How to use this guide
Use the recommendations below to prepare a clearer brief, compare quotations on the same basis and identify decisions that should be resolved before production begins.
This guide provides general project-planning information. Requirements imposed by a court, embassy, regulator, receiving institution, venue or technology platform should always be confirmed directly with that authority.
Ask what certified means
Institutions may require different declarations, stamps or additional processes.
Decision to record: How does this point apply to your audience, language pair, final use and approval process?
Provide the complete record
Front, back, stamps, seals and annexes may matter.
Decision to record: How does this point apply to your audience, language pair, final use and approval process?
Align personal names
Use passport or existing official spelling and explain discrepancies.
Decision to record: How does this point apply to your audience, language pair, final use and approval process?
Separate translation from legalisation
Translation, notarisation, legalisation and apostille are distinct processes.
Decision to record: How does this point apply to your audience, language pair, final use and approval process?
When professional support becomes important
Seek a properly briefed language professional when the communication affects rights, safety, consent, money, institutional acceptance, research validity or a large public audience. Urgency does not remove the need to confirm language variety, intended use and review responsibility.