Need a Notarized Translation for the US? How to Get One from the UK

In the UK, a certified translation stands on the translator's own statement of accuracy. Many American institutions like an extra layer of formality on top: a notary public verifies the identity of the person signing that certification and adds their seal. It's a check on the signature, not the language. The notary won't read your Polish birth certificate, and nobody expects them to.

That's why the translation underneath still matters most. A notarized translation with a mistake in the date of birth is still a translation with a mistake in it, just with a nicer seal. We explain the three systems side by side in certified vs notarised translation.

This is where a lot of money gets wasted. Immigration forums are full of advice to notarize everything for a green card or citizenship application, but the USCIS rule only asks for the translator's certification. Our certified translation for USCIS meets it without a notary.

The same goes for UKVI: a certified translation with a statement of accuracy is all the Home Office wants, and our guide on notarisation for UKVI explains why. Notarization is worth paying for only when the institution receiving the document asks for it.

Each institution writes its own instructions, which is how you end up with one university that's happy with a certified translation and another that wants a notary. Look for the exact words. "Notarized translation", "notarized affidavit of accuracy" or "translation certified before a notary" mean you need notarization. "Certified translation" or "official translation" on its own usually means you don't, and if you're unsure, ask the institution before you pay for something they won't look at.

The traditional UK route is a notary appointment: the translation is produced, then the translator attends a UK notary to witness their declaration. It works, but it typically costs £45–£80 per page with notary fees and takes three to five working days. Some institutions are fine with that, while others would rather see a US notary, so check the instructions first.

Our notarized translation for the US skips the appointment. Upload your documents on the quote form, choose the United States as your destination, tick US notarization and choose which documents need it. You only pay for the ones you tick.

Notarization is charged per document, not per page, so a four-page transcript is notarized once. A typical university application with a degree certificate and a transcript means two notarization fees, however many pages the transcript runs to.

Two things to plan around. Notarized orders are standard delivery only, so rush isn't available with the add-on. And discount codes apply to the translation, never to the notarization fee. Every document still includes 2 free revisions.