What is the problem? 

It has come to our attention that significant changes have been made on the UK Government page on certifying a document, https://www.gov.uk/certifying-a-document, which includes a short section on certifying a translation. Changes have also been made to the Ministry of Justice Family Procedure Rules for PD7A, as detailed in https://www.justice.gov.uk/courts/procedure-rules/family.

These changes do not reflect existing, long-standing UK best practice, or the format in which translated documents have been required to be presented by most UK authorities. As such, this changed guidance exposes both the individuals submitting certified translations as well as the authorities receiving certified translations to the risk of translation errors, to certified translations being rejected, and to lengthy delays in processing translated documentation.

The three leading translation bodies in the UK, the Chartered Institute of Linguists, the Institute of Translation and Interpreting and the Association of Translation Companies, have worked together to harmonise guidance around certifying translations, and to ensure uniform delivery and universal acceptance of translations certified by their members – which form the majority of certified translations submitted to UK authorities. The changed guidance on gov.uk and from the Ministry of Justice is now out of step with the best practice advice from the UK’s leading translation bodies.

Taking into account the mixed landscape of UK Government departments, agencies and public services in early 2024, our three associations issued joint, publicly available best practice guidance, which the CIOL, ITI and ATC mutually endorsed and recommended to all authorities in the UK.

What can we do?

As the three leading UK translation associations we are writing to our contacts in UK government departments and agencies, to seek clarification and correction of the changed guidance and expectations for certified translations.

The Association of Translation Companies (ATC), the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI) and the Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL) came together to promote the use of ATC member companies and the accredited experienced professional translator members of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (MITI, FITI and Corporate LSP Members) and the Chartered Institute of Linguists (MCIL and FCIL). All three organisations will continue endorse each other’s members and each other’s guidance for certifying a translation.

Our updated guidance is available here Certified Translation – Getting It Right