Birth certificates are among the most frequently translated civil documents — and among the easiest to submit incompletely.
Birth certificates are among the most frequently translated civil documents. They may be required for immigration, citizenship, passports, family matters, education, licensing or other official processes. A birth certificate translation should reproduce the information on the source document accurately and completely. The receiving organization determines whether certification, an affidavit, notarization or a particular delivery format is required.
For IRCC citizenship documents, all text on the original must be included in the translation, including letterhead, fine print and stamps. Express Entry instructions similarly require stamps and seals not in English or French to be translated.
Names translated or transliterated from Arabic, Persian, Ukrainian, Chinese and other writing systems can have more than one legitimate Latin-script spelling. Where appropriate, provide the translator with the spelling used in your passport or Canadian immigration records.
The translator should still translate the source document faithfully. Supporting identity spelling can help consistency, but it should not be used to change the meaning of the original.
Yes. Provide a clear scan or photograph of the entire document. If the reverse side contains stamps, registration details or annotations, include it as well.
The answer depends on the receiving organization. Online applications may accept an electronic file, while other institutions may request a physical original or specific certification format. Confirm this before ordering if the requirement is unclear.
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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.
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