Submitting a foreign-language document in Ireland, or sending a Irish document abroad? Start with the direction: the translation, certification, and apostille rules are not the same.
Requirements reviewed by Natalia Vega
Senior Certified Translation Reviewer · Last verified June 2026
Reviewed June 2026 · Natalia Vega
Ireland follows a certified-translation standard: a document not in English or Irish needs a certified translation by a professional translator or company, with a signed statement of accuracy. Government departments, universities, and the courts accept this — there is no sworn-translator system. Ireland has been in the Hague Apostille Convention since 1999, so an Irish document used abroad is apostilled by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
Confirm final requirements with the authority receiving the document.
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From $24.95/page · signed certification included
Quick reference
Confirm final requirements with the authority receiving the document.
| Translation standard | Certified translation |
|---|---|
| Who can translate | Professional translator or translation company providing certification |
| Apostille | When the receiving authority requires authentication; separate from translation |
| Apostille authority | The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Authentications service. |
| Accepted languages | English or Irish (Gaeilge) |
| Responsible authority | Department of Foreign Affairs (Ireland) |
Official-use requirements
The local certification system, who may translate, and what gives the finished document legal effect.
Cross-border authentication
Ireland is part of the Hague Apostille Convention (since 1999), so public documents are authenticated with a single apostille — no consular legalization.
From Ireland
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Authentications service.Ireland has been a party to the Convention since 1999.
Toward Ireland
A U.S. document going to Ireland is apostilled in the United States — the state Secretary of State, or the U.S. Department of State for federal documents — and submitted with a certified English translation only if it is not already in English.
When the receiving authority requires an apostille on the original, obtain it before translation so the apostille certificate can be translated too. See how apostilles work, or order a certified translation.
Submission checklist
The translation must be complete, covering stamps and seals as well as the body text, with a signed statement of accuracy.
Irish authorities accept a translation certified by a professional translator or company showing the statement, date, and contact details.
File them with the relevant department, the university, or the court.
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Certified for USCIS, universities, and credential evaluators — from $24.95/page.
Two directions, two rulebooks
Choose the destination first. It determines the language, certification, and whether an apostille belongs in the packet.
Authorities in Ireland accept certified English translations with a signed Certificate of Accuracy. We translate from 65+ languages with 24-hour delivery.
A U.S. document going to Ireland is apostilled in the United States — the state Secretary of State, or the U.S. Department of State for federal documents — and submitted with a certified English translation only if it is not already in English.
Common document types
The document types we certify most often — each with its own pricing and requirements page.
Avoid preventable delays
The mistakes we see most often on Irish documents — and what a correct certified translation does instead.
Irish bodies expect a signed statement of accuracy with the translator's or company's name and contact details; a bare translation is returned.
The certified translation must render the whole document, including stamps and seals.
A translation by the applicant is not accepted; it must come from an independent professional translator or company.
Clear per-page pricing
A one-page certificate is priced as a single page; multi-page records are priced by their page count. Standard translation delivery is 24 hours for most 1–3 page orders. Notarization, hard-copy mailing, and apostille service are priced separately because their timelines differ.
Certified translation from
One physical source page, any length.
Start my translation See all pricing and add-onsQuestions people ask before submitting
A certified translation by a professional translator or company, with a signed statement of accuracy. Ireland has no sworn-translator system, so a US-style certified translation is accepted.
what a certified translation isYes, since 1999. An Irish public document used abroad is apostilled by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), not legalized at a consulate.
how apostilles workWe translate from 60+ languages into English, each with a signed certification, for documents going to Irish government departments, universities, and courts.
languages we translateYes. A certified English translation submitted with the original transcript and diploma is accepted by Irish universities for admission and qualification recognition.
transcript translationGenerally no — a signed certification is enough for most Irish bodies. Notarization is available as an add-on if a specific office requests it.
certified vs notarizedPricing is per page. A one-page certificate is a single page; multi-page records are priced by page count.
see live pricingNo. The translation must come from an independent professional translator or company and be certified.
what a certified translation isInformation verified against official sources. Last verified June 2026.
