Professional Certified Translation Services

There is no difference at all as far as the general public are concerned, as both types of translation carry legal status. However, the technical nuance between the two depends on the country where you are intending to present your document.

• Sworn translation: This is generally a requirement in European countries (such as France, Spain and Germany). Your official document is translated, signed and stamped by a sworn translator who has sworn an oath before a Court of that State.
• Certified translation: This is the international standard, especially in English-speaking countries (United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia). The translation does not need to be stamped by the court,, but it must be accompanied by an official certificate of accuracy issued by the translator or the accredited agency.

There is no set price for a certified translation , because every official document is unique. A specific price is calculated for each project and mainly depends on 2 factors:

• The amount of text: The price is generally based on the number of words in the source document.
• The technical complexity: A legal, medical or financial document requires specific expertise, which is reflected in the cost compared to a standard personal document (such as a birth certificate).

We promise there will be: No hidden fees, and no nasty surprises. Whether you need a diploma, a contract or a visa application translated. we will analyse your request to offer you the best price we can.

To ensure that the process is quick and easy for you and that it fully complies with the requirements of government departments, we have organised our method of working into 4 key stages:

1. Sending us your document : You provide us with a legible copy (scan or high-quality photo) of your official document (birth certificate, diploma, visa, etc.) via our quote form or by email. There is no need to go anywhere or to send the original in the post.
2. Translation by an expert native speaker: Your project is given to a sworn or accredited translator, who only translates into their mother tongue, in order to ensure the total accuracy of legal and administrative terms.
3. Quality control: Because the process you are undertaking is an important one, the translation is meticulously reread and checked by a second professional translator to confirm the layout, spelling and total conformity with the original.
4. Certification and delivery: For sworn translations, the official translator adds their stamp, signature and unique registration number. For certified translations, The Language Room generates an accompanying certificate. We send you the certified translation immediately as a PDF by email (accepted by the majority of government departments), and the paper original by post if required by you.

In theory, a certified translation is valid forever. It does not have an official expiry date. However, its actual validity depends on the original official document and the requirements of the organisation dealing with your file. Here are the two most common scenarios:

• Documents valid forever: In the case of an academic transcript, a driving licence or a contract, the original document never changes. Its certified translation therefore remains valid indefinitely.
• Personal documents (birth certificates, marriage certificates, criminal records): For processes such as naturalisation or for a visa, the authorities often require an original document less than 3 or 6 months old (to ensure that your situation has not changed). If the original document needs to be recent, you will have to have this new version translated by a sworn translator.

Yes. When it comes to complex international procedures, a certified translation on its own is not always enough. The authorities in the destination country might ask for additional formalities to verify the authenticity of the documents. We take care of all of these procedures:

• Notarised translation (or signature legalisation): If your documents (particularly those intended for use abroad) require official verification of the translator’s identity, we will arrange for their signature to be authenticated by a notary or competent authority.
• Translations with apostille: If the destination country is a signatory to the Hague Convention, your document must bear a specific stamp known as an ‘apostille’. Our teams will guide you through the process and liaise with the Court of Appeal to obtain this essential certification.