Urgent Certified Translation UK

Notarised translation · UK

Notarised Translation UK – Notary Translation Services

Need a notarised translation for use in the UK or overseas? We coordinate certified document translation with a notary public stage when the receiving authority requires it. Upload your complete document and the recipient’s instructions to start your order. We confirm the correct route, full price and delivery arrangements before work begins.

  • Requirement checked before work starts
  • Translation and notary stages coordinated
  • 100+ languages
  • Digital and hard-copy options
Requirement checked firstShare the authority’s wording before the route is confirmed
Complete translationVisible and legible content translated and reviewed
Notary stage coordinatedRelevant declaration/signature prepared for authentication
Quote before work startsTranslation and notary costs confirmed after review
Direct answer

Do You Actually Need a Notarised Translation?

Use the exact wording supplied by the organisation receiving your documents. If its instructions are unclear, send them with the file rather than adding extra formalities by assumption.

Notarisation may be required if the instructions say:

  • Notarised translation
  • Translation certified before a notary
  • Translator declaration witnessed or notarised
  • Notarised signature
  • Notarial certificate
What the notary does

What Does a Notary Actually Authenticate?

A notarised translation normally starts with the professional translation and its certification statement. The notary stage then authenticates the relevant declaration, signature or execution of that certification. For more detail about this distinction, see our guide to what a notary verifies in a translation.

A notary does not automatically re-translate or verify every translated word.

The translator is responsible for linguistic accuracy. The notary carries out the specific notarial act agreed for the document, which may involve witnessing a declaration, verifying a signature or issuing a notarial certificate. This is not the same as independently checking every translated word. Read the Faculty Office’s explanation of a notary’s role.

Translator

Produces the translation and handles the linguistic work.

Certification

Confirms the agreed translation statement and identifying details.

Notary

Authenticates the relevant signature, declaration or execution for the notarial stage.

Different formalities

Certified, Notarised, Sworn and Apostilled Are Different

Choose the route requested by the receiving authority rather than assuming that additional formalities make a translation “more valid”.

Certified Translation

Common UK route for official translated documents, supplied with the agreed certification statement.

Certified translation →

Sworn Translation

Depends on translator status recognised under a particular overseas legal system.

Sworn translation →
Common documents

Documents Commonly Requested with a Notary Stage

The documents below are examples, not a list of cases where notarisation is mandatory. Confirm whether the recipient needs the original, a certified translation, a notarial certificate or further legalisation.

Personal & civil

  • Birth certificates
  • Marriage certificates
  • Divorce documents
  • Death certificates
  • Declarations and affidavits

Legal

  • Powers of attorney
  • Court documents
  • Witness statements
  • Contracts
  • Notarial records

Academic & business

  • Degrees and diplomas
  • Academic transcripts
  • Company records
  • Board resolutions
  • Commercial documents
Four clear steps

How Notarised Translation Works

The notary stage is coordinated only after the document and receiving authority’s requirements have been reviewed.

01

Send the document

Upload the complete file together with any authority instructions.

02

Confirm the route

We check whether certified translation alone is enough or a notary stage is required.

03

Translate & certify

The translation is completed and prepared with the required certification wording.

04

Complete notary stage

The relevant declaration, signature or execution is presented for the agreed notarial step.

What to send

What We Need to Quote a Notarised Translation

Notary work cannot be priced accurately from page count alone. Send enough information to identify the correct route.

The document

Complete scan or PDF, including reverse pages, stamps, seals, signatures and attachments.

The receiving authority

Tell us the court, embassy, consulate, notary, company, university or overseas authority receiving it.

The exact wording

Send any instruction mentioning notarised, witnessed, certified, apostilled, legalised or sworn.

The deadline & delivery method

Tell us whether the authority requires a digital copy, posted original, wet signature or courier delivery.

Pricing

How Much Does a Notarised Translation Cost?

Standard certified translation rates published on our pricing page start from £40 per page. Notarisation is an additional formality, so the complete translation-and-notary total is confirmed after the document and authority instructions are reviewed.

Translation starting point

Suitable certified personal documents can start from £40 per page before any notarial stage is added.

Important: £40/page is the published certified-translation starting price, not an all-inclusive notarised-translation fee. Additional notary, apostille and delivery charges depend on the document and recipient.
Notary + apostille

Do You Need an Apostille After Notarisation?

Sometimes. Notarisation and apostille legalisation are separate processes. The appropriate sequence depends on the document, destination country and receiving authority. GOV.UK explains that the Legalisation Office checks eligible UK signatures, stamps and seals rather than translation accuracy. Check the official legalisation guidance.

1. Translation

The document is translated.

2. Certification

The agreed translation statement is prepared.

3. Notary

The relevant signature/declaration is authenticated where required.

4. Apostille

Legalisation is added only where the receiving authority requires it.

Originals & signatures

Do You Need to Send the Original Document?

A clear scan or photograph is normally enough for initial review and pricing. The final notarial stage may require an original, certified copy, wet signature or physical document depending on the notary and receiving authority.

For the initial quote

Send a clear complete scan or PDF together with the receiving authority’s instructions.

For the final notary stage

We confirm whether originals, wet signatures or hard-copy documents are required before that stage is arranged.

Before you order

Notarised Translation FAQs

What is a notarised translation in the UK?
A notarised translation normally combines the professional translation and certification with an additional notary stage that authenticates the relevant declaration, signature or execution.
Does the notary check every translated word?
Not automatically. The translator is responsible for the linguistic work. The notary’s role is generally the authentication of the relevant declaration, signature or execution rather than independently re-translating the document.
Is a notarised translation accepted by every authority?
No provider can decide acceptance for every receiving organisation. Requirements vary, so the current written instructions should be checked before work starts.
Is notarisation the same as an apostille?
No. Notarisation and apostille/legalisation are separate processes. An apostille should be added only when the receiving authority requires that additional legalisation stage.
Is notarised translation the same as sworn translation?
No. Notarised translation involves a notary stage. Sworn translation depends on translator status recognised under a particular overseas jurisdiction.
How much does notarised translation cost?
Standard certified translation rates can start from £40 per page, but notarisation is an additional formality. The complete quote is confirmed after the document, notarial requirement, delivery method and any legalisation steps are reviewed.
Do I need to send the original document?
A clear scan is normally enough for initial review. The notary stage may require an original, certified copy, wet signature or physical document depending on the requirement.
Can any solicitor notarise a translation?
Not necessarily. In England and Wales, a notary public is a separately regulated legal professional, and a solicitor who is not also a notary cannot perform notarial acts. Some recipients accept solicitor certification instead, but you should check the wording they specify.
Does notarisation guarantee acceptance overseas?
No. The receiving organisation decides which document form it accepts. It may additionally require an apostille, embassy legalisation or a translator with particular qualifications. Check the destination’s written requirements before ordering.
Can you arrange notarisation and apostille together?
Where both are genuinely required, the stages can be coordinated around the receiving authority’s instructions. The sequence depends on the document and what is being authenticated or legalised.

Send the document and the authority’s wording first.

Upload your document and the authority’s written requirements. We’ll confirm whether you need certified translation alone, a UK notary stage, apostille/legalisation or another route, together with the full price and available delivery arrangements.

Start Your Order
Start Your Order