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Certified translation

The translation market in the UK has experienced a large growth during recent years. The demand for professional translation services has increased mainly due to the expansion of the European Union, increased mobility of the inhabitants of the continent, migrations and the development of technology and new forms of communication.

United Kingdom is a common law country. Unlike in many civil law countries (such as Poland, Germany or France), the institution of ‘sworn translator’ is non-existent here.

However, there is a range of public services in the UK which require that translations of certain documents should be certified. The purpose of certifying a translation is to confirm the translator’s identity and his/her qualifications. If necessary, the translator may be subsequently held liable for his/her work.

Certification is required for such documents as: diplomas and degree certificates, birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates, divorce decrees, patents and other official or legal documents. Depending on the document’s destination, we can distinguish the following levels of certification in the UK:

• Basic certification – the most common type of certification. It consists in the translator confirming his/her identity, qualifications and authenticity of the translation.
• Sworn translation – the less common type of certification, required by British courts, some government organisations and some consulates.
• Notarised translation – usually required for documents to be used in a higher official capacity, such as power of attorney, passport, documents needed for getting married or buying property abroad. This type of certification is also required by the High Court and some consulates.
• Apostille – required if the translation is going to be used outside the United Kingdom, and specifically, in one of the member countries of the Hague Convention (which includes Poland). Translation needs to be sworn or notarised first.
• Consular legalisation – required if the translation is going to be used outside the United Kingdom, and specifically, in one of the countries which is not party to the Hague Convention.

Skopos24 provides all types of certification described above. Before placing your order, please check which level of certification is the most appropriate for your needs. If you are not sure, please contact us for advice.