Certified Translation

In addition to ordinary document translations, I can also provide certified translations of documents (e.g. birth certificates, diplomas, transcripts, etc). 

What This Service Entails

What is a certified translation, and do you need one?

Certified translations are done in the same way as ordinary translations (for more information about translation in general, see the Document Translation page), but they have an added formality to them and can be used for official purposes, such as immigration services. What qualifies as a certified translation varies, however, depending on what country you are in.

Country by Country

In many European countries, translations must be completed by a sworn translator in order to be considered “certified.” In other countries, such as the United States, sworn translators do not exist and it is not required for translators to be accredited by a particular body. Therefore, in such countries it may be possible for any translator who can demonstrate their qualifications to provide a certified translation. In New Zealand, certification is generally achieved by the translator including a statement attesting to the translation’s accuracy and their stamp and/or signature. Different bodies may have their own specific list of requirements for a certified translation to meet in order to be accepted, however.

This is true in other countries as well. The Australian Government, for instance, has similar requirements to those generally followed in New Zealand, with some differences: “A translator outside Australia does not need to be accredited, but they must endorse the translation with their full name, address, telephone number, and details of their qualifications and experience in the language being translated.” The Government of Canada’s immigration services and the Government of the United Kingdom, as well, follow a similar line when it comes to defining certified translations.

My Qualifications

I am not a sworn translator, but as an MA in Translation (EN-FR-ES) and a Member of the New Zealand Society of Translators and Interpreters (NZSTI) for the translation of French and Spanish into English, I have the proven qualifications and experience needed to provide certified translations from French and Spanish into English, complete with a formal NZSTI stamp. Where such stamp certification is not required, I can also provide translations from German into English in my capacity as a professional and experienced translator with German as one of my working languages. (Since German was added to my repertoire after my master’s studies were completed (see the About Me tab for more details), it is not currently included as one of my NZSTI membership languages.)

Who Is it For?

Before you commission a certified translation, please be sure to check with the body requesting the translation and ensure that they do not require a sworn translator or specific service provider to carry out the translation. If they stipulate that the translation be done by a professional, qualified, and/or recognized translator, then I will happily be able to take the job on for you.

Standard certified translations by me will be provided with a statement of accuracy and with my NZSTI member’s stamp (French and Spanish only) and/or signature on each page and on copies of the original document, if required. If you require any additional details (e.g. translation provided on business letterhead, inclusion of address and phone number, provision of a full-page statement, etc.) for your certified translation, just let me know what they are and I will be happy to include them.

Certified Translations in New Zealand

NZQA, INZ, etc.

As many of the official bodies in New Zealand that require certified translations of documents follow the general requirements for certified translations in New Zealand (see above under “Country by Country”), with occasional variations, I can and am happy to provide certified translations for such entities. Examples of these include the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) and Immigration New Zealand (INZ), which use the same requirements list.

NZTA

Unfortunately, at the moment I am not able to provide certified translations for use with the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA), which will only accept translations from translators who are on the NZTA list of approved translators. New applicants for this list will not be considered until 2021; therefore, I am currently unable to provide certified translations of driver’s licences for official use in New Zealand. For now, I recommend that you use those translation providers who are currently on the NZTA list for your driver’s licence translation requirements.

Pricing

For information regarding my rates, please see the Rates tab.