Certified Criminal Record Translation Services

Most certified criminal record translations are completed within 1 to 2 working days, and same-day delivery is often possible on straightforward certificates. This speed matters because many authorities only accept a police certificate issued within the last 3 to 6 months, so a slow translation can leave you re-applying for the certificate itself. Turnaround depends on the language, the length of the document, and whether you need notarisation or an apostille, since legalisation adds time. Upload your certificate to our quote tool and you will get an exact timeline along with the price before you order.

It depends on the authority receiving your document. For most UK applications, such as those to the Home Office or UKVI, a certified translation with a signed statement of accuracy is accepted. Police certificates used abroad very often need an apostille from the FCDO as well, because overseas immigration and licensing bodies frequently insist on it. Some professional bodies ask for a notarised translation. When you request a quote, we confirm exactly which level your destination requires, and we provide notarisation and apostille in-house, so you are not left arranging the extra steps separately.

For the translation itself, we usually only need a clear scan or photograph of your certificate, which you can upload through our quote tool or send by email. There is one important exception: if your document needs to be apostilled or legalised, the original certificate is normally required rather than a copy, and we will tell you when that applies and how to get it to us. Make sure your scan is complete and legible, including any stamps and reference numbers, as missing detail can delay an immigration or licensing decision later.

You will receive your certified translation as a PDF by email, and we post a signed and stamped hard copy as well, because authorities generally require a physical certified document with original stamps. Email copies are useful for checking the translation but are not always valid for official submission, so we include the posted copy by default. If your original certificate was sent to us for an apostille, we return it to you together with the certified translation. We use secure, tracked postage, and express courier or same-day office collection is available on request. 

The price is based on the number of words in your certificate and the level of certification you choose. A standard certified police certificate translation starts from £33. Notarisation and apostille add to the cost because of the extra steps and the official FCDO fees involved, and longer or multi-page disclosures are priced on their word count. There are no hidden charges. The clearest way to see your total is to upload your certificate to the quote tool, which shows the exact price, the turnaround time, and the certification level your destination needs, all before you commit.