Overview
The words 'certified', 'sworn' and 'official' mean different things in different countries. In Morocco and France, for example, a sworn translator (traducteur assermenté or traducteur agréé près les tribunaux in Morocco, traducteur expert près une cour d'appel in France) is a translator formally appointed by the courts whose stamp and signature give the translation official standing. For United States immigration filings, USCIS requires a full English translation accompanied by the translator's certification that it is complete and accurate and that they are competent to translate the language. In Australia, many authorities ask for translations by a NAATI-certified translator. Credential evaluators such as WES set their own rules, which can include receiving translations or documents directly from your institution.
Because requirements differ, we start by asking where the translation will be used and what that body's instructions say. We do not currently provide certified, sworn or notarized translations. What we provide is an accurate, complete professional translation with a translator's statement of accuracy, which some universities and bodies accept, together with a clear explanation of what the receiving body requires. If certification is required, we tell you before you pay and can help you find an accredited or sworn translator for the right country and language pair; our translation and terminology sheet can still help you check their version.
We translate every element that appears on the document: stamps, seals, handwritten notes, marginal annotations, grading scales and abbreviations. We do not convert grades into another country's system; that is the job of the university or credential evaluator.
Who it’s for and the problems it solves
This is for you if you are…
- Students applying to universities abroad who must submit translated transcripts and diplomas
- Graduates submitting credentials to evaluators such as WES, ECE or national recognition centers
- Professionals applying for registration or licensing in another country
- Applicants preparing documents for a visa, residence or immigration process who need to understand translation rules
- Universities and admissions offices needing reference translations of foreign transcripts
Common problems we help with
- The application says 'certified translation' and you do not know if that means sworn, notarized or something else
- Your transcript uses abbreviations, local course codes and a grading scale that readers abroad will not understand
- An evaluator rejected a translation because it was not complete or not word-for-word
- You need the same diploma translated for a French university and a Canadian evaluator with different rules
- The original is partly handwritten or has stamps that are hard to read
What’s included — and what isn’t
Included
- Review of the receiving body's instructions to identify the type of translation required
- Complete, faithful translation of transcripts, diplomas, degree certificates, supplements and grading scale descriptions
- Translation of stamps, seals, signatures (as descriptions), handwritten text and annotations, with illegible parts marked
- Layout that mirrors the original so reviewers can compare page by page
- A translator's statement of accuracy and completeness for non-certified translations
- Help identifying the kind of accredited, sworn or certified translator the receiving body requires, and pointers for finding one in the right country
- An explanation of the next steps where additional formalities apply, such as notarization, legalization or apostille, or where the evaluator requires documents sent directly by your institution
- Consistent translation of names and institution names across all your documents, matched to your passport spelling
Not included
- Certified, sworn or notarized translations: we do not currently provide these, and we tell you before you pay if your receiving body requires one
- Altering, improving or omitting anything in the original document, including grades or remarks
- Converting grades or calculating GPA equivalents; that is done by the university or credential evaluator
- Legal or immigration advice; the receiving authority's official instructions always prevail
- Presenting a non-certified translation as sworn or certified, or using an accreditation we do not hold
What you receive
- Requirement summary
- A short note summarizing what the receiving body asks for, based on the instructions you provide, and whether we can meet it directly.
- Translated documents
- Complete translations in PDF, laid out to mirror the originals, with every stamp and annotation accounted for.
- Translator's statement of accuracy
- A signed statement that the translation is complete and accurate, for bodies that accept it. It is not a sworn, certified or notarized translation.
- Name and terminology sheet
- A list of how names, institutions and degree titles have been rendered, so all future translations stay consistent.
How it works
Tell us where the documents are going
Share the receiving body's translation instructions or a link to them, the language pair and your deadline.
Check requirements
We confirm the type of translation needed and whether we can supply it, or explain what you need to obtain elsewhere.
Translate
The translator produces a complete translation, keeping the layout and translating every element.
Check
A second person compares the translation with the original for names, dates, numbers and grades.
Deliver
You receive the translation with a translator's statement of accuracy and guidance on submitting it, or on obtaining a certified version if one is required.
Translation types and what they usually mean
- Translation with translator's statement
- A complete, accurate translation with a signed statement from the translator. Accepted by some universities and, in the form described in US regulations, by USCIS.
- Sworn translation (Morocco, France and others)
- Produced by a translator appointed by the courts, bearing their official stamp and signature. Often required for administrative and legal use in civil-law countries.
- NAATI-certified translation (Australia)
- Produced by a translator holding NAATI certification, verifiable through NAATI's online directory using the practitioner's number.
- Notarized translation
- A notary verifies the translator's identity and signature, not the translation's accuracy. Required by some bodies in addition to, or instead of, certification.
- Credential evaluator requirements
- Evaluators such as WES publish document requirements per country and may require precise, word-for-word translations or documents sent by your institution. Check their current required-documents tool.
- Legalization and apostille
- Separate formalities that authenticate a public document or a sworn translation's signature for use abroad; they are handled by the competent authorities, not by translators.
Why 'certified translation' needs a second question
When an application asks for a certified translation, the right answer depends on who is asking. A US university may accept a translator's signed statement; a French prefecture may require a sworn translator listed by a court of appeal; an Australian agency may require NAATI certification; a credential evaluator may insist that the translation come from your university. Sending the wrong type can mean rejection and a lost deadline. That is why our first step is always to read the receiving body's own instructions with you.
- Find the exact wording on translations in the application or evaluator guidance
- Check whether translations must be sent directly by the issuing institution
- Check whether originals, certified copies or scans are needed alongside the translation
Complete and faithful, including the parts that look unimportant
Evaluators compare the translation line by line with the original. Every stamp, signature, handwritten remark, footnote and seal should be accounted for, even if only as '[stamp: Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Zohr University]' or '[illegible signature]'. Grades are reproduced exactly as they appear, with the original grading scale translated if it is printed on the document. We never convert grades, round averages or interpret mentions such as 'assez bien' into a foreign scale; we translate them and, if useful, add a translator's note explaining the literal meaning.
Names, degree titles and consistency
Arabic and Amazigh names can be transliterated in several ways, and degree titles such as 'Licence fondamentale', 'Master spécialisé' or 'Diplôme d'ingénieur d'État' have no exact equivalents abroad. We match your name to your passport, keep institution names in their official form with a translation in brackets where helpful, and translate degree titles literally rather than claiming equivalence to a foreign degree. The name and terminology sheet keeps this consistent if you need more documents translated later.
What the work can look like
Illustrative example — fictional data
Illustrative transcript line and translator's note
A fictional graduate from a Moroccan university needs a French-to-English translation of a bachelor's transcript for a UK master's application that accepts translations with a translator's statement. The content below is invented.
Original line
'Module M23 – Économétrie appliquée – Note : 13,50/20 – Validé (session normale)'
Translation
'Module M23 – Applied Econometrics – Grade: 13.50/20 – Passed (regular session)'
Translator's note
'Translator's note: Grades are on a scale of 0 to 20 as shown on the original. "Session normale" refers to the first examination sitting; "session de rattrapage" refers to the resit sitting.' The grade itself is not converted.
Illustrative example with invented content. It does not describe a real client, university or document.
What you’ll need to provide
- Clear scans or photos of every page of each document, front and back, including stamps
- The receiving body's instructions on translations, or a link to them
- Your name exactly as it appears in your passport
- Your deadline, and any required file format or upload instructions from the receiving body
- Any earlier translations used for the same documents, so names and titles stay consistent
You don’t need everything ready to ask for a quote — tell us what you have and we’ll say what’s missing.
What affects price and turnaround
Price depends on
- Number of pages and documents
- Language pair
- Legibility and complexity of the originals (handwriting, dense tables, stamps)
- Whether a signed translator's statement of accuracy is needed
- Whether several documents must be translated with consistent names and terminology
Turnaround depends on
- Time needed to check the receiving body's requirements with you
- Number of documents and whether any need clarification from you
- Legibility of the scans, and whether clearer copies are needed
Every project is quoted individually. How we price our work.
Questions people ask before starting
Can you provide a sworn or certified translation for my country?
No, we do not currently provide certified, sworn or notarized translations. We provide accurate professional translations with a translator's statement of accuracy, which some universities and bodies accept. If your receiving body requires certification, we tell you before you pay, explain what kind of translator it asks for and can help you find an accredited translator for your country and language pair.
Is a translation with a translator's statement enough for USCIS?
US regulations require a full English translation with the translator's certification that it is complete and accurate and that they are competent to translate from the language. Always check the current USCIS instructions for your form. We do not give immigration advice.
Can you convert my grades to a GPA or UK class?
No. Grade conversion is done by the university or credential evaluator using its own methodology. We translate grades exactly as they appear and can add a note explaining the original scale.
WES says translations must be sent by my university. Can you help?
Some evaluators require documents or translations directly from the issuing institution for certain countries. In that case, a translation from us may not be accepted for the evaluation, though it can still help you check the content. Always follow the evaluator's current instructions for your country.
Do I need a notarized translation?
Only if the receiving body asks for one. Notarization confirms the translator's identity and signature, not the accuracy of the translation. Some bodies require it; many do not.
Are my documents kept confidential?
Yes. Personal documents are shared only with the translator and checker on your project, exchanged through a private, access-restricted link, and deleted within 90 days of completion unless you ask us to keep or delete them sooner.