Citizenship applications can involve records issued in other countries and languages. IRCC’s citizenship instructions specify how the translation should be prepared.
Citizenship applications can involve records issued in other countries and languages. Where a required document is not in English or French, IRCC's citizenship instructions specify how the translation should be prepared.
IRCC describes a Canadian certified translator as a member in good standing of a provincial or territorial organization of translators and interpreters in Canada.
The translator seals or stamps the translated document, and the seal or stamp contains a membership number that can be verified.
IRCC's current adult citizenship instructions state that the certified translator must translate the content in the same order as the original document and include all text, such as letterhead, fine print and stamps.
This means customers should provide full, uncropped copies of the documents rather than screenshots showing only the main text.
IRCC permits an uncertified translator who is fluent in the required languages, but the translator must generally provide an affidavit confirming language proficiency and the accuracy of the translation.
IRCC also restricts the applicant and a defined group of family members from acting as the uncertified translator.
IRCC's citizenship guidance states that translators certified in Canada do not need to supply the affidavit required from uncertified translators.
Certilate connects applicants with verified certified translators and makes official-document translation easier to organize.
Get a quote →Information current as of 29 August 2026. Government and institutional requirements can change. Verify the receiving organization’s current instructions before submitting.
The question is not only whether a document was translated accurately. The receiving organization may also care who translated it, how their professional status is shown, and what the certification includes.
The two terms are often used as if they mean the same thing. They do not — and ordering the wrong one costs either money or a rejected submission.
If a document required for an IRCC application is not in English or French, translation becomes part of the checklist. The precise rule depends on the program.
Upload it once. We match it to a verified certified translator and bring you one clear quote.