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.
If a document required for an Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada application is not in English or French, translation requirements can become part of the application checklist. The precise rule depends on the IRCC program, so applicants should always follow the instructions for the application they are submitting.
For Express Entry permanent residence, IRCC describes a certified translator as a member in good standing of a professional translation association in Canada or abroad. Certification must be confirmed by a seal or stamp showing the translator's membership number.
For Canadian citizenship, IRCC defines a Canadian certified translator as a member in good standing of a provincial or territorial organization of translators and interpreters in Canada.
IRCC's current Express Entry permanent residence instructions say that a document in a language other than English or French must be accompanied by an English or French translation that meets the stated requirements, together with a scan of the original document or, where applicable, the certified photocopy used for the translation.
IRCC also specifically requires stamps and seals that are not in English or French to be translated.
Under the Express Entry instructions, an affidavit is the alternative when a translation cannot be completed by a certified translator. The translated document and the source document used must be referred to in the affidavit.
Citizenship instructions similarly distinguish Canadian certified translators from uncertified translators, with an affidavit generally required for the latter.
For Express Entry, IRCC states that an applicant's family member, representative or consultant is not permitted to translate the documents in the circumstances covered by the rule. Citizenship instructions also prohibit applicants and specified family members from acting as the translator.
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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.
Express Entry applicants often gather records from several countries. When a required document is not in English or French, IRCC’s translation rules must be followed.
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