Certified Translation Services

Find a Certified Translator for Your Official Documents

Our partner certified translators can translate your administrative and legal documents into more than 90 languages, offering quick turnaround times. Contact us now to receive your free quote within 30 minutes.

What is Certified Translation?

In Canada, certified translation refers to a document translated by a Canadian or foreign certified translator who certifies the fidelity and accuracy of the translation in relation to the original. This certification typically takes the form of a seal or a signed statement by the translator. Translators providing this service must be active members of a provincial translation association, such as the Ordre des traducteurs, terminologues et interprètes agréés du Québec (OTTIAQ) or the Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario (ATIO).

These certified documents are processed with a high level of rigor to ensure their acceptance by governmental bodies and legal institutions. The certification not only guarantees the quality and precision of the translation but also the authenticity of the document as an accurate representation of the original. This formality is crucial for maintaining the legal validity of the translated document and for adhering to the professional standards imposed by translator associations in Canada.

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When Do You Need Certified Translation Services ?

There are numerous scenarios where certified translations are essential:

International Business Transactions: For contracts, partnership agreements, or corporate formation documents. A certified translation is often required to ensure that all parties have a clear and precise understanding of the contractual terms.
Academic Procedures: For university admissions or credential recognition abroad, where transcripts, diplomas, and recommendations must be translated and certified to be recognized by educational institutions.
Immigration and Naturalization: For documents required for immigration files, such as birth certificates, criminal records, or academic diplomas. These translations are necessary to verify the authenticity of the documents presented to immigration authorities.
Legal Procedures: For documents used in a legal context, such as court evidence, marriage certificates, wills, or divorce decrees. Certified translation services ensure that these documents are faithful to the original and accepted by judicial authorities.

At Translatis, we work with a broad network of certified translators, duly authorized by provincial translator associations. We can thus provide your certified translations quickly, in more than 90 languages and dialects worldwide!

How to Find a Certified Translator for Your Project?

In Quebec

Only OTTIAQ members can provide certified translations. You can find a certified translator in Quebec on the OTTIAQ website or by directly contacting our translation agency. We can also provide legalization or apostille of your translations through our partner certified translators.

In Ontario

Only ATIO members or those recognized by similar associations can offer certified translations. ATIO offers an online directory on its website to find certified translators in the province. Translatis also assists you with your official translation and in your legalization and apostille procedures.

In British Columbia

Translations must be certified by a member of the Society of Translators and Interpreters of British Columbia (STIBC). The STIBC website provides a way to search for certified translators in British Columbia by specialization and language. You also have the option to contact our company to receive your free, no-obligation quote in less than 30 minutes.

In Alberta

Translations must be certified by a member of the Association of Translators and Interpreters of Alberta (ATIA). ATIA maintains an online directory of its members, allowing you to search for certified translators by language and service. Translatis also performs your official translation through a certified translator authorized in Alberta (certified translator in Calgary, Edmonton, and many other cities).

For all other provinces, do not hesitate to contact us directly by attaching the documents to be translated. Our project managers will then return the appropriate quote to you as soon as possible.

What Does a Certified Translation Look Like?

A certified translation is distinguished by several elements that attest to its authenticity and compliance with the original document. It usually includes a signed statement by the translator or the translation agency, certifying that the translation is a faithful and accurate representation of the source document. This statement may include the translator’s name, qualifications, the date of the translation, and the official stamp of the professional association to which they belong.

The translated document itself may include both the original text and its translation, often presented in a way that facilitates comparison between the two versions. Additionally, it might carry a unique reference number, contact information for the translator or the agency, and sometimes even a security seal to prevent falsification. These elements ensure that the translation can be used in formal contexts where accuracy and authenticity are crucial.

official translation by a certified translator

While our certified translation services are generally performed in paper format and sent by mail, we can also send a copy of the translation directly via email. This allows you to save valuable time during your online procedures, which are increasingly common today.

When is Legalization or an Apostille of Documents Necessary?

Sometimes, certified translation services alone are not sufficient to authenticate a document’s content. Additional services may be required:

Document Legalization

Legalization is necessary when you need to present a document issued in one country to an authority in another country. This process verifies the authenticity of the document’s signature, the capacity in which the person signing the document acted, and, if necessary, the identity of the seal or stamp on the document. Legalization is often required for civil status documents, notarial acts, judicial documents, and official documents used in international transactions or legal proceedings abroad.

The Apostille

The Apostille simplifies the legalization process for countries that are signatories to the Hague Convention of 1961. An apostilled document is recognized without the need for further legalization in all member countries of the convention. The apostille certifies the truth of the signature and seal and is frequently used for academic documents, marriage certificates, international adoption documents, and other official documents that must be accepted abroad in countries adhering to this convention.

Translatis, a Unique Network to Find a Certified Translator in Canada

For over 40 years, our translation company has been assisting businesses and individuals with administrative or legal formalities in a foreign country. After the translation, legalization or an apostille may be necessary to legally validate the certified translation in an international context, ensuring that the documents are accepted as legitimate by foreign authorities in accordance with international agreements like the Hague Convention. Our agency boasts solid expertise in all these stages and supports you in all your international projects. Do not hesitate to contact us today to find out how we can assist you.

Receive Your Official Documents Translated Quickly

Delivery times are often crucial for official translations as they can significantly impact the progression of legal, administrative, or commercial processes for which the documents are required. A delivery delay can lead to consequences such as penalties, lost opportunities, or delays in important procedures like immigration processes or international transactions.

That’s why Translatis always makes sure to meet the deadlines agreed upon at your request. When you have urgent needs, we can deliver your certified translations very quickly, often within a few hours. Please do not hesitate to contact us for any needs so that we can assist you with your administrative and official formalities.

Examples of Documents That Require Certified Translation

Personal Documents

Birth Certificate
Marriage Certificate
Divorce Decree
Death Certificate
Passport
Driver’s License
Adoption Papers
Medical Records
Education Certificates (diplomas, transcripts)
Immigration Documents
Naturalization Papers
Will and Testaments
Police Clearance Certificate
Identity Cards
Child Custody Documents
Property Deeds and Contracts
Insurance Documents
Visa Applications
Will and Estates

Business & Corporate Documents

Business Contracts
Articles of Incorporation
Financial Statements
Audit Reports
Corporate Bylaws
Affidavits
Patents and Intellectual Property Rights
Legal Correspondence
Company Registration Documents
Employee Manuals
Technical Manuals
Commercial Invoices
Bank Statements
Insurance Policies
Memorandum of Understanding
Annual Reports
Board Meeting Minutes
Business Licenses and Permits
Marketing Materials

FAQs About Our Certified Translation Services

How do certified translation services work?

Certified translation services begin with sending the original document to the translator or translation agency. The translator, certified by a recognized professional association, then translates the text while preserving the entirety and accuracy of the content. Finally, the translation is certified with a signed statement and often an official stamp, attesting to its conformity with the original. It is then delivered to you by mail or email, depending on your needs.

What is the benefit of a certified translation?

The benefit of a certified translation lies in its ability to provide an official guarantee of the accuracy and fidelity of the translation compared to the original document. It is essential for administrative, legal, or academic procedures where verification of document authenticity is required. This ensures that the translated documents are recognized and accepted by the competent authorities without dispute.

In which languages can you translate my documents?

We can translate your documents into many languages, totaling over 90 languages and dialects worldwide. You can consult the page dedicated to the languages we translate here. If you do not find the language you need on our list, please do not hesitate to contact us so we can find a solution for your project.

How do you guarantee the quality of your certified translation services?

At Translatis, all your translations are performed by certified translators duly authorized by official bodies. Certified translators are recruited by provincial translator associations after meeting strict criteria, which generally include passing competency exams, earning degrees in translation or related fields, and accumulating professional experience. These criteria ensure that the translators have the necessary skills to provide quality, professionally certified translations.

How long will it take to receive my translations?

This depends on your desired deadline requirements. Generally, at Translatis, we provide our certified translation services quickly. Expect 3 to 4 days for the translation of a standard document. However, if your request is specific or if you need to obtain your official translation quickly, we can offer our emergency package. With an additional fee for rapid execution of the project, we can deliver your translated documents in just a few hours. Your translations can then be picked up at our local offices in Vancouver, Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, Quebec, Edmonton, Calgary, St. John’s, Halifax, Regina, Saskatoon…

Is it mandatory to entrust my official translation to a certified translator from the province where I live?

No, it is not mandatory to entrust your official translation to a certified translator from the province where you live. You can choose a certified translator from any Canadian province, as long as they are a member in good standing of a recognized professional association in Canada. We work with professionals authorized in Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and many other Canadian provinces. This ensures that the translation will be recognized and valid at the national level.

In what format will I receive my certified translation?

A certified translation is usually received in paper form, on which the translator affixes their signature and professional stamp, in accordance with legal requirements. This document may also include an official letterhead, the certification statement, and sometimes a security seal. It is essential that this paper format be used, especially for official or legal uses, where the originality of the document is required. In other cases, particularly for online formalities, a scanned copy of the translation may suffice. However, it is advisable to inquire about the type of translation required and always ensure that your official translation has been performed by an accredited expert.

Translatis, the Specialist in International Procedures at Your Service

No matter your needs and the destination country for your administrative and legal formalities, Translatis is ready to support you in making your project a success. We answer all your questions about how to translate your documents and what types of authentication are necessary for your translations, depending on the target country.

Please note, in some cases, the type of translation requested by your interlocutors may be specific. For this reason, before asking us for a quote, be sure to inquire about the type of service demanded by the foreign authorities and institutions you are dealing with!

Learn More About Our Certified Translation Services

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