Certified Translation Services for Immigration, Legal, and Business Needs in Canada
If you’re submitting documents to a Canadian authority and they aren’t in English or French, you’ll likely need a certified translation in Canada.
This guide explains what “certified” actually means here, who can produce it, when you need it, and how to get it.
What Does Certified Translation in Canada Mean?
In Canada, you have the legal obligation to submit official documents in either French or English.
The term “certified” typically means the translation is completed and signed by a translator certified by a recognised provincial body (e.g., OTTIAQ in Québec, or ATIO in Ontario) or accompanied by an affidavit of accuracy when a non-certified translator is used.
Federal immigration rules also specify what must accompany any translation.
Why Is the Demand So High for Certified Translations?
Canada is linguistically diverse.
In the 2021 Census, approximately 10.7 million people, nearly 3 in 10 Canadians, could converse in a non-official language, underscoring the need for official bodies to regularly require translations.
When Do You Need a Certified Translation in Canada?
- Immigration (IRCC): Unless told otherwise, supporting documents must be in English or French.
- If not, you must submit (1) a translation, (2) an affidavit from the translator, and (3) a certified copy of the original document.
- IRCC also clarifies what an affidavit is and who can administer it. Family members and representatives can’t translate your documents.
- Education & credential evaluation (WES Canada): For evaluations processed in Canada, WES requires English or French translations for documents issued in other languages. This often applies to diplomas, transcripts, and syllabi.
- Driver licensing (BC example): If you’re exchanging a foreign licence, ICBC uses approved translators for licence and driving record translations; they publish lists and instructions. Similar practices exist in other provinces.
- Provincial immigration programs (Ontario example): The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) requires translations by a certified translator accredited by ATIO if you’re applying from within Ontario.
- Courts & legal matters: Courts and some professional regulators will insist on translations by certified professionals or notarised/affidavit translations, depending on the proceeding. Requirements vary by jurisdiction.
Who Can Produce a Certified Translation in Canada?
Provincial Certification
Canada regulates the title of certified translator at the provincial level:
- Québec (OTTIAQ): A professional order under Québec’s Professional Code with a reserved title (C. Tr., trad. a.). Members follow strict standards and are publicly searchable in the directory.
- Ontario (ATIO): Certified members hold a reserved title by law under Ontario legislation (Association of Translators and Interpreters Act, 1989). ATIO also administers national certification exams locally.
- Other provinces/territories: Parallel associations exist (e.g., STIBC in BC). Nationally, CTTIC coordinates certification standards and exams for translators and court/medical/community interpreters.
Why this matters: Many institutions explicitly ask for translations by a certified provincial member.
Choosing one minimises extra steps and rejections. (If you use a non-certified translator, you’ll usually need an affidavit, and some authorities won’t accept that route.)
The Affidavit Route (When Allowed)
If a non-certified translator does the work, IRCC requires an affidavit of accuracy, sworn in front of a notary public or commissioner of oaths (or equivalent authority outside Canada).
This affidavit confirms accuracy; it doesn’t “certify” the person’s qualifications. Some bodies accept it; others insist on a provincially certified translator. Always check the specific program’s rules.
How to Get a Certified Translation in Canada with BeTranslated
- Share your requirement and authority
Send the request form or checklist from your authority (IRCC, WES, court, regulator, or provincial program). We will review the official translation rules and confirm in writing the exact acceptance criteria for certified translations in Canada for your case. - We match the correct translator
If the rules require a provincially certified translator, we assign your translation to one of our certified translators in Canada. - You provide clear, complete materials
Upload legible scans or photos of the original documents and, where required, a certified true copy. If you’re unsure how to obtain a certified copy, we provide step-by-step guidance. - IRCC/authority-compliant formatting
For IRCC and similar bodies, we reproduce seals and stamps in the translation, include any marginal notes, and avoid summaries. Every page is formatted for easy cross-checking with the source (pagination, footers, and transliteration where needed). - Compliance package: what you receive
- Signed translation on BeTranslated letterhead
- Translator’s full name, professional title, association, and membership number (when a certified translator is required)
- Affidavit of accuracy (when the affidavit route is used)
- Guidance or inclusion of certified copies, depending on your authority’s rules set
Everything is delivered as a secure PDF; hard copies with wet signatures can be shipped on request.
- Quote, timeline, and updates
You get a fixed quote before we begin based on language pair, document condition, and urgency. Short civil documents are typically completed in a few business days; complex files may take longer. We provide progress updates and a delivery window up front. - Aftercare and extras
Need additional certified copies, notarised duplicates, or a minor formatting tweak requested by the authority? We handle follow-ups quickly and keep your project archived for easy re-issue if you need more sets later.
Certified Translations for Canadian Businesses and Other Industries
Canadian companies often need certified translations in Canada when documents are filed with regulators, insurers, courts, or government programs.
This comes up in cross-border deals, hiring international talent, and public-facing compliance.
- Tourism & hospitality: tour contracts, liability waivers, safety briefings, vendor agreements, insurance policies, and seasonal-staff paperwork (e.g., job offers and payroll records). Using certified translations for the tourism industry in Canada helps with permits, audits, and claims.
- E-commerce & manufacturing: product compliance labels, user manuals, SDS, warranties, and RFP responses—often requested as certified translations for Canadian businesses to meet provincial/federal standards.
- Health tech & biotech: ethics approvals, clinical trial agreements, patient materials, and procurement contracts that require certified translation services in Canada for submissions and audits.
- Fintech & professional services: KYC/AML policies, audit reports, partnership contracts, and court exhibits—frequently requested as business-certified translations in Canada.
- Education & training providers: employment records, diplomas, transcripts, and certification results for hiring or licensing.
How BeTranslated Can Help
Need certified translations in Canada done right the first time?
BeTranslated works with vetted, provincially certified translators and experienced affidavit partners across Canada.
We’ll confirm your authority’s requirements, prepare compliant deliverables (translation, affidavit if needed, certified copies guidance), and match you with the right specialist for immigration, education, licensing, legal, and corporate use cases.
Get a free quote today and move your application forward with confidence.
FAQs
Can I translate my own documents or use a relative?
No. IRCC explicitly disallows translations by the applicant, family members, or representatives (including lawyers and notaries acting as your representative).
Do all institutions accept affidavit-based translations?
No. Some (like OINP) require a provincially certified translator. Others allow affidavits. Always read the exact requirement for your case
What about seals and stamps?
IRCC expects stamps and seals on the translation where applicable, and the translation must cover any seals/stamps on the source.
How do I verify a translator for a certified translation in Canada?
Use the provincial directories (e.g., OTTIAQ directory in Québec; similar tools exist for other provinces) to confirm active certification and your language pair.