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Posted on6 June 2022

Certified Translation for UK Visa

[Updated 10th August 2023]

If you’re from outside the UK and are looking to visit, study, or work in the country, it can be tricky to get your head around the requirements for visa applications. Getting the translation essentials right can be a great way to avoid stress and save time in the visa process.

Who Needs a UK Visa?

UK visa requirements can differ depending on where you’re from and why you’re travelling, with a wide range of different visa types available to apply for. If you’re not sure if you need a visa or not, you can check on the UK government website.

Many UK visa applications may require you to provide official documents such as birth certificates, employment contracts or marriage licences. If these documents are in a language other than English, you may need to use a certified translation service to prove their veracity.

What is Certified Translation?

Certified translations include a signature or stamp of approval from a certified translation agency stating that the translation is accurate. This gives credibility to the translation, ensuring that the documents in question are officially recognised by UK visa administrators.

If your documents haven’t been certified by a recognised translation agency, your visa application is likely to be immediately rejected. Knowing when you might need a certified translator can go a long way in making your UK visa process as smooth as possible.

Fortunately, you’re in the right place! As a member of the ITI (Institute of Translation and Interpreting) and the ATC (Association of Translation Companies), we regularly provide our clients with document translation for UK visas. You can see an example of our certifying letter here. If you’d like to request a quote, just fill out our form and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

Do I Need Certified Translation for a UK Visa?

If you need to submit official documents written in a language other than English as part of your visa application process, they will need to be verified by a certified translation agency to be recognised by the UK Home Office.

The documents required for a UK visa application will vary based on what type of visa you’re applying for. For example, a student visa may require a birth certificate and school transcripts, while a long-term work visa may need an employment contract or degree certificate as part of the application process. You can check which documents are required for your case through the UK Visa and Immigration website.

Who can Translate Documents for a UK Visa?

As a certified translations agency, Atlas Translations is here to help with all of your UK visa document translation needs. Get in touch with our team today to learn more about how we can make sure everything is up to scratch with the translation side of your visa application.

Our professional translators will ensure that all your documents meet the standard required by the official UK visa process. Give us a call on 01727 812725, email us at team@atlas-translations.co.uk or get in touch via our website to learn more.

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