Service Areas
Based in the heart of London, Documentario provides certified translation services across all major business districts including the City of London, Canary Wharf, Westminster, and Mayfair. Our central location allows us to serve law firms, financial institutions, and corporate headquarters throughout the capital with same-day courier delivery when needed.
While our physical presence is in London, our online service platform enables us to serve clients across the entire United Kingdom. From Edinburgh to Cardiff, Manchester to Bristol, businesses and individuals throughout the UK can access our professional certified translation services with secure document upload, digital delivery, and the same quality standards that have made us trusted by over 500 UK organizations.
Industries We Serve
Legal Firms: We work extensively with solicitors, barristers, and legal practices requiring certified translations of contracts, court documents, depositions, and legal correspondence. Our translators understand UK legal terminology and formatting requirements for court submissions.
Financial Services: Banks, investment firms, and accounting practices rely on our certified translations of financial statements, audit reports, compliance documents, and regulatory filings. We maintain strict confidentiality protocols essential for sensitive financial information.
Corporate Businesses: From startups to FTSE 100 companies, we provide certified translations of company registration documents, board resolutions, shareholder agreements, and international business contracts. Our corporate account managers ensure consistent quality across multiple projects.
Medical Institutions: Healthcare providers, pharmaceutical companies, and medical research facilities trust us with certified translations of clinical trial documents, patient records, medical certificates, and regulatory submissions to the MHRA.
Educational Sector: Universities, colleges, and educational consultancies use our services for certified translations of academic transcripts, diplomas, degree certificates, and research papers. We understand UCAS and university admission requirements.
Immigration Consultants: Immigration advisors and visa application services partner with us for UKVI-compliant certified translations of passports, birth certificates, marriage certificates, police clearance certificates, and sponsorship documents.
Language Pairs
Our network of qualified translators covers over 50 languages, with particular expertise in high-demand language pairs for UK businesses and immigration applications. Popular language services include:
- Spanish Translation: European and Latin American Spanish for business and legal documents
- French Translation: Metropolitan and Canadian French for corporate and immigration purposes
- German Translation: Specialized in legal and technical documentation for UK-German business relations
- Polish Translation: High volume of immigration and employment documents for the UK's Polish community
- Arabic Translation: Modern Standard Arabic and regional dialects for Middle Eastern business and legal matters
- Mandarin Chinese Translation: Simplified and Traditional Chinese for international trade and investment documents
- Russian Translation: Legal and business translations for UK-Russian commercial relationships
- Portuguese Translation: Brazilian and European Portuguese for business expansion and immigration
- Italian Translation: Legal and commercial documents for UK-Italian business operations
- Romanian Translation: Immigration and employment documents for Romanian nationals in the UK
We also provide certified translations for Bengali, Urdu, Hindi, Turkish, Greek, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, and many other languages. Contact us for specific language pair availability.
Additional Services
Apostille Services: For documents intended for use in countries that are signatories to the Hague Convention, we can arrange apostille certification through the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). This additional authentication is often required for international business registrations, overseas property transactions, and foreign court proceedings.
Notarization: When documents require notarial certification in addition to translation, we work with qualified UK notaries public to provide notarised translation services. This is particularly important for documents being submitted to certain foreign jurisdictions that require both translation certification and notarial authentication.
Urgent Translations: Our express service delivers certified translations in as little as 4 hours for urgent visa applications, court deadlines, or time-sensitive business transactions. Same-day service is available for documents up to 10 pages, with priority handling by our most experienced translators.
Bulk Discounts: Organizations requiring regular translation services benefit from our volume pricing structure. We offer discounted rates for projects exceeding 50 pages, ongoing monthly retainers, and annual contracts with guaranteed turnaround times.
Corporate Accounts: Businesses with frequent translation needs can establish corporate accounts with dedicated account managers, priority processing, consolidated monthly billing, and customized workflow integration. We work with your procurement and legal teams to establish compliant vendor relationships.
Understanding Certified Translation in the UK
In the United Kingdom, a certified translation is a translation accompanied by a signed statement from the translator or translation company confirming that the translation is a true and accurate representation of the original document. Unlike some countries, the UK does not have a government-regulated system of sworn translators. Instead, UK authorities including UKVI, the Home Office, courts, and universities accept certified translations from qualified professional translators.
A proper UK certified translation must include: (1) the translator's full name and contact details, (2) a statement confirming the accuracy of the translation, (3) the translator's qualifications or professional memberships (such as ATC, ITI, or CIOL), (4) the date of the translation, and (5) the translator's signature. Some organizations may also require the translator's stamp or seal, though this is not universally mandated.
Who Can Provide Certified Translations?
UK authorities accept certified translations from independent qualified translators or professional translation companies. The translator must not be a family member or have a personal interest in the document's content. Professional membership in recognized bodies such as the Association of Translation Companies (ATC), the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI), or the Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL) provides additional credibility, though it is not always strictly required.
What matters most is that the translator can demonstrate professional competence in both the source and target languages, has experience with the specific document type, and can provide a properly formatted certification statement. At Documentario, all our translators meet these criteria and hold relevant professional qualifications or memberships.
Requirements by UK Authority
UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration): For visa and immigration applications, UKVI requires certified translations of all non-English documents. The translation must include a confirmation that it is accurate and complete, the translator's credentials, and contact information. UKVI does not require translations to be notarized for most applications, though some visa categories may have specific requirements.
UK Courts: Courts typically require certified translations with original signatures and stamps. Some courts prefer physical copies rather than digital versions, particularly for evidence submissions. The certification must confirm that the translator is competent in both languages and that the translation is accurate.
Universities: UK universities generally accept certified translations for academic documents, though requirements vary by institution. Most accept digital copies during the application phase but may require original certified translations for final enrollment. Always check specific university requirements before submitting.
Companies House: For company registration and filing documents in foreign languages, Companies House accepts certified translations. The translation must be certified as accurate by the translator, with their name and qualifications clearly stated.
Turnaround Times and Pricing
Standard certified translation service delivers within 24 hours for documents up to 5 pages. Express same-day service is available for urgent requirements, with 4-hour turnaround for critical deadlines. Longer documents require additional time, typically 2-3 business days for documents up to 20 pages.
Pricing for certified translations starts from £25 per page, varying based on language pair, document complexity, and turnaround time. Legal and technical documents may incur additional charges due to specialized terminology requirements. Express and urgent services carry premium rates. We provide detailed quotes before commencing work, with no hidden fees or surprise charges. Volume discounts apply for projects exceeding 50 pages or for corporate accounts with regular translation needs.
