Certified or Notarized Translations

Translation clients often confuse the words ‘certified’ and ‘notarized’. Neither have any real effect on the quality of translation services provided. The terms are sometimes relevant to ensure meeting clients’ requirements.

Any translation company or individual translator can certify their translation work (this according to the American Translator’s Association).

A certified translation is a translation accompanied by a signed statement attesting that the translation is accurate and complete to the best of the translator’s knowledge and ability. Any translator or translation company may certify a translation. – ATA

 

 

Below is how the US Citizenship and Immigration Services defines a translation certification.

A formal statement in which a translator shows that they have accurately translated a foreign-language document into English. Any foreign language document must be accompanied by a full English translation that the translator has certified as complete and correct, and by the translator’s certification that they are competent to translate the foreign language into English. – USCIS

 

How do you know whether a certified or a notarized translation is needed? Unless you have a specifically stated requirement from the intended party for the translation that specifies notarization then a simple certification is probably sufficient. When in doubt about the requirement consult with the party requiring the translation for clarification.