What is a Certified Translation and Why Do I Need It?
Our world is in constant flux. Technological advances have brough people closer together no matter their location. The phenomenon of globalization, together with the internet, have prompted changes in the business models we knew, opening the way for companies to work with clients all over the world. Such dynamics not only bring economic benefits to industrial sectors, they also favor an improvement in the quality of work, an increase in language abilities and higher adaptability to the requirements of various industries.
When a company or person presents information or documents to a company of a foreign country, these texts often must be officially translated for them to have legal validity. Likewise, several international judicial organizations require a certified translation to make effective the purpose of said documents, which for example could result in closing a business deal —or not. This is why translation has become so important in the digital world.
What is a Certified Translation and How Many Types of Such Translation Exist?
A certified translation is a transcription of an official document into another language by a translator licensed by and official organization or institution. Such documents can include birth certificates, marriage certificates, contracts, patent registrations, among others. They must also have a certificate of accuracy. Once you have an official translation, you can present the document to a private sector or government agency anywhere in the world.
Note that the process to make a translation can vary depending on the motivation and characteristics of the document or the industry involved. Likewise, it should be emphasized that conditional on the circumstances requiring the translation, an additional level of certification may be required. Institutions such as embassies and international agencies sometimes ask for different types of certifications when dealing with specialized translations. This is another reason why having the support of a professional translation service can help you take that additional step your company needs to grow its business abroad.
Documents that Require Certification
There are several types of certified translations. However, they can broadly be divided into three big classifications depending on the motivation for their production.
- Personal translations: This includes personal documents such as academic records and bank statements that may be required to undertake legal or administrative procedures in another country.
- Civil documents: Files issued by any government agency, such as birth certificates, powers of attorney, immigration proceedings, among others.
- Business documents: This can include company charters, company registrations and all types of legal and administrative procedures before government agencies.
Overall, any document can be translated by an official organization; however, certification depends on the document’s objectives and legal requirements. An example could be the following: When a pharmaceutical company requests certified translations of its clinical trials to register products before health authorities, such as the Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks (Cofepris) of Mexico.
What Should a Certified Translation Contain?
As with all official documents we must take care that official translations contain the necessary information to certify its validity. Documents of this type must at least contain the following:
- A cover sheet, with the date, name and signature of the translator.
- A statement on the credentials of the expert translator (perito) that will carry out the work.
- A seal or statement certifying the precision and accurateness of the translation.
- Identification of the translated document and the original language.
- Government authority that grants authority to the expert translator.
At Servicio Lingüístico Empresarial we provide the support your company needs to break across barriers and become known in industries throughout the globe. If you want to start operations in Mexico or if you are thinking of offering your products in the United States, we have the translation services that you need. Our professional translations are focused on the specific needs of our clients. Get to know all of our services in our website and do not hesitate to contact us if you need more information. At SLE we give you the best quality service and the assurance that your sensitive information will be well guarded. Ask today for a quotation!
