Document Translation Requirements in the United Kingdom
Official bodies in the United Kingdom generally require a certified translation of foreign-language documents, and many documents also need an apostille or legalization before they are translated. Below: who can translate, when an apostille is needed, and where the official rules are published.
The United Kingdom follows a certified-translation standard: a document not in English needs a certified translation by a professional translator or company, carrying a statement that it is accurate, the date, and the translator's name and contact details. The Home Office, universities, and courts accept this — there is no sworn-translator system. The UK has been in the Hague Apostille Convention since 1965, so a UK document used abroad is apostilled by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
United Kingdom requirements at a glance
| Translation standard | Certified translation |
|---|---|
| Who can translate | Professional translator or translation company providing certification |
| Apostille | No, unless the document will be used abroad |
| Apostille authority | The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Legalisation Office. |
| Accepted languages | English or Welsh (depending on authority) |
| Responsible authority | UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) |
Who can translate documents for use in the United Kingdom?
What makes a translation official in the United Kingdom?
How does the United Kingdom treat documents from abroad?
Legal basis
Apostille & legalization for the United Kingdom
United Kingdom is part of the Hague Apostille Convention (since 1965), so public documents are authenticated with a single apostille — no consular legalization.
Documents from the United Kingdom
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Legalisation Office.The United Kingdom has been a party to the Convention since 1965.
U.S. documents going to the United Kingdom
A U.S. document going to the UK 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.
The apostille should be obtained before the translation, so the apostille certificate is translated too. See how apostilles work, or order a translation with e-apostille.
How to get a the United Kingdom document translation accepted
- 1
Order a certified English translation of any non-English document
The translation must be complete, covering stamps and seals as well as the body text.
- 2
Check the certification carries the required elements
UK guidance asks for a statement that the translation is accurate, the date, and the translator's or company's full name and contact details.
- 3
Submit the original plus the certified translation
File them with the Home Office, the university, or the court.
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Submitting foreign documents in the United Kingdom?
Authorities in the United Kingdom accept certified English translations with a signed Certificate of Accuracy. We translate from 60+ languages with delivery in 24–48 hours.
Sending U.S. documents to the United Kingdom?
U.S.-issued documents usually need an apostille before they can be used in the United Kingdom — and the apostille should be obtained before the translation, so the certificate itself gets translated too. We offer e-apostille processing as an add-on to any order.
Popular certified translations
The document types we certify most often — each with its own pricing and requirements page.
Why the United Kingdom document translations get rejected
The mistakes we see most often on British documents — and what a correct certified translation does instead.
Certification missing required elements
UK guidance requires the statement of accuracy, the date, and the translator's name and contact details; omitting any of these can cause the translation to be refused.
Only part of the document translated
A certified translation must render the whole document, including stamps and seals — not just the main text.
Self-translation submitted
A translation by the applicant is not accepted; it must come from an independent professional translator or company.
Cost & turnaround
A one-page certificate is priced as a single page; multi-page records are priced by their page count. Standard delivery is 24–48 hours, with notarization and e-apostille available as add-ons. See full pricing.
United Kingdom translation requirements — FAQ
Does the UK Home Office accept a certified translation?
Yes. The UK uses certified translations — there is no sworn-translator system. A translation by a professional translator or company, with a statement of accuracy, the date, and contact details, is accepted.
what a certified translation isWhat must a UK certified translation include?
UK government guidance asks the translation to confirm that it is an accurate translation of the original, and to show the date and the translator's or company's full name and contact details.
Certificate of Accuracy explainedIs Britain in the Hague Apostille Convention?
Yes, since 1965. A UK public document used abroad is apostilled by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Legalisation Office, not at a consulate.
how apostilles workWhich languages do you translate for the UK?
We translate from 60+ languages into English, each with a compliant certification, for documents going to the Home Office, UK universities, and UK courts.
languages we translateDo UK universities accept these translations?
Yes. A certified English translation submitted with the original transcript and diploma is accepted by UK universities and UK ENIC for qualification recognition.
transcript translationHow much does a certified translation for the UK cost?
Pricing is per page. A one-page certificate is a single page; multi-page records are priced by page count. Notarization and e-apostille are optional add-ons.
see live pricingCan I translate my own documents for the Home Office?
No. The translation must be done by an independent professional translator or company and certified; a self-translation is not accepted.
what a certified translation isRequirements in related countries
Neighbors and countries with a similar translation standard.
Sources
- Certifying a document / certified translationsGOV.UK
- Get a document legalised (apostille via FCDO)GOV.UK (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office)
- Apostille Convention — specialised sectionHague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH)
Information verified against official sources. Last verified June 2026.
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