Important: UKVI does NOT require notarised translations. Learn when you need notarisation and when certified translation is sufficient.
Notarised translation (or "notarized translation" in US English) means a solicitor or notary public has witnessed the translator's signature on top of the certified translation itself. It's a real legal step. It's also one UKVI explicitly does not require for any standard visa application. We offer notarisation when you actually need it — for US immigration, FCDO apostille, certain EU administrative submissions — and steer you away from it when you don't.
No. UKVI does not require notarised translations for standard UK visa applications. A certified translation with a statement of accuracy is sufficient. This saves you £30–£50 per document compared to notarisation.
It comes up in nearly every spouse-visa conversation. Someone — a friend, a forum post, sometimes a solicitor whose practice leans US-side — has told the applicant they need a notarised translation. They don't. UKVI's guidance is explicit on the point: certified, with a statement of accuracy, is the bar.
Where it gets ugly is when a translation provider quietly upsells notarisation as if it were required. We won't. If your destination is UKVI, the notary appointment is wasted money and three to five wasted days. If your destination is somewhere it's actually needed (USCIS, FCDO apostille, an overseas property purchase), we'll arrange it.
Certified translation includes a translator's statement of accuracy. Notarised translation adds a solicitor or notary witnessing the signature. Sworn translation is done by a court-appointed translator. For UK visas, only certified translation is required.
Three different ways jurisdictions answer the same question: how do we trust this translation? The UK keeps it light — the translator signs a statement of accuracy. The US bolts a notary on top. Continental Europe's sworn-translator system goes further still, restricting official translation to court-appointed professionals. Same end goal, three different mechanisms, three very different costs.
| Feature | Certified | Notarised | Sworn |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it includes | Translation + statement of accuracy + translator credentials | Certified translation + solicitor/notary witnessing signature | Translation by court-appointed translator |
| Required for UKVI? | Yes — this is all you need | No — not required | No — not used in UK system |
| Typical cost | From £12.99/page | £45–£80/page (translation + notary fees) | Varies — not standard in UK |
| Turnaround | 24 business hours | 3–5 days (requires notary appointment) | Varies |
| Common in | UK, Australia, Canada | US, some EU countries | France, Germany, Spain, Netherlands |
| Accepted by | UKVI, Home Office, HMCTS, universities | US (USCIS), some EU bodies | Courts in countries that use the sworn system |
What it includes
Required for UKVI?
Typical cost
Turnaround
Common in
Accepted by
Notarised translations are needed for some international legal proceedings, property transactions abroad, documents being submitted to US immigration (USCIS), and some EU administrative processes. They are NOT needed for UK visas.
Cross-border situations are the main one. If a foreign authority — not UKVI — is asking for the translation and that country's system uses notarisation, then yes, you'll need it. US immigration is the most common case in our caseload. International property and adoption proceedings come up periodically. FCDO apostille, where you're legalising a UK document for use abroad, often requires the translation to be notarised first.
For those cases we work with registered notaries across the UK. The certified translation is produced first, then a notary appointment is scheduled to witness the translator's declaration. Lead time is usually three to five working days from order to notarised PDF.
No. Certified translation includes a statement of accuracy from the translator. Notarised translation is a certified translation that has additionally been witnessed by a solicitor or notary public. For UK visas, only certified translation is needed.
Some translation companies upsell notarisation because it increases their revenue. UKVI's own guidance clearly states that a certified translation with statement of accuracy is sufficient. Notarisation is an unnecessary additional cost for UK visa applications.
Notarised translation typically costs £45–£80 per page when you factor in both the translation and notary fees. By contrast, a certified translation (which is all UKVI requires) costs from £12.99 per page.
Yes, we offer a notarisation add-on service for clients who need it. We produce the certified translation and then arrange for a registered notary to witness the declaration. This is only necessary for non-UKVI submissions.
Sworn translation is a system used in some continental European countries (France, Germany, Spain) where translations are done by court-appointed translators. This system is not used in the UK and is not required by UKVI.
No. The Home Office and UKVI do not require notarised translations for any standard visa application. Certified translations with a statement of accuracy meet all requirements.
No. Notary translation services bolt a solicitor or notary public on top of a certified translation — they witness the translator's signature on the statement of accuracy. Certified translation alone is what UKVI, HMCTS, and most UK administrative bodies need. Reserve notary translation services for US immigration (USCIS), FCDO apostille, or overseas legal use.
Yes. We provide notary public translation services and full notarised translation services when there's a genuine non-UK requirement — US immigration (where 'notarized translation' is standard), overseas property transactions, certain EU submissions. The certified translation is produced first, then we arrange a registered notary appointment to witness the translator's declaration. Three to five working days end-to-end. For UK use, certified translation alone is sufficient.
Confusingly, 'translate notary' and 'notary translation' are search terms people use to mean two different things: (1) translating a document that's already been notarised abroad, or (2) getting a UK notary to witness a certified translation. We handle both. For an already-notarised foreign document, we translate it including the notary stamp and seal language. For a fresh notarisation of our translation, we book the notary appointment as a £45–£80 add-on.
UKVI-accepted certified translations from £12.99 per page. Statement of accuracy included. 24-hour delivery.
Trusted by over 150,000 clients across the UK. Statement of accuracy, translator credentials and digital delivery — all included from £12.99 per page.
Translation of apostilled documents and preparation of translations for apostille legalisation.
Certified legal translation for UK courts, solicitors, and immigration tribunals — from £14.99 per page with statement of accuracy.
Certified translations that meet all UKVI and Home Office requirements. No notarisation needed.