Sworn Translation in the UK
If you have been asked for a sworn translation in the UK, you have probably been given a term from another country's legal system. France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Poland and Turkey appoint sworn translators who take an oath before a court or a notary. The UK has no such register.
What UK authorities accept instead is a certified translation. This page explains what that is, when the extra steps of notarisation or an apostille are needed, and how to work out which one you have actually been asked for.
Is there such a thing as a sworn translator in the UK?
No. Translators in the UK are not sworn in by a court, and there is no government list of sworn translators. A translator or translation company certifies its own work in writing, and that certification is what makes the translation official.
So when a UK body such as the Home Office, HM Passport Office, a court or a university asks for an official, sworn or certified translation, the document it expects is a certified translation.
What a certified translation contains
GOV.UK's guidance on certifying a translation asks the translator to confirm three things in writing on the translation. For immigration applications the Home Office asks for a fourth, the translator's signature.
- That it is a 'true and accurate translation of the original document'
- The date of the translation
- The translator's full name and contact details
- For Home Office applications, the translator's signature as well
Certified, notarised, apostilled: what each one adds
The three terms describe three different guarantees. Each one builds on the one before, and each adds cost and time, so it is worth ordering only what the receiving authority asks for.
- Certified: the translator or translation company confirms in writing that the translation is true and accurate. This is what UK authorities ask for.
- Notarised: the translator signs that confirmation in front of a notary public, who verifies the translator's identity and witnesses the signature. The notary does not check the translation itself.
- Apostilled: the UK Legalisation Office attaches an apostille confirming that the notary's or solicitor's signature is genuine, so that the document is recognised abroad.
When a certified translation is not enough
The extra steps matter when your document is going to another country. A UK certified translation is made for UK use, and an authority abroad may not recognise it without further proof of who signed it.
Ask the authority that will receive the document which of these it wants:
- A translation by a sworn translator registered in its own country. Spanish, French, German, Italian, Polish and Turkish authorities often require this, and a UK translation cannot replace it.
- A UK translation that has been notarised
- A UK translation that has been notarised and apostilled
Apostille: cost and timing
An apostille is issued by the Legalisation Office, part of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, and only for UK documents. A translation can be legalised once a UK notary or solicitor has certified it.
The standard paper apostille costs £45 per document plus postage and usually takes up to 25 working days. An e-Apostille costs £35 and takes up to 2 working days, but it is only available for PDFs signed electronically by a UK notary or solicitor. These are the Legalisation Office's published figures for November 2026; check GOV.UK before you apply.
A foreign document cannot be apostilled in the UK. If your birth certificate was issued in Turkey, for example, the apostille has to come from Turkey, and the apostille page is then translated together with the document.
What we provide
For use in the UK we provide certified translations on our letterhead, with the signed statement of accuracy, the date, and the translator's name and contact details. Standard single documents start from £30.
If a foreign authority has asked you for a sworn or notarised translation, tell us which country and which authority when you request your quote. We will tell you what that authority normally accepts and quote for it, including a sworn translator's signature and notary certification where that is what is needed.
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Tell us which country and authority the document is for, upload it, and we will quote for exactly the level of certification you need.
Frequently asked questions
Will the Home Office accept a certified translation instead of a sworn one?
Yes. Home Office guidance asks for a full translation that it can verify independently, with the translator's confirmation of accuracy, the date, the translator's full name and signature, and contact details. It does not ask for a sworn translator.
I was told to get a sworn translation for a UK court. What do I need?
Courts in England and Wales work with certified translations. For some proceedings the translator may also be asked to sign a statement confirming the translation. Ask your solicitor or the court which applies, and tell us when you request your quote.
Can you provide a sworn translation for Turkey (yeminli tercüme)?
Yes. For documents going to Turkish authorities we can arrange a Turkish translation signed by a sworn translator and certified by a notary.
How much does a sworn or certified translation cost?
Certified translations of standard single documents start from £30. Notarisation and an apostille are separate third-party charges: the notary's fee, and £45 (paper) or £35 (e-Apostille) per document for the Legalisation Office. You receive an exact quote by email before you pay.
Is a certified translation the same as a certified copy?
No. A certified copy is a photocopy that a professional such as a solicitor has confirmed matches the original. A certified translation is a translation carrying the translator's written confirmation of accuracy. Some applications ask for both.