In short
- For most UK visa, settlement and citizenship applications, the Home Office asks for a certified translation, not a notarised one.
- The translation must include confirmation of accuracy, the date, and the translator's full name, signature and contact details.
- Translate everything on the page, including stamps, seals and handwritten notes, and submit it with the original.
- Names must match your passport exactly.
If you are applying for a UK visa, settlement or British citizenship, any supporting document that is not in English or Welsh needs a translation. The Home Office does not accept just any translation. It asks for a certified translation that it can check.
This guide explains what that means in practice, and the details that most often cause problems with documents from Greece, Cyprus, Albania, Kosovo and French-speaking countries.
What the Home Office asks a translation to include
Home Office guidance asks that each translation includes:
- 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
The contact details matter because the Home Office may want to verify the translation independently. Some universities and sponsors also ask for the translator's credentials, so it is worth checking what your sponsor or institution expects.
Notarised or certified?
For most visa and nationality applications, a notarised translation is not needed. A notary confirms a signature, not the accuracy of a translation, so notarisation usually adds cost without changing anything the Home Office checks. Always read the guidance for your specific application, as some routes or receiving offices ask for more.
Translate the whole document
A certified translation should cover everything on the page:
- stamps and seals, including round municipal stamps
- handwritten notes and corrections
- marginal notes, such as later amendments on a birth record
- printed text on the back of ID cards
- QR codes or verification notes on documents issued online
Partial translations or summaries are a common reason for an application to be delayed.
You still submit the original
The translation goes with the original document, or a copy of it, not instead of it. Keep your originals safe and check whether your application asks for originals or copies.
Names: the detail that causes most trouble
Your name must be spelled the same way on every document in your application. For Greek, Albanian and French documents, this needs care:
| On the document | Common guess | As in the passport |
|---|---|---|
| Γεώργιος | George | Georgios |
| Παπαδοπούλου | Papadopoulos | Papadopoulou |
| Arbër Çela | Arber Chela | Arbër Çela |
| Hélène | Helen | Hélène |
A good translator always follows the spelling in your passport, even if a different spelling looks more natural in English.
Dates
A date like 04/03/1990 means 4 March in Greece, Albania and France. Writing dates with the month in words (4 March 1990) avoids any confusion, especially if the same documents are later used in the US.
A quick checklist before you submit
- Every non-English document has a full translation.
- Each translation has the accuracy statement, date, translator's full name, signature and contact details.
- Names match your passport exactly.
- Stamps, seals and handwritten notes are translated.
- You have checked the guidance for your specific application.
Common documents we translate for UK applications
- Birth, marriage and family status certificates
- Divorce decrees
- Police and criminal record certificates
- Bank statements and payslips
- Diplomas and transcripts
If you need any of these translated from Greek, Albanian or French, you can price your document online in under a minute.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Home Office accept translations done abroad?
It can, if the translation includes everything the guidance asks for, including the translator's contact details so it can be verified. Translations without those details may need to be redone.
Can a family member translate my documents?
Home Office guidance refers to confirmation from the translator. An independent professional translation avoids questions about objectivity. Check the guidance for your application.
Do I need a hard copy of the translation?
Many applications are submitted online with scanned documents, so a signed PDF is usually enough. Check how your application asks you to provide documents.
Sources
- University of Westminster: Home Office translation guidelines
- Related guide: Certified, notarised or sworn translation?
This article is general information based on published guidance as of 29 October 2026. It is not legal or immigration advice, and requirements can change. Always check the current requirements with the office handling your case. Lexiveris Translations provides translation services only and is not affiliated with any government agency.