Certified translation for ICA
Documents submitted to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority that are not in English have to be accompanied by an English translation. This applies across citizenship, PR, long term visit pass and dependant pass applications, and it is usually birth, marriage and household documents that need it.
Names consistent across the whole application
An application is read as a set. Where several documents name the same person, one spelling is used throughout, matching the passport, so nothing looks like two different people.
Nothing summarised
Stamps, seals and marginal notes are reproduced and described. A translation that tidies away the parts that are hard to read is the kind that comes back.
Certified for the authority you name
Every translation is delivered with a signed certificate of accuracy issued by us, stating the source and target languages, the document and the date, which is what an authority is looking for when it asks for a certified translation.
How it works
- 1
Send the document
A scan or a clear photograph of every page, and the language you need it in.
- 2
We send a fixed quote
We review your document and provide back a fixed quote for your approval.
- 3
We translate and certify
Your certified translation comes back digitally, ready to print or submit.
Notarisation is available through our partner law firm if required and will be quoted separately. See the full process.
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.
Why send your document to us
However accurate your own translation may be, the authorities will generally require an independent, professional translation company to complete the work and affix a certificate of accuracy with the document.
That’s where we come in.
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Certified & Accepted
A signed certificate of accuracy issued by us, stating the languages and the date. It is what authorities ask for.
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Translated by people
A human translator does the work. That is what the certificate of accuracy stands behind, and why it carries weight.
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Fixed fee quote upfront
Quoted from the document itself rather than estimated from a description, and it does not move once you accept it.
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Almost any language
The pairs shown here are the ones asked for most, not the limit. Send the document even if yours is not listed.
Frequently asked questions
The things people write in and ask before sending a document over.
Does ICA accept a translation done by the applicant?+
Requirements are set by ICA and can differ by application type, but a translation certified by a translator is the safe route and the one generally expected. Check the current requirement on their site for your specific application before ordering.
Do I need notarisation as well?+
Usually not for ICA. Notarisation is more often asked for by foreign authorities. If in doubt, ask whoever is receiving the document and we will match what they say.