What Is a Certified Translation?
A certified translation is a translation of an official document accompanied by a signed statement from the translator or translation company confirming that the translation is accurate. Certified translations are required for official and legal purposes, including immigration, residency, and civil registration.
Who Needs a Marriage Certificate Translation?
| Situation requiring a marriage certificate translation | Description |
|---|---|
| Visa and immigration applications | Marriage certificates are required to prove a genuine marital relationship for spouse and family visas. |
| Citizenship or naturalisation | Often required when applying for citizenship based on marriage. |
| Residency applications | Used to confirm marital status for residence permits and long-term visas. |
| Name change documentation | Required when updating official records following a name change after marriage. |
| Adoption processes | Used to demonstrate marital status in domestic and international adoption proceedings. |
| Inheritance and estate matters | Provides legal proof of marriage in cross-border inheritance or estate claims. |
| Insurance and financial matters | Required when updating insurance policies or financial records abroad. |
How Long Does It Take?
Most marriage certificates of one to two pages are translated within 2 working days.
If you are working to a tight deadline, use the chat in the bottom right corner and our team will advise on express options.
Get Started
- Upload a clear scan or photo of your marriage certificate.
- Receive an instant per-word quote.
- Choose standard or express delivery.
How Much Does a Certified Translation Cost?
Many providers charge per page, often applying a word limit per page that can increase costs unnecessarily.
Transparent & Fair
- Instant per-word quote
- Digital delivery (PDF)
- Certified for official use
- Only pay for translatable content
- Digital certified copy; hard copy optional
- Designed for immigration and legal use
What Is a Certified Translation for Marriage Certificates?
Marriage certificates must be submitted in the language required by the receiving authority. In the UK, Ireland, and the United States, a certified translation typically includes:
- Date of translation
- Translator’s full name and signature
- Translator or translation company contact details
- A statement confirming the translation is accurate
Some authorities may require notarised or legalised translations. In many European countries, a sworn translation issued by a court-appointed translator is required.
Official Requirements for Marriage Certificate Translations
USCIS (United States)
- Complete and accurate translation of the document
- Certification confirming the translator’s competence and accuracy
UKVI (United Kingdom)
- Accurate translation of the original document
- Confirmation that it is a true translation
- Translator or translation company details
Steps to Get Your Marriage Certificate Translated
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Obtain the official document
Request an official copy of your marriage certificate from the issuing authority.
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Choose a certified translation service
Select a provider experienced with immigration and official documents.
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Submit your document
Tell us where the translation will be used so it can be certified correctly.
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Receive your translation
Delivered digitally, ready for official submission.
Do I need a certified translation of my marriage certificate?
If your marriage certificate is not in English and you are submitting it for an official process, you will usually need a certified translation. Common examples include UK Family Visa and Spouse Visa applications, UKVI document checklists, USCIS immigration filings, passport applications, and legal or administrative processes.
Are Certling marriage certificate translations accepted by UKVI?
In most cases, yes. UKVI generally expects a full and accurate translation with a certification statement confirming the translator’s competence and that the translation is true and accurate. We provide certified translations designed for official acceptance, including UK visa and immigration use.
Are Certling marriage certificate translations accepted by USCIS?
In most cases, yes. USCIS typically requires a complete English translation accompanied by a certification statement signed by the translator. Our certified translations include the required certification wording and translator details for U.S. immigration use.
What is included in a certified translation of a marriage certificate?
A certified translation normally includes the full translated content, plus a signed certification statement that confirms the translator is qualified and that the translation is accurate. If the original contains stamps, seals, signatures, or handwritten notes, we translate those too where they contain readable text.
Do you translate stamps, seals, handwritten notes, and marginal notes?
Yes, where there is readable text. If something is unclear or partially illegible, we can add a translator note to reflect that the original is unclear. This is common on older documents or certificates that have been reissued or amended.
Do I need a full translation or can I translate only certain parts?
For most official uses (including UKVI and USCIS), you should translate all relevant text that appears on the certificate. If your certificate includes repeated boilerplate, multi-language headings, or sections that are already in English, we translate what is needed while keeping the evidence clear.
My marriage certificate is already bilingual. Do I still need a translation?
If the certificate already includes an official English version that clearly shows the same details, you may not need an additional translation. However, some institutions still request a certified translation even for bilingual documents, so it is worth checking the specific requirements of the organisation you are submitting to.
Do you translate civil partnership certificates as well?
Yes. We translate marriage certificates and civil partnership certificates for visa applications, passport processes, and official use. The translation is certified in the same way.
Do I need a notarised translation or an apostille?
Usually, no. Many processes accept a certified translation without notarisation. Notarisation or legalisation (apostille) is more common for certain legal uses or when an authority explicitly requests it. If your solicitor, registry office, or authority asks for notarisation, tell us at checkout and we will advise on the best option.
What if my name is spelt differently across documents?
This is common with transliteration and older records. We translate the document faithfully as it appears. If you want us to match a passport spelling for clarity, add a note during checkout and we can include a translator note where appropriate.
Can you translate a photo or scan of my marriage certificate?
Yes, as long as it is legible. For best results, upload a clear scan or a straight, well-lit photo without glare. Avoid cropping edges, stamps, or handwritten notes, and make sure all pages are included (front and back if there is text).
How long does a marriage certificate translation take?
Turnaround depends on language and workload, but marriage certificates are usually quick because they are short documents. You will see an estimated delivery time during checkout, and we deliver a certified PDF by default.
How much does a certified translation of a marriage certificate cost?
Pricing depends on the word count and language. Certling charges per word, so you only pay for the text that actually needs translating. You can upload your document to receive an instant quote based on the detected content.
Will my translation include a signature and certification statement?
Yes. Your certified translation includes a certification statement and the details required for official acceptance. We provide the translation as a certified PDF, and printed copies can be arranged on request.
Is it safe to upload my marriage certificate to Certling?
Yes. Communications are encrypted and documents are handled by authorised staff only. Files are retained only as long as needed to complete the work, then securely purged from our servers.