regulated-sector video still require human voice actors to convey the tone, credibility and nuance that AI synthesis cannot reliably replicate. Hybrid workflows — where an AI voice draft is reviewed, corrected and in some cases re-recorded by human talent at key passages — reduce production cost by 30–40% compared with a fully human voice-over while maintaining acceptable quality for mid-tier content. All AI-assisted projects still pass through ISO 17100 QA to catch the residual translation errors that automated systems consistently miss.
Can you translate AI-generated videos?
Yes — AI-generated videos are localized using the same end-to-end workflow as filmed content: the script is extracted from the AI-generation platform or transcribed from the rendered video, translated by professional human translators, culturally adapted for the target locale, and then either voiced by human talent or re-synthesised using an approved AI voice model with mandatory human QA. On-screen text and graphics generated by the AI tool are rebuilt in-language by video engineers. The source being AI-generated does not change the quality standard applied to the translation or the production.
Can you translate videos directly from YouTube or Vimeo?
Yes — videos are accepted directly from YouTube or Vimeo URLs, transcribed, translated by professional translators, and returned either as fresh MP4 masters with burnt-in subtitles or voice-over, or as multilingual caption track files that upload straight into YouTube Studio or Vimeo’s caption manager. SRT and VTT caption files are produced in strict compliance with the 42-characters-per-line and 17-characters-per-second reading-speed standard, ensuring they meet platform requirements and viewer readability expectations without any further editing after upload.
How do I choose the right video localization service provider?
Choose a video localization service provider on seven objective criteria, each of which directly predicts whether the finished localized video will meet broadcast quality, regulatory requirements and your commercial deadline:
- ISO 17100 certification — the international standard that mandates qualified translators plus an independent revision step; certification is verifiable, not a self-declared claim.
- Native-speaker translators in every target locale — ISO 17100 requires translators to work into their first language; a provider that uses bilingual generalists rather than in-country native speakers is not compliant.
- In-house video engineering capacity — subtitle timecoding, audio mixing, After Effects graphic replacement and video mastering must be done by engineers who understand both the technical and linguistic constraints of localization.
- Transparent GBP pricing by stage — subtitles at £7–£12/min, voice-over at £18–£35/min and dubbing at £45–£90/min are published benchmarks; any provider unable to itemise costs by stage should be treated with caution.
- Clear turnaround SLAs with defined rush policies — same-day delivery up to 10,000 words with a 25–50% surcharge, three-day standard for scripts up to 5,000 words, and longer lanes for multi-language dub projects are the benchmarks to test against.
- Sector experience in your content category — medical, legal, financial and brand marketing video each carry distinct regulatory or reputational risks that require translators with documented domain expertise, not generalists.
- Referenceable case studies and verifiable quality signals — ask for before-and-after localized video samples in your sector and language pairs, not generic capability statements.
Are they working with qualified native-speaker translators?
A reliable video localization provider works exclusively with translators who translate into their first language, hold a recognized translation qualification or equivalent demonstrable experience, and carry documented expertise in the relevant content sector — all three conditions being mandatory requirements under ISO 17100. Providers that cannot produce translator CVs on request, or that rely solely on AI-generated translation without human revision, do not meet the ISO 17100 standard regardless of any certification claims. For voice-over and dubbing, the same native-speaker principle applies to voice talent: a French voice-over recorded by a non-native French speaker is identifiable to target-market listeners and damages brand credibility.
Can they handle large or technically complex translation projects?
Capacity to handle large or technically complex video localization projects is demonstrated by parallel linguist teams, in-house video engineering resource, CAT-tool and terminology management infrastructure, and a proven delivery record on projects involving multi-hour runtimes or simultaneous delivery into ten or more languages. The ISO 17100 throughput standard of 1,500–2,000 words per linguist per day is a reliable benchmark: a provider claiming to deliver 20,000 words in one language overnight without a surcharge is either skipping the QA step or misrepresenting its capacity. Scale is evidenced by systems, process and throughput numbers — not by marketing copy.
Do they have relevant case studies and awards?
Ask for case studies in your specific sector and target language pairs, sample before-and-after localized video clips, and any multilingual marketing or localization industry awards won by the provider or its clients — concrete, verifiable evidence outweighs generic claims about language coverage or years of experience. A provider with genuine depth in, say, pharmaceutical eLearning localization into Japanese will be able to discuss the regulatory terminology constraints, the reading-speed challenges of Japanese subtitle formatting and the voice-casting considerations for that market. Generalist reassurances are not a substitute for sector-specific proof points.
What types of video content can be localized?
Video content that can be localized includes 8 common formats: explainer videos, eLearning and SCORM courses, product demos, customer testimonials, webinars and conference recordings, TV and social ads, corporate CEO messages, and short-form social video (TikTok, Reels, Shorts).
| Video type | Recommended modality |
|---|---|
| Explainer video | Voice-over + subtitles |
| eLearning / SCORM | Voice-over + on-screen text |
| Product demo | Subtitles + UI localization |
| Customer testimonial | Subtitles |
| Webinar / conference | Subtitles or voice-over |
| TV or social ad | Lip-sync dubbing |
| Corporate CEO message | Voice-over + subtitles |
| Short-form social | Burnt-in captions, 9:16 |
How is eLearning video localized?
eLearning video is localized by translating narration, on-screen text, quizzes and SCORM metadata, then rebuilding interactive elements in the target language and testing playback in the LMS. See eLearning Translation Services for full LMS-ready workflows.
How are marketing and social media videos localized?
Marketing and social media videos are localized with fast-turnaround subtitles or voice-over, platform-native aspect ratios (9:16, 1:1, 16:9), and burnt-in captions that respect autoplay-muted viewing behaviour.
How are medical, legal and corporate videos localized?
Medical, legal and corporate videos are localized by ISO 17100 subject-matter translators, with terminology validation, regulatory review and secure file handling under NDA — matching the same standards as document translation. See Medical Translation Services for regulated content workflows.
Are there reliable video localization services companies in the UK?
Yes — Professional Translation Services in London UK offers ISO 17100 certified video localization services across 150+ languages, from £30 per page for script translation with same-day turnaround, backed by in-house video engineers, native-speaker voice talent and end-to-end project management. The service area covers London and UK-wide — Bristol, Edinburgh, Belfast, Leeds, Westminster, Southwark, Richmond and Hounslow — with remote delivery nationally.
What quality assurance guarantees back every project?
Every project is backed by ISO 17100 four-eyes revision, in-context video review, terminology validation against client glossaries, and a re-work guarantee at no additional cost if any linguistic issue is identified within 30 days of delivery. Quality assurance is baked into the price, not sold as an add-on.
How do I get in touch to start a video translation project?
Get in touch by uploading the original video, listing target languages and deadline, and a project manager returns a free quote within 2 working hours — kicking off transcription the same day for approved briefs. Start at Get a Free Quote.
The 6 most frequent questions about video localization services cover cost, turnaround, AI use, language coverage, YouTube handling and the difference between subtitling and dubbing — each answered below in searcher language.
Frequently asked questions
Why Choose a Fast and Professional Video Translation Service?
Speed and quality rarely come together — but the right provider delivers both. A professional video translation service combines ISO 17100 process, in-house video engineers, transparent GBP pricing and a same-day rush lane, so brand marketing, eLearning and corporate video content reach international markets without compromise on either turnaround or accuracy.
What separates a professional video translation service from a cheaper alternative:
- End-to-end video ownership — one team runs transcription, translation, recording, engineering and QA.
- ISO 17100 four-eyes review on every language pair.
- Native-speaker voice talent matched to the target locale, not a generic accent.
- GBP-priced quotes returned inside 2 working hours.
- Same-day SLA up to 10,000 words for time-critical marketing and social campaigns.
Send the original video and target languages to Get a Free Quote and a project manager will scope the video translation needs, itemise the cost and open transcription the same working day.