Certified Translation for the Home Office
The Home Office accepts a translation when it is a full, accurate English translation with a signed statement from a professional translator or translation company confirming it is accurate. TranslationsInLondon, a London-based ITI Corporate Member agency founded in 2010, provides certified translations in 220+ languages that meet these requirements.
What the Home Office requires
Any document submitted to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) that is not in English or Welsh must come with a full translation that includes:
- Confirmation from the translator or company that it is an accurate translation of the original
- The date of the translation
- The translator’s or company’s full name and signature
- The translator’s or company’s contact details
Every certified translation from TranslationsInLondon comes with a signed Certificate of Translation Accuracy on company letterhead that covers all of the above, countersigned by our Director.
Certified or notarised: which do I need?
📄 Certified translation
Accepted for most Home Office and UKVI applications: visas, settlement (ILR) and British citizenship. Includes our signed Certificate of Translation Accuracy.
⚖️ Notarised translation
The translator’s declaration is witnessed by a notary public. Usually only needed for some overseas authorities, courts or legal processes. See our notarised translation service.
Not sure? Ask the organisation receiving your documents, or message us and we’ll advise.
Documents we translate for UK immigration
Civil records
Birth, marriage, divorce and death certificates
Education
Degree certificates and academic transcripts
Identity
Passports, ID cards and driving licences
Financial
Bank statements, payslips and employment letters
Police records
Police clearance and criminal record certificates
Legal
Court orders, adoption papers and powers of attorney
How it works
Send your documents
A clear scan or photo of each page, by email or WhatsApp.
Get your quote
We confirm the price and timing before we start.
Translated & checked
A qualified native-speaking translator translates, and a second linguist reviews.
Receive & submit
Your translation and signed certificate as a PDF, with paper copies posted if you need them.
All translations are done by qualified human translators. We never use machine translation or AI for client work. Supporting a client? See our service for immigration solicitors and advisers.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Home Office accept translations from any agency?
The Home Office does not keep a list of approved translators. It accepts translations that meet the requirements above. Using a professional agency that belongs to a recognised body, such as the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI), gives caseworkers extra confidence.
Can a friend or family member translate my documents?
It is not recommended. Caseworkers can question translations done by the applicant or someone close to them. An independent professional translation avoids delays.
Do I need to send the original document?
No. We work from clear scans or photos. You submit your original documents to UKVI together with our certified translation, as your application instructs.
How much does a certified translation cost?
Standard certified translations can be ordered online, priced per page. Longer or more complex documents are quoted individually. Contact us or send a WhatsApp for a quote.
Need a translation for your application?
Send us a photo of your document on WhatsApp and we’ll reply with a quote. Read more about our certified translation services in London.