Certified birth certificate translation is one of the most requested services at City Translation, especially for travel, immigration and study-abroad procedures. This article walks you through the steps and required documents so your translation is accepted the first time.
What's the difference between certified and regular translation?
A certified translation carries the seal and signature of a licensed translation office, and is attached to a copy of the original document, matching it exactly in names, dates and numbers. A regular translation is just plain text with no official seal, and is usually not accepted by embassies or government offices.
Steps to translate a birth certificate
- Bring the original certificate: preferably the original or a clear digital copy rather than an old paper photocopy, to ensure accurate names and dates.
- Specify the target language: based on the authority you're submitting to (US, UK, Canadian embassy, etc.), which often has a specific required format.
- Translation and review: a specialist translator produces the translation, which is then reviewed more than once to confirm it matches the original exactly.
- Seal and signature: the translation is stamped with the office's certified seal, the translator's signature and date, and attached to a copy of the original.
- Delivery: pick up from either of our branches (Nasr City or Fifth Settlement), or arrange courier delivery if you're outside Cairo.
Expected delivery time
Certified birth certificate translations are usually delivered the same day or within 24 hours at most, depending on the number of documents and current workload, with rush options available for urgent cases.
Important tip
Always confirm whether the receiving authority (embassy, university, government office) requires additional authentication such as an apostille or foreign ministry attestation, as some require this alongside the certified translation.