ID Card Translation Services in the UK: Certified, Home Office-Accepted

What are ID card translation services?

ID card translation services are certified conversions of a foreign national identity card into English, produced by a CIOL or ITI-registered translator with a signed certificate of accuracy accepted by the UK Home Office, UKVI, courts, universities and employers.

Why do I need to translate my ID card?

A translated ID card is required whenever a UK authority, university or employer must read a foreign identity document in English, including UKVI visa applications, Home Office settlement, university admissions, DBS checks, opening a UK bank account and property purchases.

How can I translate my ID card into English?

To translate an ID card into English, send a colour scan of both sides to a CIOL or ITI-registered translation company, receive a fixed quote, approve it, then receive a signed PDF certified translation within 2–3 working days that can be submitted to UK authorities.

How much do ID card translation services cost in the UK?

Certified ID card translation in the UK starts from £25 per document, with longer bilingual back-copy priced at £0.10–£0.20 per word depending on language pair; same-day and weekend delivery add a 30–50% surcharge, and the signed certificate of accuracy is included at no extra cost.

How long does it take to get an ID card translated?

Standard turnaround for a certified ID card translation is 2–3 working days for both single and double-sided cards; same-day delivery is available in Central London at a 30–50% surcharge, and weekend delivery is available at the same uplift.

Are ID card translations accepted by the UK Home Office and UKVI?

ID card translations produced by CIOL/ITI-registered translators or ATC-member companies are accepted by the UK Home Office, UKVI, HM Passport Office, HM Courts, UK ENIC and UK universities, provided each translation carries a signed statement of accuracy, translator credentials, contact details and the date.

Foreign national identity cards submitted to UK authorities must be accompanied by a certified English translation. This page covers pricing, turnaround, UK acceptance, the certification process and the languages we work with, so a reader in London, Manchester or Edinburgh can order without a second search.

What are ID card translation services?

ID card translation services are certified conversions of a foreign national identity card into English, produced by a CIOL or ITI-registered translator with a signed certificate of accuracy accepted by the UK Home Office, UKVI, courts, universities and employers. This page is a spoke of our wider Document Translation UK: Certified Services for Visas, Legal, Academic and Business Documents hub, focused specifically on identity documents.

Every certified ID card translation we issue includes:

Which cards count as an 'ID card' for translation purposes?

National identity cards, EEA identity cards, residence permit cards and consular ID cards all count. Passports and driving licences are handled on separate service pages. Typical source countries include Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Germany, Poland, Romania, Ukraine, Turkey and Brazil.

What is included in a certified ID card translation?

Every certified ID card translation includes a page-for-page English version of both sides of the card, a signed certificate of accuracy, the translator's credentials, and a digital PDF plus optional hard copy. We also apply a layout-fidelity checklist unique to identity cards:

Why do I need to translate my ID card?

A translated ID card is required whenever a UK authority, university or employer must read a foreign identity document in English, including UKVI visa applications, Home Office settlement, university admissions, DBS checks, opening a UK bank account and property purchases.

Which UK situations require a translated ID card?

Seven UK situations regularly require a certified English translation of a foreign identity card:

1. UKVI visa, settlement and citizenship applications.
2. Home Office right-to-work checks by employers.
3. HM Passport Office renewals for dual nationals.
4. HM Courts and Tribunals filings and witness statements.
5. UK ENIC statements of comparability.
6. University enrolment and student finance.
7. Employer onboarding and DBS Criminal Record Check submissions.

For visa bundles, most applicants pair the ID card with other Immigration Documents such as birth certificates and marriage certificates.

How can I translate my ID card into English?

To translate an ID card into English, send a colour scan of both sides to a CIOL or ITI-registered translation company, receive a fixed quote, approve it, then receive a signed PDF certified translation within 2–3 working days. The output can be submitted directly to UK authorities including the Home Office, UKVI, HM Passport Office, and UK courts — no further endorsement is required for most domestic purposes.

What is the step-by-step ID card translation process?

The translation process runs in five ordered steps:

1. Upload a colour scan or high-resolution photo of both sides of the card — the original document does not need to be posted.
2. Receive a quote within one working hour; pricing starts from £25 per document for standard cards.
3. Approve and pay online securely.
4. Translation and QC by a second linguist under ISO 17100, ensuring accuracy and consistency.
5. Delivery of the signed PDF, accompanied by a certificate of accuracy on agency letterhead, with an optional posted hard copy available.

Every certified translation is produced by a translator who holds membership of CIOL or ITI, or works within an ATC-member company. The certificate of accuracy is included at no extra cost and carries the translator's signature, the date, and a declaration that the English rendering is a true and complete translation of the source document.

Do I need to post my original national ID card?

The original national ID card does not need to be posted. UK certified translations are produced from a colour scan or high-resolution photo of both sides. The certificate of accuracy references the scanned source, and the UK Home Office accepts translations produced this way. This means the process is entirely remote — clients anywhere in the UK can upload a scan and receive a legally valid certified translation without visiting an office or entrusting their original document to the postal system.

How much do ID card translation services cost in the UK?

Certified ID card translation in the UK starts from £25 per document. Longer bilingual back-copy is priced at £0.10–£0.20 per source word depending on language pair. Same-day and weekend delivery add a 30–50% surcharge, and the signed certificate of accuracy is included at no extra cost.

What is the ID card translation price list?

Service	Turnaround	Price (GBP)
Single-page certified ID card translation	2–3 working days	From £25 per document
Multi-language ID card with detailed back-copy	2–3 working days	£0.10–£0.20 per source word
Same-day delivery (Central London)	Same working day	+30–50% surcharge
Weekend delivery	Saturday or Sunday	+30–50% surcharge
Notarised ID card translation	3–5 working days	Notary fee itemised separately
Apostille via FCDO Legalisation Office	7–10 working days	FCDO fee itemised separately
Certificate of accuracy	Included	£0

What four factors affect the price of ID card translation?

Four factors drive the price of an ID card translation:

1. Language pair rarity — rare pairs such as Amharic or Pashto sit at the top of the per-word band.
2. Subject-matter complexity of any endorsements or legal annotations on the card.
3. Document length beyond 250 words on bilingual back-copy.
4. Urgency — same-day or weekend delivery adds a 30–50% surcharge.

How much should I pay for translation services in the UK generally?

Certified translation in the UK generally sits at £0.10–£0.20 per source word, or a fixed price from £25 for short personal certificates such as ID cards, birth or marriage certificates. Prices under that range often signal unqualified translators whose work is rejected by the Home Office. Quality translation from CIOL or ITI members carries a signed statement, not a low headline rate.

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How long does it take to get an ID card translated?

Standard turnaround for a certified ID card translation is 2–3 working days for both single and double-sided cards. This timeframe covers the full workflow: translator assignment, word-for-word rendering into English, independent quality check by a second linguist, and attachment of the signed certificate of accuracy on agency letterhead.

Documents under 1,000 words — which covers the vast majority of national identity cards — can be delivered within 24 hours on request. Same-day delivery is available at a 30–50% surcharge on the standard price, and weekend delivery carries the same uplift. Rush orders placed before midday on a working day are typically completed by close of business the same day, subject to language-pair availability. Clients who need a physical hard copy as well as a digital PDF should allow one additional postal working day on top of the translation turnaround.

Turnaround is consistent across all 150+ language pairs we cover, because each language team maintains dedicated capacity for identity document translation. If your submission deadline is fixed — for example, a UKVI application window or a university enrolment date — it is worth specifying the deadline at the quoting stage so the team can confirm feasibility before work begins.

Are ID card translations accepted by the UK Home Office and UKVI?

ID card translations produced by CIOL or ITI-registered translators, or ATC-member companies, are accepted by the UK Home Office, UKVI, HM Passport Office, HM Courts, UK ENIC and UK universities — provided each translation carries a signed statement of accuracy, translator credentials, contact details and the date.

Which UK authorities accept certified ID card translations?

Our certified translations of identification documents are accepted by:

What must a Home Office-accepted ID card translation contain?

A Home Office-accepted translation must contain four elements, all on agency letterhead:

1. Confirmation that it is an accurate translation and an accurate representation of the original document.
2. The date of translation.
3. The translator's full name and signature.
4. The translator's contact details, including CIOL or ITI membership number.

What is a certified ID card translation?

A certified ID card translation is a word-for-word English rendering of a foreign identity card accompanied by a signed statement from the translator confirming it is an accurate representation of the original document. It is produced by a CIOL or ITI-qualified professional translator. For the wider service context see our Certified Translation page.

What does 'certifying a translation' actually mean in the UK?

Certifying a translation in the UK means the translator or translation company signs a statement confirming the translation is an accurate representation of the original document. The certifier adds the date, contact details and professional membership. The signatory accepts professional responsibility for accuracy, which is why UK government agencies rely on the certification instead of a separate notarisation.

What is the difference between certified, notarised, sworn and apostilled ID card translations?

Certified translations are the UK default; notarised translations add a notary public witnessing the translator's signature; sworn translations do not exist in UK law; and an apostille legalises the translation for use abroad under the Hague Convention. The table below shows which UK body accepts which format for a translated ID card.

Format	What it adds	Accepted by	When to choose it
Certified	Signed statement of accuracy from a CIOL/ITI translator	UK Home Office, UKVI, HM Courts, UK ENIC, universities, employers	Any UK submission
Notarised	UK notary public witnesses the translator's signature	Some overseas embassies and consulates	Overseas authorities that request it
Sworn	Not available in UK law; CIOL/ITI certified equivalent used	Recognised in the UK as certified	When an overseas body asks for a "sworn translation"
Apostilled	FCDO Legalisation Office apostille attached	Hague Convention countries abroad	Using the translated ID card outside the UK

When do I need a notarised ID card translation?

A notarised translation is needed when an overseas authority — for example a Middle Eastern embassy or a Latin American consulate — asks for a notary public to witness the translator's signature. UK bodies do not require notarisation. The notary public verifies the signatory's identity, not the translation content.

When is an apostille required for an ID card translation?

An apostille is typically required when the translated ID card must be presented to authorities in another Hague Convention country. The apostille is issued by the FCDO Legalisation Office after the translation has been certified and, where the destination country requests it, notarised. The resulting legalised translation is then valid abroad.

Do sworn translations of ID cards exist in the UK?

The UK government does not appoint sworn translators. Instead, translators registered with the Chartered Institute of Linguists or the Institute of Translation and Interpreting produce certified translations that carry the same legal weight for UK authorities. This CIOL/ITI equivalence is set out in full on our Certified Translation page.

Where can I find ID card translation services in the UK?

ID card translation services are available UK-wide by uploading a scan online. Because the original document does not need to be posted, the service is fully accessible to clients in every part of the country — from London, Manchester and Birmingham to Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast — with no requirement to attend an office in person.

Our office at Suite 544, Unit B, 63-66 Hatton Garden, London EC1N 8LE serves Central London walk-ins Monday to Saturday, 09:00–18:00. We deliver certified PDFs to clients across London, Manchester, Cardiff, Birmingham and Edinburgh, with a network of translators covering 150+ languages. Contact: +44 20 7459 4983.

A certified ID card translation produced by a CIOL or ITI-registered translator is accepted by the UK Home Office, UKVI, HM Passport Office, HM Courts Service, UK ENIC, universities, and most UK employers. When selecting a provider, confirm that the translator holds recognised professional membership and that the certificate of accuracy is included as standard — both are required for submissions to UK government bodies. Our translations carry an ATC accreditation stamp alongside the translator's signed certification, giving receiving organisations immediate confidence in the document's validity.

Can I translate my ID card myself?

You cannot translate your own ID card for official UK use. The Home Office, UKVI and UK courts require the translation to be produced by an independent professional translator or translation company registered with CIOL, ITI, or the Association of Translation Companies (ATC). A self-translation is rejected on submission, even if the wording is technically correct, because the certifier cannot be independent of the applicant — independence is a fundamental requirement of the certification process.

Being bilingual is not sufficient qualification to produce a certified translation. A certified translation is a word-for-word English version of the source document, signed and dated by a CIOL/ITI translator or an ATC-member company, accompanied by a formal certificate of accuracy on the agency's letterhead. That certificate carries the translator's professional declaration of completeness and accuracy — something a self-translator cannot lawfully provide for their own document.

Attempting a self-translation can delay a visa application, a court submission, or a university enrolment, as the receiving authority will return the document and require a compliant certified version before processing can continue. Using a qualified professional from the outset is therefore both faster and more cost-effective than correcting a rejected submission at a later stage.

What languages can an ID card be translated into?

An ID card can be translated between English and 150+ languages. Every job is matched to a translator who is qualified in both the source language and English, and who has specific experience with identity documents. This specialisation matters because national ID cards contain abbreviated field labels, issuing-authority terminology, and jurisdiction-specific data formats that require subject-matter familiarity as well as linguistic skill.

Frequently requested language pairs for identity card translation include:

• Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and French — for EU and EEA national identity cards.
• Polish, Romanian, Bulgarian and Hungarian — for Central and Eastern European cards, which represent a high volume of UK immigration and employment submissions.
• German, Dutch and Greek — for further EU member-state jurisdictions.
• Ukrainian, Russian, Turkish and Arabic — for non-EU national identity cards, including those with Cyrillic or Arabic script that requires specialist transcription as well as translation.
• Mandarin, Bengali, Urdu and Punjabi — for high-volume UK diaspora communities whose ID cards may also require transliteration of names into the Latin alphabet.

Coverage extends beyond these common pairs to include less widely spoken languages across Africa, South-East Asia, and the Pacific region. If your language combination is not listed above, contact us with the document details and we will confirm translator availability, turnaround, and pricing — starting from £25 per document — before you commit to an order.

Answers to the most common questions on certified ID card translation in the UK — pricing, turnaround, UKVI acceptance, digital delivery and DIY translations.

Frequently asked questions

How much should I pay for translation services?

For certified translation in the UK, expect to pay £0.10–£0.20 per word, depending on the language pair and subject matter. Short personal documents — such as ID cards, birth certificates, or passports — are typically quoted at a fixed price per document, starting from £25. Large technical, legal, or regulatory projects are quoted individually. Always check whether a signed certificate of accuracy is included; reputable providers include this at no extra cost.

How much do translation services cost in the UK?

Certified translation in the UK is typically priced at £0.10–£0.20 per word, with single personal documents such as ID cards, passports, and birth certificates starting from £25 per document. Standard turnaround is 2–3 working days; same-day or weekend delivery is available at a 30–50% surcharge. Complex legal, technical, or regulatory projects are scoped and quoted individually. The price should always include a signed certificate of accuracy — confirm this before ordering.

How much does a certified translation cost in the UK?

A certified translation of a single personal document in the UK starts from £25 per document. Per-word rates run from £0.10–£0.20 depending on the language pair and subject. The standard turnaround is 2–3 working days, and a signed certificate of accuracy should be included at no extra charge. Urgent same-day or weekend delivery carries a 30–50% surcharge, while large or complex projects are quoted on an individual basis.

Where can I get my birth certificate translated in the UK?

You can get a birth certificate translated by a certified translation agency in the UK, such as Certified Translation Services, based at Suite 544, Unit B, 63-66 Hatton Garden, London EC1N 8LE. For Home Office, HM Passport Office, or court submissions, the translation must be accompanied by a signed certificate of accuracy. Certified Translation Services covers 150+ languages, follows an ISO 17100 process, and has each translation checked by a second linguist. Standard turnaround is 2–3 working days, with pricing starting from £25.

How can I translate my ID card into English?

To translate an ID card into English, use a certified translation agency that produces a signed certificate of accuracy alongside the translated text. Most UK authorities — including the Home Office and HM Passport Office — require certified translations for official identity documents. Certified Translation Services covers 150+ languages and delivers standard ID card translations in 2–3 working days from £25. Same-day and weekend options are available at a 30–50% surcharge. You can reach them on +44 20 7459 4983.

Who can certify translation in the UK?

In the UK, a certified translation can be produced by a professional translator or translation agency that issues a signed certificate of accuracy confirming the translation is complete and correct to the best of their knowledge. There is no single statutory body that licences certified translators, but providers following ISO 17100 standards — using subject-qualified translators and a second-linguist review — are widely accepted by the Home Office, UKVI, courts, and universities. Membership of professional bodies such as the ITI or CIOL is an additional quality indicator.

Can I do my own certified translation?

No — you cannot certify your own translation of a document you have a personal interest in. UK authorities such as the Home Office and UKVI require the certified translation to be produced by an independent, qualified translator or agency who can impartially sign a certificate of accuracy. Submitting a self-certified translation of your own ID card or passport is very likely to be rejected. Always use a professional provider that follows a recognised quality standard such as ISO 17100.

Can anyone do a certified translation?

Technically, any bilingual individual can translate a document, but only a suitably qualified and independent translator or agency can issue a valid signed certificate of accuracy. UK authorities expect translations to be produced by someone with no personal interest in the document, who is competent in both languages and the subject area. Providers accredited to ISO 17100 — with subject-qualified translators and a second-linguist review — give the highest assurance of acceptance by the Home Office, courts, and universities.

What is the difference between an official translation and a certified translation?

A certified translation includes a signed certificate of accuracy from the translator or agency, confirming the translation is a true and complete rendering of the original — this is what UK bodies such as the Home Office and UKVI require. The term 'official translation' is less precise and may simply mean a translation prepared for formal use, without necessarily carrying such a certificate. For any UK visa, immigration, court, or university application involving an ID card or other identity document, always request a certified translation explicitly.

How do I know if a translation is certified?

A certified translation will include a signed statement — the certificate of accuracy — from the translator or agency, declaring that the translation is accurate and complete to the best of their professional knowledge. It typically shows the translator's name, qualifications or company details, signature, date, and often a stamp. If a translation you receive does not contain this separate signed certificate, it is not certified and is unlikely to be accepted by the Home Office, UKVI, or UK courts.

How can I get official documents translated in the UK?

Contact a certified translation agency that covers your language pair and document type. Certified Translation Services handles 150+ languages for all common official documents — ID cards, passports, birth and marriage certificates, diplomas, and more — following an ISO 17100 process with a second-linguist check. Each translation includes a signed certificate of accuracy at no extra cost. Standard turnaround is 2–3 working days, with pricing from £25 for a single personal document. Call +44 20 7459 4983 or visit Suite 544, Unit B, 63-66 Hatton Garden, London EC1N 8LE.

Which certified translation services are the best in the UK?

The best certified translation services in the UK combine ISO 17100-compliant processes, subject-qualified translators, a mandatory second-linguist review, and a signed certificate of accuracy included at no extra charge. Acceptance by the Home Office, UKVI, HM Passport Office, courts, and universities is the practical test of quality. Certified Translation Services meets all these criteria, covers 150+ languages, delivers in 2–3 working days from £25 for a single personal document, and is reachable Monday–Saturday 9:00–18:00 on +44 20 7459 4983.

Is ChatGPT a good translator?

ChatGPT is not a suitable tool for certified translation of official documents such as ID cards. While it can produce rough translations for informal understanding, it cannot issue a signed certificate of accuracy, has no professional accountability, and its output has not been reviewed by a qualified second linguist. The Home Office, UKVI, courts, and UK universities all require certified translations produced by a qualified, independent human translator or agency — AI-generated translations will not meet this requirement.

How to read a Romanian identity card?

A Romanian identity card (Carte de Identitate) contains fields in Romanian including: CNP (personal numeric code), nume (surname), prenume (first name), cetățenie (nationality), loc naștere (place of birth), domiciliu (address), sex, and valabilitate (validity/expiry date). For UK official purposes — visa applications, Right to Work checks, or university enrolment — a certified English translation of the card is required. A qualified translator will render all fields accurately and attach a signed certificate of accuracy, as required by the Home Office.