Guide to Selecting the Right
Type of Translation for You
Find out which type of translation you need based on your document type, legal requirements, and destination country.
Guide to Selecting the Right Type of Translation for You
At A Glance
What Is a Standard Translation?
A standard translation is a basic translation where a translator will interpret the document you provide in another language. In most cases, it comes in an editable format, which means you can make changes if necessary.
You’ll use this for:
- Blogs
- Business communications
- Case studies
- Emails
- Employee and product manuals
- Journals
- Letters
- Website copy
In short, standard translations are for non-urgent, non-legally binding situations and documents. They are the most “casual” option.
What Is a Certified Translation?
A certified translation is a word-for-word translation that comes with a certificate attesting to the
translation's accuracy. It comes in a non-editable format, meaning you’ll have to ask the translator if you
want to change anything. The certificate comes with the following details about the translator:
- Their full name
- Signature
- Proficiency in the document’s original language and target language
- Guarantee of translation accuracy
- The date they completed and certified the translation
Generally, you’ll need a certified translation for legal, official, or academic purposes. This includes (but is
not limited to) immigration applications, college admissions, legal proceedings, adoption paperwork, and
more. Use this option for:
- Academic transcripts
- Divorce records
- Birth certificates
- Marriage certificates
- Bank records
- Passports
- Business records
- Tax statements
- Death certificates
- Visas
What Is a Notarized Translation?
A notarized translation uses a notary public to authenticate the translator’s identity and provide their seal and signature. A notary public is a government official with the authority to notarize your document.
Think of it as a certified translation with an additional step. You’ll only need notarized translations if the court, government agency, or university specifically requires them. For example, some US states will ask you to notarize documents when applying for your driver’s license.
The rules vary by country and region. That’s why you should find out if you need notarization or certification before approaching a professional translator.
What Is a Sworn Translation?
A sworn translation is a translation from sworn-in translators, indicating the authenticity of the translated document. The translator must take an oath in a court of law to provide this service.
It is similar to the notarized option, but a notary public doesn’t need to be present during the process. These translations come with an official seal and carry legal weight. Where you need them depends on the country.
For example, you may not need these translations that often in the US and Canada. These nations rely more on certified or notarized translations.
However, sworn translations are essential if you’re in countries like Germany, France, Italy, or Spain. You must use this option for legal documents, like employment contracts and court records.
Pricing
Pricing varies depending on the service type and provider. However, certified, notarized, and sworn translations will always cost more than the standard option because of the additional documentation and qualifications required.
Another important consideration about pricing differences is that standard translations across the industry are charged per word, while certified translations are charged by page (usually defined as the equivalent of 250 words).
This is because documents for certified, notarized, or sworn translation are usually scanned or photographed copies of original documents. In these situations, it’s much harder to get an exact word count.
At Rapid Translate, we charge $0.11 per word for standard translations. Our services start at $27.99 per page for a certified translation. For an additional $19.99, you can have a notary sign the certified translation. Sworn translations are $57.99 per page.
Formatting Differences
We do our best to keep the layout the same as the original documents for all our services. This ensures
it is easy for anyone to compare and understand the translations.
Acceptance Differences
If you don’t need the translated files for legal purposes, you should use standard translations. However, if you’re submitting a document for legal or government use, it’s best to use our certified services.
We offer a 100% USCIS acceptance guarantee with all certified, sworn, and notarized translations. We are also ECFMG, UKVI, and IRCC compliant.
What We Provide
Rapid Translate provides all types of translation services, including standard, certified, notarized, and
sworn translations. Even if you choose our standard option, we only work with ATA-certified
professionals to ensure the translations meet our quality guidelines.
When you place your order with us, you have the option to receive a physical or email copy (or both). All
notarized options include a notary stamp and signature. All mailed documents will have wet, hand-
signed signatures.
We also provide Rapid Priority Service to translate up to three pages within 12 hours.
Contact Rapid Translate today to translate your documents into more than 60 languages at an
affordable price!
Our customer support team is experienced in supporting your translation needs.
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