Certified and professional translation
Apostilles are often requested when documents will be used abroad. Translator London helps you prepare accurate translations connected with UK legalisation requirements, while making clear that translation and the apostille are different services. If an overseas authority specifies that a translation must be certified, notarised or apostilled, send us its wording before placing the order.
Overseas property transactions, marriage registration, professional licensing, company incorporation and study abroad are common situations. Supporting papers may include degree certificates, corporate documents, powers of attorney, birth or marriage records and official extracts. What needs translation, and which signatures need legalisation, depends on the country and destination authority.
An apostille authenticates eligible official signatures or seals; translation makes content readable in another language. A recipient may need one, both or neither. Clarify what document must be authenticated before ordering an apostille-related translation.
The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Legalisation Office checks certain signatures, seals or stamps on eligible UK documents and issues an apostille. It does not generally certify that a translated passage is linguistically correct. Foreign-issued originals must normally be legalised in their issuing country. An apostille may be paper-based or electronic for eligible documents, and some categories are excluded from e-Apostille.
For the official process, consult the relevant GOV.UK guidance alongside the instructions issued by your receiving organisation.
The order of translation, notarisation and legalisation can matter. Our apostille versus legalisation guide explains how these processes differ. Some destinations want the original authenticated, while others ask for authentication of a signed translator declaration. A scan alone may be insufficient for certain steps.
A client sending a UK-issued power of attorney to an overseas registry may first need to confirm the wording with the recipient, have the appropriate signature witnessed, obtain any required certified translation and arrange legalisation of the eligible UK document. Apostilling the wrong version of the document is an avoidable cost.
Translating an apostille certificate is not the same as obtaining one. For example, a foreign company registry may need an apostilled UK record and a translation of every attached page, including endorsements.
Check the FCDO Legalisation Office’s current instructions for eligible documents and any prerequisite notarial act. Ask the destination authority if it requires a translated apostille, a notarised translation, or a locally sworn translator.
Check the completed translation against the document you supplied. Names, reference numbers and significant annotations should be consistent with the source.
Do not assume the document and its translation automatically receive one apostille together. Check whether the destination recognises a Hague Convention apostille or needs additional consular attestation. Requirements can change, and not every original can use the electronic service.
Ordering legalisation of the wrong item is an avoidable expense. Obtain the recipient’s written requirements before arranging a notary or authenticating a translation.
No. A translation communicates content between languages, while an apostille authenticates qualifying signatures or seals. They may both be required.
Generally the UK Legalisation Office processes eligible UK documents, not original documents issued overseas. Check the issuing country’s legalisation process.
Some documents or recipients require paper. GOV.UK lists exclusions from the electronic option; check both the document category and recipient instructions.
The organisation in the destination country. Ask for written instructions before ordering optional steps.
Pricing depends on length, language direction, specialist vocabulary, urgency, formatting and any separate certification or delivery requirements. Upload the document for an assessment instead of relying on generic pricing that may not cover your particular need.
See our certified translation service, translation services overview and birth certificate translations for adjacent document requirements.
Upload the original, tell us who will receive the translation and specify any deadline. The order can then be assessed against the actual document rather than assumptions about its format or use.
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