Who can certify a translation in the UK?

The short answer

Any translator or translation company can certify a translation in the UK, because GOV.UK defines certification by what the statement says rather than by who signs it. The statement must confirm the translation is a true and accurate translation of the original, give the date, and give the full name and contact details of the translator or of a representative of the translation company. No licence, court registration or state exam exists. What the receiving body is relying on is that the person is identifiable and answerable for the translation.

Professional bodies and their seals

Three UK bodies are mentioned most often:

• ITI (Institute of Translation and Interpreting): qualified members (MITI, FITI) and corporate members may affix an ITI certification seal.
• CIOL (Chartered Institute of Linguists): members and Chartered Linguists self-certify; CIOL confirms there is no state-accredited sworn translator system.
• ATC (Association of Translation Companies): accredited member companies may use the ATC certification stamp.

These seals are a mark of membership. They are not a legal requirement and no UK public body lists them as a condition. The Home Office does not keep an approved-translator list at all. Hacettepe Translation is not a member of ITI, CIOL or ATC; our credentials are a company registered in Ankara since 2008 that works with notary-sworn translators, and those details appear on every certificate we issue. See credentials and company registration.

The “qualified translator” line for leave to remain

For leave to remain and indefinite leave to remain under Appendix FM, the Immigration Rules add a requirement: certification by a qualified translator and details of the translator's or translation company's credentials. The rule does not define “qualified” by reference to any body. In practice it means the certificate should state who the translator or company is and what stands behind them: legal name, registration, address, signature. A bare signature with a mobile number is the kind of certificate that gets queried. Our certificate page is built around this paragraph; see translations for ILR.

Who cannot certify

• You, the applicant, even if you are bilingual. The Home Office requires a translation that it can independently verify, and UCAS says it will not accept translations by the applicant. See Can I translate my own documents?
• A relative or friend with no professional standing. There is no written ban, but the translation cannot be verified independently and is likely to be refused.
• A UK notary public or solicitor, as a translator. They can certify a translator's signature (notarisation) or a copy of a document, but they do not certify accuracy unless they are also the translator.
• A Turkish notary, for UK purposes. The notary certifies the sworn translator's signature in Turkish; the GOV.UK statement in English still has to be there.

Special cases

Some bodies add conditions on top of GOV.UK. The GMC asks that the translation be made directly from the original language, be complete, and be stamped and signed with the translator's or service's contact details. The civil courts (Practice Direction 32) want the translator to sign the original witness statement and certify the translation. Register offices in England and Wales simply want a translation of anything not in English when you give notice of marriage. Tell us the purpose and we adapt the certificate to it.

How to check a certifier

1. Is there a full name, address, telephone and e-mail on the certificate?
2. Is the company real? For us: Hacettepe Tercüme Ltd. Şti., Ankara Trade Registry no. 256268.
3. Is the statement dated and signed?
4. Does it cover every page of the translation?