There are increasingly more opportunities internationally for people to work and collaborate on projects. If it implies moving to another country, you will probably have to fill lots of paperwork and provide certified documents to the authorities where you will be living next. Not only will these legal documents need to be apostilled, but they will also have to be translated into the official language of your future residence. Here is what you need to know when it comes to translating legal documents.
Legal Documents for Use in Foreign Countries Should Be Apostilled
The first thing that you should do, if you are planning to move abroad, is to request a few legal documents with an apostille. In a foreign country, this apostille is added by a governmental agency and is meant to certify its authenticity. It is recognized in all countries having signed the Hague Treaty. You should consider having your birth certificate apostilled, and other documents that could be required for your residency papers and anything related to work or studies that you will be doing once you get there. However, this may not be sufficient. If the official language of the country where you are going to live is different than yours, you may have to proceed to a certified translation. Thankfully, One Source Process can help you with apostille and translation of documents, so that you don’t have to double your work.
What Is a Certified Translation?
When you present the translation of a legal document, you can’t simply do it by yourself or ask a friend to do the work. A certified translation has to be signed and stamped by a professional translator. This is how it guarantees that the translation is an accurate and complete representation of the source document, which is what authorities are looking for. In fact, the certification is meant to ensure that the translated document meets the official requirements for legal and administrative purposes. When you are required to provide a certified translation to authorities of a foreign country, you should enquire on the certification process that they expect, as it may vary depending on the country and the type of document. However, it usually involves a statement by the certified translator in a cover letter attesting to the accuracy of the translation. It should also provide information about their qualification as a professional translator.
Who can write a Certified Translation?
A certified translation can only be done by a professional translator. Becoming a certified translator generally involves passing an exam at the end of specific studies that demonstrate the capacity to translate in a target language. It also requires adhering to professional ethics and standards. These requirements may be put in place by a government agency or by a professional association of translators, depending on the country of the translator. Still, if you need a certified translation, it is important to verify first that the translation company is authorized to provide certified translations and that they hold experience in regards to translating the type of document that you need. Otherwise, you could be paying for a service that won’t be of use. Worse, your request may be rejected or postponed until you have another translation of the document done. That is why it is always better to trust companies with years of experience in the field of legal documents, such as One Source Process.
When is a Certified Translation needed?
When you move to a country where the official language is different than in your home country, it is most probable that all legal documents required by authorities will need a certified translation. It is usually the case for official documents such as birth certificates, marriage licenses, ID cards and academic transcripts, which are documents that are used for official purposes such as immigration, employment or academic admissions. Other legal documents that need to be submitted to governmental or judicial entities may also need to go through the same translation process, including any legal proceedings that involve the presentation of official documents in a different language.
It is important to note that certified translations are usually more expensive than regular ones. The cost varies depending on the document, language and length of the translation.
In conclusion, let’s insist on the fact that when you need a certified translation, it is not only essential to hire a certified translator to ensure that the translation is accurate and complete, but also to choose a company that has been working in certification of legal documents for a while. Otherwise, it may delay the process that you are going through, if the documents are rejected by the authorities of the country.