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Why Are Notarized and Certified Translations Necessary?

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Notary certified translations, or translations accompanied by a Certificate of Accuracy, hold significant importance when submitting documents to government authorities, universities, and other organizations in the United States. The Certificate of Accuracy serves multiple purposes.

  • First, it verifies that the translator possesses the necessary qualifications and skills to work on your documents.
  • Second, it ensures that the translation you receive is accurate and reliable.
  • Lastly, the certification statement establishes a legal record, setting a high standard for the translation provider.

Certified notarized translations of documents are primarily required for legal purposes, including submission to government entities, applications to educational institutions, and civil or criminal proceedings. If you need to submit documentation in a foreign language for any of these cases, obtaining a Certificate of Accuracy to accompany the translation becomes necessary.

Real-Life Examples Requiring Certification:

  • Visa Applications: When applying for a visa, certified translations of your documents are essential before submitting them to the relevant immigration service agency.
  • Trial Evidence: Any documentation in another language submitted as evidence in a trial must include a certification statement.
  • University Applications: Certified translations of your diploma and transcript are often required when applying to universities.

Types of Certification

In the United States, there are three levels of certification, and different organizations may request one of these types. When unsure, it is best to clarify with the agency or organization regarding requirements on how to get a certified translation.

Pronto Translations offers all three levels of certification. Our experts can help you determine what level of certification is needed for your document as we are already familiar with the requirements of most government agencies.

Certificate of Accuracy

The most common type of certification, this is the certification required by the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services). Professional translators offer USCIS translations services, ensuring that foreign language documents are accurately translated into English as per the specified requirements. The exact requirements as stated by the code of Federal Regulations is as follows: “Any document containing foreign language submitted to USCIS shall be accompanied by a full English language translation which the translator has certified as complete and accurate, and by the translator’s certification that he or she is competent to translate from the foreign language into English.” 

A Certificate of Accuracy, also known as a Certificate of Translation Accuracy or a Certificate of Translation, is a statement provided by the translator, confirming the completeness and accuracy of the issued translation. The translator includes the following three statements in the certificate:

  • Affirming fluency in both languages.
  • Confirming competence in translating from the source language to the target language.
  • Stating that, to the best of their knowledge, the translation provided is accurate.

The translator also provides their address, phone number, and signature on the Certificate of Accuracy.

Notarized Certificate of Accuracy

To obtain a notarized Certificate of Accuracy, the translator prepares the translation and presents it, along with the Certificate of Accuracy and the original document, to a local notary. The notary verifies the translator’s identity by requesting appropriate identification, and upon confirmation, performs the notarization of the Certificate of Accuracy.

It is important to note that you do not go to a notary public for translation certification. They are not language specialists and do not certify the quality of the translation. Their role is to confirm the translator’s identity.

In some cases, authorities may require the original notarized Certificate of Accuracy. If this is the case, you will need to select a translation agency located close to your residence or workplace to pick up the required notary certified translation in person. Alternatively, the agency can send the documents to you through courier services (e.g., FedEx or UPS) or mail (e.g., Priority Mail).

Certificate of Accuracy by an ATA-Certified Translator

Certain agencies, particularly educational authorities, may require translations to be done by a translator certified by the American Translators Association (ATA).

ATA offers certification for translations into English in specific languages, including Arabic, Chinese, Croatian, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and Ukrainian.

Pronto Translations works with translators certified by the ATA in all of the languages in which the ATA offers certification.

If the agency requests ATA certification in a language not offered by the ATA, you should communicate this to the agency. In such cases, the agency usually accepts a Certificate of Accuracy that has been notarized instead.

Commonly Certified Documents

Numerous documents issued by foreign countries often require certified translation services, including:

  • Adoption Records
  • Bank Statements
  • Birth Certificates
  • Contracts
  • Court Orders
  • Criminal Record Checks
  • Death Certificates
  • Diplomas
  • Divorce Records
  • Driver’s Licenses
  • Documentation For Visa Applications
  • High-school Transcripts
  • Legal Documents For Court Cases
  • Marriage Certificates
  • Medical Records
  • Passports
  • Patent Filings

Differences in Certification Systems across Countries

The system for certified notarized translations in the United States differs significantly from that of most other countries. Unlike many European and Asian countries, the United States lacks a formal government organization that certifies translators for written documents.

Instead, the three certification options described above are in place to fulfill this role.

For instance, while the system in the United Kingdom is similar to that of the United States, other countries like Spain, France and Germany require sworn translations. These notary certified translations are specifically issued by sworn or public translators who are authorized by a government body, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Ministry of Justice.

By understanding the importance of the difference between certified translation vs. notarized translation and the various types of certification available, you can ensure your documents meet the necessary requirements when submitting them to government authorities, universities, and other organizations in the United States.

Choose Professionals for Any Notarized and Certified Translation Needs!

Many people believe that they can use online tools or their own knowledge of foreign languages to translate their documents. And considering what is certified translation in the US, you can easily find someone to certify your translation.

In reality, it is a highly specialized work, especially when it comes to official documents sent for certified translation and then getting the translator’s Certificate of Accuracy notarized. You must remember that the documents you submit will be subject to careful scrutiny by professionals who know how to check for any inaccuracies. Whenever they believe that something is wrong with your translated documents, they will reject them.

Any specialist in notary certified translation at Pronto Translations can handle your documents competently, in a timely manner, and for a fair cost. When you consider what you stand to lose by submitting incomplete or inaccurate translations, you will realize that the Certificate of Accuracy we provide is a valuable investment in your future.

At Pronto Translations, we have over 20 years of experience and offer more than 300 language pairs for written translation.

We encourage you to contact us to at our main office in New York, NY to evaluate your need for a certified notarized translation of official documents and for what type of Certificate of Accuracy: 646-984-4073!