Key Points
- Send the original document and the translation together.
- The translation must be complete, not a summary.
- The translator must confirm accuracy and give their details.
- Marriage and divorce certificates are the documents most often affected.
What a certified translation must include
- Confirmation from the translator that it is an accurate translation of the original document
- The date of the translation
- The translator's full name and signature
- The translator's contact details
Documents that commonly need translating
- Marriage certificates
- Divorce decrees and death certificates of former spouses
- Birth certificates of children
- Overseas payslips, bank statements and employment letters
- Police or court documents
Common mistakes
Where a name is transliterated in more than one way across your documents, explain it in a short note.
- Translating the document yourself or asking a relative
- Translating only the parts that seem important
- Leaving stamps, seals and handwritten notes untranslated
- Names spelt differently in the translation and the passport
Official Sources
This page is general information, not legal advice. The rules and figures are set by the Home Office and can change.