Frequently asked questions
Answers about certified translation in the UK, sworn translation, apostille, embassy legalisation, document retrieval, interpreting, prices and delivery.
Why don't you publish prices?
Prices depend on the language pair, the type and length of the document, the deadline and any certification or legalisation required. Rather than a price list that rarely matches your case, we send a fixed quote for your actual documents, free of charge.
What is a certified translation in the UK?
A complete translation accompanied by a signed statement from the translation company confirming it is a true and accurate translation of the original, with the date and the translator's full name and contact details. It is the format required by the Home Office and accepted by most UK institutions.
What is the difference between a certified and a sworn translation?
A certified translation is certified by a translation company, which is the UK practice. A sworn translation is made by a translator appointed by a court or ministry in countries such as France, Poland, Spain or Italy. We provide both, depending on where the document will be used.
Do you need my original documents?
For translation, a clear scan or photo is almost always enough. For apostilles and embassy legalisation, we usually need the original or a certified copy; we tell you exactly what to send.
What is an apostille and who issues it in the UK?
An apostille is a certificate confirming the signature or seal on a public document. In the UK it is issued by the FCDO Legalisation Office, and it is accepted in all countries that are party to the Hague Apostille Convention.
My destination country does not accept apostilles. What now?
The document then needs embassy or consulate legalisation, usually after the FCDO apostille. We handle the whole chain, including submission at the embassy in London.
How long does a certified translation take?
Short standard documents such as certificates are often ready within a few working days; longer documents take more time. Your quote always states a delivery date, and urgent requests are possible.
How do I receive my translation?
As a certified PDF by email and, when an authority requires it, as a signed hard copy by tracked post to any address in the UK or abroad.
Can you obtain a certificate I no longer have?
Yes. We order certified copies from the GRO, National Records of Scotland, GRONI and Companies House, and from registries abroad through our international network.
Is my data safe?
Your documents are used only to prepare your quote and your order, shared only with the linguists and partners working on it, and handled in line with UK GDPR.
What we do
One contact for the whole chain: translation, certification, legalisation and delivery.
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Certified translation
Translations with a signed statement of accuracy, accepted by the Home Office, HM Passport Office, courts, universities and banks.
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Apostille
We prepare your documents and obtain the apostille from the FCDO Legalisation Office for use in Hague Convention countries.
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Embassy and consulate legalisation
For countries outside the Apostille Convention, we take your documents through every step up to the embassy or consulate stamp.
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Document retrieval
We order the official documents you need from UK and foreign registries, so they arrive ready for translation and legalisation.
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Interpreting
Face-to-face, telephone and video interpreters for legal, medical, civil and business appointments.
Request a free quote
Prices depend on the language, the document and the deadline, so every quote is prepared individually. Attach your document and we will reply by email with a fixed price and a delivery date.