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IRCC Translation Requirements: What You Need and Where to Get It
IRCC accepts a certified translation of every foreign-language document, with a signed translator declaration. We prepare exactly that package in Toronto and Ottawa: a one-page document is $59, ready in 1 to 2 business days, and you get an instant quote before you pay.
Which translation does IRCC need? Pick the right one and pay only for that
Most applicants overpay for a notary they do not need. IRCC itself accepts a certified translation from a translation agency. Only a few programs and foreign consulates ask for more.
Regular certified translation
- Immigration, visa, PR card, citizenship, sponsorship, work and study permits
- Full translation with our certified declaration and contact details
- Certified PDF or hard copy by Canada Post free; both together $15
- Ready in 1 to 2 business days
Notarized translation
- Needed only when a foreign institution asks for it: consulates, embassies, some overseas authorities
- Sworn affidavit before a commissioner, attached to the translation
- Takes 2 to 4 days longer
ATIO certified translation
- Required by OINP, courts, and regulators such as NDEB, PEO, CPA, PEBC, OCT
- Done by a member of the Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario
- Takes 2 to 4 days longer
Not sure? Upload the document and choose "Immigration, visa (IRCC)" in the form. If your file needs another route, we say so before you pay.
The IRCC checklist. Every item is included in our package
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada returns files for missing details, not for style. These are the four things a case officer looks for.
- Complete translation. Every word, stamp, seal, signature and handwritten note, including the back side of civil documents.
- Translator declaration. A signed statement that the translation is accurate and complete, with the date.
- Verifiable contact details. Translator or agency name, address, phone and email, so the officer can check.
- Affidavit when required. If the translator is not certified by a recognised body, a sworn affidavit is added. Our regular certified package covers standard IRCC files without it.
How it works
Scan or photograph
PDF, JPG, PNG, HEIC or Word. A clear phone photo is fine. Include the back side if it has stamps.
Get the price instantly
Upload in the form, pick the purpose and delivery. The price appears on screen and goes to your email.
Pay online
Card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal or Interac e-Transfer. Work starts right after payment.
Receive the translation
Certified PDF by email in 1 to 2 business days. A hard copy by Canada Post instead of the PDF is free, both together $15. Xpresspost $30.
Documents we translate for IRCC every day
Passport stamps are priced per stamp at $7. Card-size documents such as ID cards and driver's licences count as one page.
Prices and delivery at a glance
| Regular certified, first page | $59 |
|---|---|
| Each additional page | $49 |
| Notarized or ATIO, first page | from $99 |
| Certified PDF by email | Free |
| Hard copy by Canada Post | Free |
| Hard copy and PDF together | $15 |
| Xpresspost | $30 |
| Orders over $400 | 10% off, over $800 20% off |
Prices in CAD before 13% HST. Full list on the pricing page.
Why IRCC sends translations back, and how we prevent it
- Missing back side of a birth or marriage certificate.The form asks you for both sides, and our checker flags a one-sided civil document before pricing.
- A stamp marked "illegible" with nothing else.We describe every stamp: shape, colour, issuing office and the readable parts.
- Translator signature without contact details.Every page carries the agency name, address, phone and email.
- Translation done by a relative.IRCC rejects translations by the applicant or family, even certified ones. Ours is independent by definition.
- Names spelled differently across documents.Tell us the passport spelling in the form comments and we use it everywhere.
- Wrong route for the program.OINP is not federal IRCC and needs ATIO. The form asks for the purpose and warns you when the route differs.
Questions people ask before ordering
Does IRCC require a notarized translation?
No. IRCC accepts a certified translation with the translator's declaration and contact details. A sworn affidavit is required only when the translator is not certified by a recognised body. Our regular certified translation at $59 per page is the standard IRCC package; notarization is needed mainly by foreign consulates.
Can a family member or friend translate my documents?
No. IRCC does not accept translations by the applicant, family members or anyone with an interest in the application, even if they are certified translators.
Do I send the original or a scan?
A clear scan or phone photo is enough. IRCC online applications take PDF uploads, and our certified PDF is accepted. If the original has stamps on the back, photograph both sides.
How long does it take?
Regular certified translation of standard documents is ready in 1 to 2 business days. ATIO and notarized translations take 2 to 4 days longer because a certified member or a commissioner must sign.
Is an ATIO translation better for IRCC?
Not for IRCC. ATIO certification is required by the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program, courts and professional regulators. For federal immigration files a regular certified translation is accepted, so paying for ATIO is unnecessary unless the receiving body asks for it.
What if IRCC asks for changes?
If a case officer requests a correction to a translation we produced, we correct the translation and reissue the certified file. Send us the officer's note and the file reference.
Get your IRCC translation quote in about a minute
Upload the documents, see the price, pay online, receive the certified PDF by email. Toronto and Ottawa offices, translators for more than 100 languages.
See also: IRCC certified translation · IRCC translation in Ontario · In-depth FAQ guide · Pricing · MTO-approved translators