Certified translation pricing
Every document is quoted individually, as one fixed figure, before anything is done. There is no hourly rate to watch and nothing added at the end.
What the price depends on
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How much text there is
Counted from the document itself, not estimated from the page count. A dense transcript costs more than a birth certificate because it is more work, and that is the whole of it.
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How complex the layout is
A certificate carrying stamps, seals, tables, columns and handwritten notes has to be rebuilt so the translation follows the original closely. That formatting work often takes longer than the translating itself, and it is why two documents of the same length can price differently.
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How many documents
Each document is priced in its own right, because each one carries its own certificate of accuracy. A set of five short certificates is five pieces of work, not one longer one.
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The language pair
Common pairs cost less than rare ones, because the pool of qualified translators is deeper. The rate is per pair, not per country.
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How quickly you need it
Standard is 1 to 2 working days. Express adds 30% and same day adds 50%, because both mean moving other work aside. The uplift is shown on the quote rather than folded into the base price.
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Whether it needs notarising
Notarisation and apostille are separate steps with their own costs. They are itemised, so you can see what you are paying for and decide whether you need them.
Our typical lead time
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Standard
1 to 2 working days
No uplift, in the quoted price
What most documents are quoted at, and what is assumed unless you say otherwise.
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Express
Next working day
+30% on the quoted price
For a deadline that will not move. It means moving other work aside.
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Same day
Same working day
+50% on the quoted price
Realistic for shorter documents that reach us early in the day.
Express and same day are not automatic. Whether a deadline can be met depends on how long the document is, how complex it is, and what time it reaches us. We confirm what is actually possible in the quote, before you commit to anything.
Questions about cost
The things people write in and ask before sending a document over.
Why not a flat price per page?+
Because a page is not a unit of work. A birth certificate and a page of a contract can differ tenfold in the amount of text on them. Pricing by page means somebody is always being overcharged, and it is usually the person with the short document.
Can the price change after I accept?+
No. The quote is fixed against the documents you sent. If you later send more, or a different document, that is quoted separately before any work starts.
Is there a minimum charge?+
Yes. Very short documents still require a translator, a check and a certificate, so there is a floor below which a job cannot be done properly. It is applied to the quote, not added afterwards.
Do you charge more for urgent work?+
Yes. Express is +30% and same day is +50%, applied to the quoted price, because both mean moving other work aside. The uplift is shown before you accept, never added afterwards. Standard turnaround is 1 to 2 working days and is what most documents get quoted at.
Send your document for a fixed price
Attach a scan or a photograph. We reply with a fixed price and a turnaround, usually same day.
- A fixed price agreed before any work starts
- A signed certificate of accuracy with every translation
- Most languages, whether or not they are listed here
- Usually quoted same day
- Handled in strict confidence, and not kept on record beyond the job