Certified translation
Description
A certified translation provides assurance that a document’s content has been accurately translated by a qualified professional. The translator or translation provider issues a signed declaration confirming that the translation is true and complete.
Certified translations are often requested by government agencies, courts, universities and regulatory bodies for materials such as contracts, patents, birth certificates, immigration records or academic transcripts. In certain jurisdictions, the certification may also include notarization or a sworn statement before a public authority. Accuracy, confidentiality and traceability are critical. Certified translators must have proven linguistic competence and subject-matter expertise to ensure the translation meets legal and procedural standards.
Example use cases
- Legal filings: Translate contracts, witness statements or court decisions for cross-border proceedings.
- Immigration: Provide certified translations of personal identification documents.
- Academic credentials: Validate diplomas, transcripts and licenses for international recognition.
- Compliance: Submit certified versions of financial or technical documentation to authorities.
- Intellectual property: Support patent or trademark filings with certified translations.
Key benefits
RWS perspective
At RWS, certified translation is part of our commitment to linguistic integrity and legal precision. We provide certified, sworn and notarized translations that meet jurisdiction-specific requirements across sectors.
Our linguists are accredited professionals with deep expertise in law, finance and intellectual property. Each certified translation undergoes strict quality assurance and, where required, legal attestation. RWS also supports certified translation within specialized services such as legal and regulatory translation and patent filings, combining human accuracy with technology-enabled efficiency through Trados and secure review environments. From corporate filings to court documents, RWS ensures that every certified translation stands up to scrutiny – accurate, confidential and fully compliant.