What the Home Office actually requires
The official Home Office rules (Immigration Rules) say every translation must contain:
- Full translation of the whole document — every stamp, margin note, seal
- Date of translation
- Full name of the translator or authorised company representative
- Signature
- Contact details — phone or email
- Statement of accuracy and completeness — e.g. "I certify this is a true and accurate translation of the original document"
For Leave to Remain (LTR) and ILR applications, you also need evidence that the translation was made by a qualified professional, with details of their qualifications or company.
Note: "Home Office approved" is not an official status
There is no official government register of "approved translators" in the UK. If a translation agency claims to be "Home Office approved", this is a marketing phrase, not a government certification. Look for CIOL, ITI or ATC membership — these represent real professional standards.
Which documents are most commonly translated for the Home Office?
The rule is: translate whatever goes into your case as evidence that is not in English. The exact documents depend on your specific situation. The most common ones are:
Passport / ID — photo pages, all valid visas, all entry/exit stamps
Birth certificate — to prove identity or family relationships
Marriage or divorce certificate — for family applications
Court or police documents — if relevant to your asylum claim
Medical letters and certificates — if used as evidence in your case
Degree certificate or academic record — for work visas or ILR
Powers of attorney and notarised documents — if needed for your case
What happens when a translation is wrong
The most common reasons a translation is rejected:
1. Missing translator details
The most common reason. Name, contact details or signature are absent — translation is rejected. This costs 4–8 weeks while a request for further information goes back and forth.
2. Incomplete translation
A stamp, seal or marginal note was left out. "Complete" means every single visible element of the original document.
3. Unverifiable translator (for LTR/ILR)
For LTR or ILR applications the Home Office must be able to verify the translator's qualifications. If this is not possible — rejection and a request for a new translation from a verifiable professional.
Each rejection on these grounds means a delay of 4–8 weeks. Getting it right first time saves a lot of time and stress.
Legal Aid and translation costs
If you have a Legal Aid lawyer (a free government-funded lawyer), ask them first. They may be able to arrange a translation as a disbursement under your case. This is not guaranteed automatically, but it is often possible — especially for asylum cases.
Do not assume it will be free — check with your lawyer for your specific situation. More about Legal Aid: our Legal Aid page.
If you do not have Legal Aid, typical costs are:
- Birth certificate, passport, marriage certificate: £25–60
- Court documents, letters from authorities: £40–100
- Degree certificate with transcript: £80–150
- ECCTIS (government qualification recognition): £210 / 20 working days
What if your translator was based abroad?
This is not automatically prohibited. Home Office guidance explicitly states that a qualified and certified translator may be based either in the UK or abroad, as long as their details can be independently verified.
In practice: an overseas translator is harder for the Home Office to verify, which increases the chance of being asked for a repeat translation from a UK-based professional. If you have the option, choose a UK-based CIOL/ITI member.
Asylum claims — important notes
Important for asylum seekers
- Never post original documents for translation — send scans or photos only
- If you have documents from your country of origin that would be impossible to replace, keep the originals safe
- Migrant Help (0808 8010 503) can help you find support as an asylum seeker
- If you are submitting Para 353 further submissions after a refusal — all new documents need to be translated
Pre-submission checklist
Glossary
| Home Office | The UK government department responsible for visas, asylum and immigration |
| UKVI | UK Visas and Immigration — a division of the Home Office |
| CIOL | Chartered Institute of Linguists — main UK professional body for translators |
| ITI | Institute of Translation and Interpreting — second UK professional body |
| ATC | Association of Translation Companies — professional body for translation agencies |
| Legal Aid | Government-funded free legal help |
| ILR | Indefinite Leave to Remain — permanent right to live in the UK |
| LTR | Leave to Remain — temporary permission to stay in the UK |
| ECCTIS | Formerly NARIC — government service for recognising overseas qualifications |
