Birth Certificate Translations

Birth Certificate Translation

If you’re submitting an official application and you’ve been asked to provide proof of your age, nationality, family lineage or place of birth, then it’s highly likely that you’ll have to present your birth certificate.

If that birth certificate isn’t issued in the official language of the authority that you’re applying to, then you may be asked to provide an official or certified translation of your birth certificate.

In countries all over the world, official translations can mean different things entirely. With Translayte, we work hard to understand official translation requirements across most countries, so you can be sure that the birth certificate translation you get is the one you need.

Why You Need a Birth Certificate Translation

As we’ve already mentioned, there are a number of reasons that you could be asked to translate your birth certificate. Usually, you’ll be looking to translate that certificate to support of one of the following applications:

• Visa or residency application;
• University / college application;
• New passport application (through naturalisation or other means);
• Marriage (both at home and abroad);

Birth certificates are one of the most important documents you’ll need to submit with each of these official applications.

It goes without saying that your birth certificate will prove your age. However, important family details are also confirmed with a full birth certificate translation.

This is especially important when it comes to visa applications. Depending on your individual circumstances, you’ll be asked to complete a specific visa application form. Your birth right, eligibility for residency and other crucial information could be determined by your birth certificate. For example, if your parents were born in the UK, then your right to UK residency will be different to another person whose parents were not born in the UK. The birth certificate identifies all of this.

But it only does so when it’s presented in the correct language. If you present a birth certificate which isn’t in the language of the host country you’re applying within, then you’re likely to have your whole application rejected.

Translation Requirements for Birth Certificates

Birth certificates, like any other supporting document, must be submitted in the language of the country your application takes place in. Not only does your document need to be translated, but it needs to be an official translation. The definition of an official translation varies from country to country.

Once you’ve been asked to translate your birth certificate, you’ll first need to establish the local translation requirements. For instance, your birth certificate translation could either be certified or a sworn translation. You may also require notarisation and / or legalisation (Apostille) depending on your specific use case.

In the United Kingdom, Ireland and United States, for an example, you will be required to produce a certified translation of your birth certificate, which must contain:

• confirmation from the translator that it is an accurate translation of the original document;
• the date of the translation;
• the translator’s full name and signature;
• the translator’s contact details.

If you’re submitting your birth certificate as part of a Visa or Residency application to specific embassies in these countries, you may also be required to produce a Notarised or Legalised Translation. These are produced in slightly different ways, and we provide additional information on our page about certified translations.

In some European countries like France, Germany, Italy and Spain, you may be asked to provide a ‘sworn translation’ of your birth certificate instead of a certified translation. This applies to several other EU countries too, and some countries in South America (e.g. Brazil).

Sworn translators take an oath in court and must personally declare that the work they carry out is accurate and reliable to the best of their knowledge. Once they’ve translated your document, an official stamp with their details will deem the translation ‘sworn’ and acceptable for official use.

When having your birth certificate translated by us, it is usually helpful to let us know the country you’re submitting the application to, so we can ensure the translation is certified correctly.

How to Translate Your Birth Certificate 

Given the complexities around understanding the local translation requirements and finding a suitably qualified translator, it is often advisable to use a certified translation agency that understands the local requirements, works with reliable translators and can deliver your translation quickly and at a fair price. 

At Translayte, we specialise in providing certified and sworn translations of your birth certificates, and you can be rest assured that your translation will be delivered quickly, at a fair price, and will be accepted.