Many clients ask: "Do I need a certified or a regular translation?" — the answer depends on the authority you're submitting the document to. This article explains the difference in detail.
Certified Translation
An official translation produced by a licensed translation office, carrying the office seal, translator's signature and date, attached to a copy of the original document. This type is required for:
- Embassy procedures (visas, immigration, family reunification)
- Courts, prosecution offices and legal rulings
- Universities and degree equivalency
- Official government bodies (Notary, Commercial Registry)
Regular Translation
An accurate text translation without an official seal, suitable for:
- Business correspondence and emails
- Marketing content and websites
- Research and articles for personal or informal academic use
- Internal company contracts not submitted to an official authority
How do you know which one you need?
The simplest way is to ask the receiving authority directly: "Do you require a certified translation?" If the answer is yes, you need an officially accredited translation office like City Translation, accredited by all embassies and government bodies in Egypt.