What is a certified translation?
A certified translation is a complete translation of an official document, stamped by a translation office and accompanied by a statement that it is accurate and true to the original. Embassies, universities, courts and many government bodies ask for certified translations because they can trace who produced them.
When will you need one?
- Visa, residency and immigration applications
- University admission and recognition of qualifications abroad
- Marriage, divorce and other family matters involving another country
- Company registration, tenders and contracts with foreign partners
- Court cases and legal proceedings
Step 1: Ask the receiving authority exactly what it needs
This is the step that saves the most time. Requirements differ from one embassy, university or ministry to another, and they change. Ask three questions:
- Do you need a certified translation, or is a plain translation enough?
- Does the original document need to be legalized or attested before translation?
- Does the translation itself need notarization or any further stamp?
Step 2: Prepare clear copies of every page
Scan or photograph each page in good light, including the back of the document, every stamp and every handwritten note. A translator can only translate what is visible. If your name appears in a passport, send a copy so the spelling in the translation matches it exactly.
Step 3: Legalization, if it is required
Documents that will be used abroad often need to be legalized. In Egypt, this usually involves authentication by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then by the embassy of the destination country. The order of steps, and whether the original or the translation is legalized, depends on the authority, which is why Step 1 matters.
The rules above are general guidance, not legal advice. Always follow the written instructions of the authority receiving your documents.
Step 4: Check the translation before you submit it
- Names match your passport spelling.
- Dates, numbers and ID numbers match the original.
- Every page and every stamp has been translated.
- The translation carries the translation office's stamp and certification statement.
How Josour can help
We provide stamped, certified English–Arabic translations, and French, German and Spanish to and from Arabic, for embassies, universities, courts and companies. Send us your documents and tell us where they are going, and we will confirm the price and delivery date, usually within an hour.