Where Can You Find a Canadian Certified Translator?


Sophia Orji

Updated: Mar 4, 2025

Published: Feb 14, 2025


Where Can You Find a Canadian Certified Translator?

If you need an official document translated in Canada, it's important to work with a certified translator. Official agencies and institutions often require certified translations to ensure accuracy and authenticity. But where can you find a Canadian certified translator?

In this guide, we’ll explain what a certified translator in Canada is, why you need one, and where to find a list of certified translators in Canada to help with your translation needs.


Table of Contents

How to find a Canadian certified translator

The best way to find a Canadian certified translator is through Translayte. Translayte has professional, certified translators who can handle translations in different languages for various purposes such as immigration, legal, academic, or business. Our translators ensure accuracy and compliance with government and institutional requirements.

Alternatively, you can find certified translators through provincial translator associations. Across Canada, most provinces have an established association for certified translators. These organisations regulate and certify professional translators in Canada. 

Below is a list of provincial translator associations in Canada.

ProvinceTranslator Association
AlbertaAssociation of Translators and Interpreters of Alberta (ATIA)
British Columbia Society of Translators and Interpreters of British Columbia (STIBC)
Manitoba Association of Translators and Interpreters of Manitoba (ATIM)
OntarioAssociation of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario (ATIO)
QuebecOrdre des traducteurs, terminologues et interprètes agréés du Québec (OTTIAQ)
SaskatchewanAssociation of Translators and Interpreters of Saskatchewan (ATIS)
New Brunswick Corporation of Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters of New Brunswick (CTINB)
Nova Scotia Association of Translators and Interpreters of Nova Scotia (ATINE)
Prince Edward IslandCanadian Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters Council (CTIC)
Newfoundland and Labrador Canadian Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters Council (CTIC)
Nunavut  Canadian Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters Council (CTIC)
Northwest TerritoriesCanadian Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters Council (CTIC)

These organisations maintain a list of certified translators in Canada, making it easy to find a professional who meets your needs. 

What is a certified translator in Canada?

A certified translator in Canada is a professional translator who has successfully passed a certification process and is officially registered with a provincial translation association. 

This certification ensures that the translator has the necessary skills, qualifications, and ethical standards to provide accurate and reliable translations for official purposes.

In addition, certified translators are authorised to apply an official seal and signature to their translation, making it legally valid and widely accepted by official institutions. These professionals specialise in translating documents such as birth certificates, marriage licenses, transcripts, contracts, immigration papers, business agreements, and more. 

Why you need a certified translator

When dealing with important documents, accuracy, and legal recognition are essential. A certified translator in Canada ensures that your translations are accurate, legally valid, and accepted by official institutions. Here are the major reasons you need a certified translator;

Accurate and legally valid translations

Certified translators in Canada are trained to provide error-free and official translations that are recognised by government agencies and institutions. Since these translators are registered with provincial translation associations, their work has a legal significance that manual or machine translations do not.

When submitting documents for official purposes, an inaccurate or unverified translation can lead to delays, rejections, or legal issues. Choosing a certified translator helps you avoid these risks and ensures your documents are correctly translated.

Apostille processes and legal document verification

In Canada, documents that need to be notarised or apostilled must be translated by a certified translator before submission. This applies to documents such as:

Embassy and consulate submissions

Documents submitted to an embassy or consulate typically require translations done by a certified translator. This applies to applications for:

  • Visas and immigration processes
  • Work permits and residency applications
  • Foreign business registrations
  • International marriage or adoption procedures

Submissions to Global Affairs Canada and provincial apostille authorities

Provincial apostille authorities and Global Affairs Canada only accept translations done by certified translators because they meet the required legal and professional standards.

These organisations verify and authenticate official documents, and they only accept translations completed by professionals listed in a Canadian certified translator list.

If your documents need to be used internationally, ensuring they are translated by a certified translator in Canada will save you time and prevent complications down the line. 

Recommended Reading
How Much Does a Certified Translator Cost in Canada?

What is the apostille process?

The apostille process is a method of certifying official documents for international use. It ensures that documents issued in one country are recognised as valid in another without requiring additional legalisation. This process is particularly important for legal, educational, and business documents that must be presented abroad.

In Canada, an apostille is a certificate that verifies the authenticity of your legal document, making it valid in other countries part of the Hague Apostille Convention. 

Countries that are part of the Hague Apostille Convention accept apostilled documents without further verification, making the process simple and efficient.

How the apostille process works

  1. Document authentication: The document must first be authenticated by the appropriate government office. In Canada, this is usually Global Affairs Canada or a provincial apostille authority.
  2. Apostille certification: If the destination country is part of the Hague Apostille Convention, the document is issued an apostille, confirming its authenticity for international use.
  3. Translation (If required): Many countries require documents to be in their official language. If translation is necessary, the document must be translated by a certified translation company or translator before the apostille process is completed.

What if the destination country is not part of the Hague Apostille Convention?

If a document is being sent to a country that is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, an additional legalisation process is required. This involves:

  1. Authentication by Global Affairs Canada: The document must first be authenticated at the federal level.
  2. Legalisation by the foreign embassy or consulate: The document is then taken to the embassy or consulate of the destination country for further certification.
  3. Certified translation: If the destination country requires translations, a certified translator in Canada must translate the document before or after legalisation, depending on the country’s requirements.

The role of a certified translator in the apostille process

A certified translator in Canada plays a crucial role in the apostille process. Many countries only accept translations done by certified translators, ensuring the accuracy and legal validity of the document. Here’s why certified translation is important:

  • Accuracy and compliance: Certified translations guarantee the document’s content is accurate and legally acceptable in the destination country.
  • Legal recognition: Many authorities only accept certified translations for apostille or legalised documents.
  • Avoiding rejections or delays: Using a certified translator in Canada when translating your document ensures it meets all legal requirements, preventing unnecessary delays or rejection.
  • Immigration requirements: If you are applying for a visa, permanent residency, or citizenship, IRCC mandates that a certified translator translates any non-English or non-French documents before further legalisation and authentication is done. 

Recommended Reading
How to Get an Apostille on Documents Issued in Canada

Why choose Translayte for certified translations in Canada?

When it comes to reliable and affordable certified translation services in Canada, Translayte stands out in multiple ways. Here’s why;

Fast and reliable translations

Translayte provides quick turnaround times within 24 - 48 hours without compromising accuracy. Whether you need a translation for birth certificate, marriage certificate, or legal contract, Translayte ensures that your documents are processed efficiently and delivered on time. If you need a certified translation on short notice, we also offer expedited delivery services within 12 hours. 

Recognised by government agencies

A key advantage of using Translayte is that our certified translations are recognised and widely accepted by official institutions such as; Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Provincial and federal government offices, Embassies and consulates, Universities and licensing boards, and more. 

We also ensure our translators are certified by organisations like ATIO, STIBC, or OTTIAQ. This ensures that your documents meet official requirements for legal and professional use.

Seamless online ordering & delivery options

Translayte offers an easy online ordering process. You can upload your documents, place your order, and receive your translations without visiting a physical office. You can choose to receive your documents in Word or PDF formats, or physical mailing. We also offer multilingual 24/7 support, allowing you to rectify any issues immediately. 

Experienced translators covering multiple language pairs

Translayte works with highly qualified translators specialising in multiple languages, including French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian, Russian, and more. We offer translations in common language pairs, like French or Spanish to English, and less common languages, such as Slovakia, Lithuanian, etc. Our translators are all certified by provincial translator associations ensuring professional standards are met in every translation. 

Strong reputation & thousands of successful translations

With a proven track record and thousands of satisfied customers, Translayte has built a reputation as a trusted provider of certified translations in Canada. Our commitment to quality, accuracy, and customer satisfaction makes us a top choice for anyone needing certified translation services.

Conclusion

You need a certified translator in Canada when translating official documents for official purposes. The best way to ensure accuracy and acceptance is to use a trusted service like Translayte. 

Alternatively, you can look through the Canadian certified translator list from different provincial translator associations to find an accredited translator. 

However, Translayte is a better solution for a convenient, reliable, and professional translation service. We offer transparent pricing, certified translators recognised by Canadian authorities, and a secure online ordering process. Request a quote today to use Translayte for all your certified translation needs in Canada.

Frequently Asked Questions

A certified translator in Canada is a professional translator who has successfully passed a certification process and is officially registered with a provincial translation association.
You can find a translator through the list of certified Canadian translators by provincial translator associations or through a translation company like Translayte.
No, you cannot. When submitting translated documents for official purposes, you are required to submit a certified translation of your documents. A certified translation includes a signature, seal, or certificate from the translator, attesting to the authenticity of the translated document.
No, a certified translation and a certified translator are not the same thing. A certified translation is a document that has been officially translated and includes a signed statement from the translator or translation company attesting to its accuracy. A certified translator is a professional who has been accredited or recognised by a certifying body (such as the Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario (ATIO) in Canada) as meeting the required standards of translation proficiency.

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