Certified Translation Use Cases

USE CASE:

AUTHOR:

DATE:

Government Submissions & Tax Filings  

Christakis
Christodoulou 

January 04, 2026

Certified translations of foreign financial statements, tax returns, or property documents may be needed for IRS filings, social security claims, or other government programs requiring proof of overseas income or status.

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AUTHOR:

DATE:

Visa Applications (Tourist, Work, Student)

Christakis
Christodoulou 

January 04, 2026

Embassies and consulates require certified translations of supporting documents such as bank statements, invitation letters, or academic records to verify the applicant's purpose, ties, and eligibility for various visa types.

USE CASE:

AUTHOR:

DATE:

Legal & Court-Related Matters                       

Christakis  
Christodoulou 

January 04, 2026

Courts, attorneys, and legal proceedings accept certified translations of contracts, wills, powers of attorney, or foreign judgments to ensure accurate interpretation in lawsuits, adoptions, or inheritance cases, and official validity in contracts and court filings.

USE CASE:

AUTHOR:

DATE:

Medical & Healthcare Documentation          

Christakis  
Christodoulou 

January 04, 2026

Healthcare providers, insurance companies, or disability claims may request certified translations of medical records, prescriptions, or treatment histories to facilitate care coordination or benefit approvals across language barriers.

Certified Translation Knowledgebase

What is Certified Translation?

A certified translation is a full, accurate word-for-word translation that comes with a signed statement (known as Certificates of Accuracy) from the translator or translation company verifying that it's a true and complete representation of the original document in the target language of the translation.

What Is a Certificate of Accuracy?

A Certificate of Accuracy is a signed statement from the translator or translation provider confirming the translation is complete and accurate, including their name, signature, date, and contact details. It may also include details of specific certifications such as identification numbers, stamps, and other credentials.

What Is the Purpose of Certified Translation?

The purpose of certified translation is to provide legally acceptable translations that can be used for official, legal, immigration, academic, or governmental processes.

What Is a USCIS-Certified Translation?

A USCIS-certified translation is a translation that meets U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services requirements, including a signed Certificate of Accuracy stating that the translation is complete and accurate

What are USCIS requirements for Certified Translations?

Full Translation
The entire document must be translated word-for-word, including stamps, seals, footnotes, and any handwritten notes. Partial translations are not accepted.

Certification Statement
The translator must include a signed statement certifying that the translation is complete, accurate, and that the translator is competent and fluent in both the source language and English.

No Specific Translator Credentials Needed
USCIS does not require the translator to be "certified" by organizations such as ATA (membership is helpful but not mandatory). Still, professional translators are strongly recommended to avoid delays or RFEs (Requests for Evidence).

No Notarization Required
A notary is not needed unless specifically requested. The translator's signed certification suffices.

Does USCIS accept certified translations and Certificates of Accuracy in digital form, or are hard copies required?

USCIS accepts certified translations and Certificates of Accuracy (Certification Statement) in digital form for most submissions, including online filings through the USCIS online portal. Hard copies are not required unless specifically requested in rare cases (e.g., mailed applications or RFEs)

What Is a Certified Translator?

A certified translator is a professional linguist who has demonstrated proficiency in source and target languages through recognized credentials, educational background, training, or professional experience, and is authorized to certify the accuracy of translations.

What Is the Difference Between Certified and Notarized Translation?

A certified translation includes a signed Certification Statement of Accuracy, while a notarized translation involves a notary public verifying the identity of the person signing the certification, not the accuracy of the translation itself.

What Is a Sworn Translation?

A sworn translation is a legally valid translation produced by a translator officially authorized by a government, court, or ministry in certain countries.

Sworn translations are most common in civil law countries (e.g., Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Portugal, Belgium, Poland, and many others), where the legal system requires this level of official endorsement. In contrast, common law countries like the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia generally use certified translations (a signed statement of accuracy from any competent translator or translation agency) instead of sworn ones.

What Is a Word-for-Word Translation?

A word-for-word translation is a precise translation approach that preserves the original document’s meaning, formatting, and content without omissions, additions, or interpretation.

What Is a Legal Certified Translation?

A Legal Certified Translation is a certified translation of legal documents, such as contracts, court records, or affidavits, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and legal equivalence.

What Is a Notary Public’s Role in Translation?

A notary public verifies the identity of the person signing a translation certification, but does not review, validate, or guarantee the accuracy of the translation itself.

What Is a Certified Translation for Immigration?

A certified translation for immigration is a compliant translation of personal or official documents required by immigration authorities, including birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce certificates, police clearance, and academic records.

What Is a Certified Translation for Academic Purposes?

A certified academic translation is a certified translation of diplomas, transcripts, or certificates required by educational institutions for admissions, evaluations, or credential verification.

Does Certified Translation for Academic Purposes in the USA require translation by an ATA-certified translator, sworn translator, or notarized translation?

No, certified translations for academic purposes in the USA (e.g., university admissions, credential evaluations like WES or NACES members) do not require translation by an ATA-certified translator, a sworn translator, or notarization in most cases. US universities and credential evaluation services generally require a certified translation.

What Is a Certified Translation Company?

A certified translation company is a professional service provider that employs qualified translators and issues certified translations accompanied by signed certificates of accuracy.

What Is a Certified Translation Format?

A certified translation format typically includes the translated document, a certificate of accuracy, translator or translation company details, and should preserve the original document’s layout.

Can applicants certify their own translations?

No, the applicant cannot reliably do the certified translation themselves for most official submissions, even if fluent in both languages. Such translations are often rejected for lacking objectivity.

Is machine translation, like AI or Google Translate, acceptable for certified translation?

No, machine translation tools like Google Translate or ChatGPT are not acceptable for certified translations.

What Is a Certified Translation for Official Use?

A certified translation for official use is a translation accepted by government agencies, educational institutions, or legal bodies due to its certified accuracy and completeness.