Notarized Translation Services in Canada
A notarized translation is a certified translation accompanied by a sworn affidavit, witnessed and sealed by a notary public. We produce the certified translation in-house and arrange notarization — ready for foreign authorities, embassies, courts, and apostille.
What is a notarized translation?
A notarized translation is a certified translation that carries an additional layer of authentication: a notary public formally witnesses the translator's sworn declaration of accuracy. Importantly, the notary does not review the translation itself or judge its quality. Instead, the notary verifies the translator's identity and witnesses their signature on a sworn statement — an affidavit — confirming that the translation is a true and complete rendering of the original document.
The result is a complete package that combines the translator's professional certificate of accuracy with a notarial seal and signature, giving the document broader recognition for legal and international use. At Certilingua, every notarized translation begins as an official translation produced by an accredited Canadian translator, and then proceeds to notarization before a notary public — so you receive a single, ready-to-submit file.
Certified vs. notarized translation: what's the difference?
This is the single most common point of confusion for people preparing official documents in Canada — and choosing the wrong one can cause delays, extra fees, or a rejected submission. The two services are related but serve different functions. A certified translation attests to the accuracy of the translation; a notarized translation adds a notary's attestation of the translator's sworn signature. In short, certification is about the content, while notarization is about the formal act of swearing to it.
CERTIFIED TRANSLATION
Produced and signed by an accredited translator.
- ✓Signed certificate (declaration) of accuracy.
- ✓Translator's stamp and accreditation number.
- ✓Accepted by IRCC, courts, and most universities.
- ✓The standard, fastest option for most needs.
NOTARIZED TRANSLATION
A certified translation plus a sworn affidavit before a notary.
- ✓Everything in a certified translation.
- ✓Translator's affidavit sworn before a notary public.
- ✓Notarial seal and signature attesting the signature.
- ✓Required by some foreign and legal authorities.
Read the instructions first
Always check the exact wording from the organization requesting your documents. If they ask for a "certified translation," a translator's signed declaration is enough. If they specify "notarized" or "sworn," you will need a notary. When in doubt, send us the instructions and we will tell you which service you need — at no charge.
When do you need a notarized translation?
For most Canadian immigration, citizenship, and academic purposes, a certified translation is sufficient. A notarized translation is typically requested in the following situations:
Foreign authorities & governments
When a ministry, registry, or authority abroad requires a notarized translation of a Canadian document.
Embassies & consulates
For visa, consular, and legalization processes that ask for a notarized or sworn translation.
Universities abroad
Some foreign institutions require notarized translations of diplomas and transcripts for admission or equivalency.
Legal & court proceedings
Estate, succession, custody, and international litigation often call for notarized supporting translations.
Powers of attorney & real estate
Property transactions and powers of attorney used overseas usually begin with notarization.
Before an apostille
A translation used abroad often must be notarized before an apostille can be issued (see below).
How notarization works at Certilingua
Our process keeps everything under one roof, so you never have to find a translator and a notary separately. We handle the translation, the certificate of accuracy, and the notarial step, then deliver a single complete package.
Accredited translation
An accredited Canadian translator completes a faithful, word-for-word translation and issues a signed certificate of accuracy.
Sworn affidavit
The translator swears an affidavit before a notary public, attesting to their language proficiency and the accuracy of the translation.
Notarial seal
The notary witnesses the signature and applies their seal and signature, turning the certified translation into a notarized one.
Delivery (and apostille)
You receive the full notarized package by secure PDF and hard copy. If your document is headed abroad, we can also coordinate the apostille.
Notary public vs. commissioner of oaths
In Canada, two officials can administer oaths and witness sworn statements, and the right one depends on where your document will be used. A commissioner of oaths (or commissioner for taking affidavits) can administer oaths and witness affidavits and statutory declarations, and is generally sufficient when the sworn statement is for domestic use within the same province.
A notary public can do everything a commissioner can, and also certify true copies and notarize documents for broader domestic and international recognition. For anything destined for a foreign government, an embassy or consulate, an overseas transaction, or an apostille, a notary public is the correct and safer choice. In Quebec, notaries (notaires) are legal professionals with their own authority. For notarized translations intended for use outside Canada, we work with notaries public to ensure the document will be accepted.
Notarized translation and the apostille (Hague Convention)
If your document is going to another country, notarization is frequently the first step in a longer chain. As of January 11, 2024, Canada joined the Hague Apostille Convention. This means Global Affairs Canada and provincial authentication services no longer "authenticate" documents for legalization; instead, they issue an apostille — a single certificate that confirms the authenticity of a signature or seal so the document is accepted in any other member country, without further consular legalization.
Private documents — and translations — usually must be notarized before they can be apostilled, because the apostille certifies the notary's signature and seal. So a typical sequence for foreign use is: certified translation → notarized affidavit → apostille → submission abroad. If the destination country is not a Convention member, the older authentication-and-legalization route may still apply through that country's embassy or consulate. We can guide you through whichever path your destination requires.
One source of truth
Requirements vary by country and by receiving institution. Before you order, confirm whether the destination wants a certified translation, a notarized translation, or a notarized translation with an apostille. Send us the details and we will map out the exact steps for your file.
What our notarized translation includes
Every notarized translation we deliver is a complete, submission-ready package:
Pricing & delivery time
Notarization adds one step to the standard certified-translation timeline. Apostille service quoted separately depending on the province and destination country.
How to order your notarized translation
Upload your documents
Scan or photograph each document and tell us the destination country or institution.
We confirm the right service
We verify whether you need certified, notarized, or notarized + apostille, then quote it.
Receive your package
Notarized translation delivered as a signed PDF and hard copy, ready to submit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a certified and a notarized translation?
A certified translation includes the translator's signed declaration that the translation is accurate and complete. A notarized translation adds a sworn affidavit witnessed by a notary public, who attests to the translator's signature — not to the content of the translation itself.
Does IRCC require a notarized translation?
No. For most immigration and citizenship applications, IRCC accepts a certified translation from an accredited translator. A notarized affidavit is only needed when the translation is done by a non-certified translator. See our IRCC certified translation page for details.
When do I actually need a notarized translation?
Typically when a foreign authority, embassy, consulate, court, or overseas institution explicitly asks for a "notarized" or "sworn" translation, or when your document must be apostilled for use abroad.
Who notarizes the translation — a notary public or a commissioner of oaths?
For documents used internationally or that will be apostilled, a notary public is the correct choice, because a notary can perform every function a commissioner can, plus notarize for foreign use. We arrange notarization before a notary public.
Do I also need an apostille?
If your document is for use in a country that is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, an apostille usually replaces consular legalization. The translation generally must be notarized first. We can coordinate the apostille for you.
How much longer does notarization take?
Notarization adds one step to the standard certified-translation timeline, so notarized translations are usually delivered in 2–4 business days. Rush handling is available on request.
Can you notarize a translation done by someone else?
We notarize translations that we produce and certify, so we can stand behind the affidavit. If you already have a translation, we will review it and advise on the most reliable path to acceptance.
Need a notarized translation? We handle every step.
Certified translation · Sworn affidavit · Notary seal · Apostille coordination
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