Certified Translation in Canada
Certified translation across Canada by translators who belong to a provincial order (OTTIAQ, ATIO, STIBC, ATIA and more), prepared to the requirements of IRCC, the MIFI, the SAAQ, courts and universities.
What is a certified translation in Canada?
A certified translation in Canada is signed by a translator who belongs to a provincial order, such as OTTIAQ, ATIO or STIBC. Asiatis prepares each translation to the requirement of the receiving body (IRCC, MIFI, SAAQ, WES) and shows the translator's seal, order and membership number, which the client can verify.
How certified translation works in Canada
In Canada, a certified translation is signed by a translator who belongs to a provincial order or association of translators. For immigration papers, driver's licences or diplomas, the form of the translation matters as much as its content: a translation that does not meet the receiving body's requirement can get your application returned.
Asiatis delivers certified translations signed by translators from the Canadian provincial orders: OTTIAQ, ATIO, STIBC, ATIA, ATIS, ATIM, CTINB or ATINS. Every translation carries the translator's signature, seal, order and membership number.
You receive a PDF under digital seal by email; a paper copy is mailed on request, with shipping fees.
Digital or Paper Format: Which one?
Most institutions accept the digital format, but some still require the paper original.
1. Digital Certified (PDF)
A single PDF holds the translation and a copy of the source document, under the same digital seal of the translator. For ATIO and STIBC translators, the digital seal can be verified online.
- Immigration Canada (IRCC) - PR/Citizenship
- Universities (Online admissions)
- Employers & Banks
Received by email. Fast, eco-friendly, no shipping fees.
2. Original Paper (Sealed)
A printed copy bearing the translator's seal and signature, mailed on request.
- SAAQ (Driver's license exchange)
- Courts & Legal proceedings
- Some foreign consulates
Sent by Canada Post, with shipping fees.
Documents Handled
Immigration (IRCC)
Birth/marriage certificates, police records.
Driver's Licenses
Mandatory for license exchange at SAAQ.
Diplomas & Transcripts
For equivalency (WES, ICAS) and admissions.
Legal Documents
Divorce decrees, wills, power of attorney.
Corporate
Articles of incorporation, contracts, bylaws.
Vital Records
Death certificates, adoption papers.
The provincial translator orders
Certified translators who belong to each province's order
Ordre des traducteurs, terminologues et interprètes agréés du Québec
Quebec
Admitted by the MIFIAssociation of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario
Ontario
Admitted by the MIFISociety of Translators and Interpreters of British Columbia
British Columbia
Admitted by the MIFIAssociation of Translators and Interpreters of Alberta
Alberta
Association of Translators and Interpreters of Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Association of Translators and Interpreters of Manitoba
Manitoba
Corporation of Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters of New Brunswick
New Brunswick
Admitted by the MIFIAssociation of Translators and Interpreters of Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Our Offices
Asiatis partners with certified translators who are members of provincial professional orders across Canada, recognized by IRCC. The MIFI admits only four of those orders: on a Quebec file we always assign a translator from OTTIAQ, ATIO, STIBC or CTINB — their translation then serves the federal step as is.
Our Specialties by Institution
Specialized certified translations for major Canadian institutions and official document types.
SAAQ License
Quebec License Exchange
IRCC Immigration
PR & Citizenship
MIFI Immigration
Quebec: CSQ, Arrima
WES Diploma
Credential Evaluation
Birth Certificate
Vital Records
Marriage Certificate
Vital Records
Police Record
Background Check
Divorce Decree
Legal
Last Will
Estate
Power of Attorney
Legal Authority
Business Incorporation
Corporate
Academic Transcript
Education
Passport & ID
Identity
Employment Letter
Express Entry
Spanish → French
Language pair
Arabic → French
Language pair
French → English
Language pair
Spanish → English
Language pair
Chinese → English
Language pair
Punjabi → English
Language pair
Hindi → English
Language pair
Urdu → English
Language pair
Farsi → English
Language pair
Farsi → French
Language pair
Arabic → English
Language pair
Portuguese → French
Language pair
Portuguese → English
Language pair
Adoption Documents
International
Name Change
Civil Status
MTO / DriveTest
Ontario
ICBC Licence
British Columbia
ECA — IQAS
Alberta
ECA — CES
Canadian Universities
Apostille Canada
Hague Convention 2024
Preparing Documents
- Scan the complete document (Front AND Back).
- Ensure everything is legible (stamps, seals).
- High-res color scan (300 DPI) or clear photo.
- Do not cut off edges.
- Name files clearly.
FAQ (AEO Optimized)
Does the certified PDF work for an IRCC application?
Yes, for an online application: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) accepts the uploaded PDF. For a paper file, ask for the paper copy.
- Format: PDF under the translator's digital seal.
- Online application: PDF accepted by IRCC.
- Paper file: paper copy on request, with shipping fees.
Should I mail my original documents to you?
NO, never mail us your originals. A high-resolution color scan (or a very clear photo) is sufficient for our certified translators to work.
- Requirement: Full Front and Back scan.
- Quality: 300 DPI recommended for legibility.
- Security: You keep your originals safe.
How long does a certified translation take?
Standard turnaround is 2 to 3 business days for common documents (1 to 5 pages). An express service is available on request, at a surcharge.
- Standard: 2 to 3 business days.
- Express: 24 to 48 hours, on request and at a surcharge.
- Delivery: Immediate via email upon completion.
Does a certified translation expire?
A certified translation has no expiry date of its own: it follows the source document. If the document expires or changes (a police record, for example), the new version must be translated; each body sets its own date rules.
- Diplomas and vital records: the translation follows the source document.
- Exception: Documents with expiration dates (e.g., police records).
- Receiving body: it sets which order it admits (see the table below).
Do I need an affidavit?
No, when the translation is signed by a certified translator who belongs to a provincial order: their signature and seal are enough for IRCC. An affidavit is for rare languages with no certified translator: the translator, who is not certified, swears to the accuracy of the translation before a commissioner of oaths.
- IRCC: signature and seal of a certified translator, or a translation accompanied by an affidavit.
- Rare languages (Tagalog, for example): translation + affidavit.
- Asiatis never presents a translation made under affidavit as certified.
Do you store my files after translation?
NO. A file uploaded without an order is deleted automatically after 1 hour. After delivery, your documents are kept for 30 days — long enough to reissue or correct the translation — then deleted.
- Deletion: Deleted after 1 hour without an order, 30 days after delivery.
- Confidentiality: Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) signed for every project.
- Security: End-to-end encrypted file transfers.
Which certified translator does each body accept?
IRCC accepts a certified translator from any Canadian provincial order. The MIFI admits only four: OTTIAQ, ATIO, STIBC and CTINB. Asiatis picks the translator according to the receiving body: tell us who the document is for before the quote.
- IRCC (federal): any Canadian provincial order.
- MIFI (Quebec): OTTIAQ, ATIO, STIBC or CTINB.
- The "Which order for which body" table covers the other cases.
How can I verify a certified translation?
Every certified translation carries the translator's signature, seal, order and membership number. Those details let you check the translator's membership with their order. For ATIO and STIBC translators, the digital seal can also be verified online.
- Details: signature, seal, order, membership number.
- Deliverable: translation + copy of the source document under the same seal.
- Online verification of the digital seal: ATIO and STIBC.
How much does a certified translation cost in Canada?
Certified translation is $69 per 250-word page, with a minimum charge of $89 per project — that minimum is what applies to a short document.
- Per-page rate, whatever the translator's order.
- Paper copy: shipping fees extra.
- Full rate card on the pricing page.
Which order for which body?
IRCC accepts a certified translator from any provincial order; the MIFI admits only four. Asiatis assigns the translator according to the receiving body. Read the OTTIAQ, ATIO, STIBC guide
| Receiving body | Translator admitted |
|---|---|
| IRCC (federal) | Certified translator from any Canadian provincial order, or a translation accompanied by an affidavit |
| MIFI (Quebec) | OTTIAQ, ATIO, STIBC and CTINB only — rule published on quebec.ca |
| Other Quebec bodies | Generally an OTTIAQ translator (the SAAQ requires it); check the receiving body's requirement |
| Bodies outside Quebec | We assign a certified translator from a recognized provincial order; the receiving body's requirement prevails |
| Rare languages | Non-certified translator + affidavit sworn before a commissioner of oaths |
A verifiable translation
Every translation carries the translator's signature, seal, order and membership number: you can check their membership with the order. The PDF holds the translation and a copy of the source document under the same digital seal, verifiable online for ATIO and STIBC.
Rate
Certified translation is $69 per 250-word page, with a minimum charge of $89 per project — that minimum is what applies to a short document.
See the rate cardPages by receiving body
What each body requires
The required form is set by the recipient of the document, not by us. Tell us who it is for before the quote: it changes the deliverable.
| Body | For what | Required form | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRCC | Permanent residence, citizenship, study and work permits | Translation by a translator certified by a Canadian order, or a translation accompanied by an affidavit sworn before a commissioner of oaths | PDF accepted for online applications |
| MIFI | Quebec Selection Certificate, Programme de l'expérience québécoise | French or English translation by a translator from OTTIAQ, ATIO, STIBC or CTINB — the only four Canadian orders the ministry admits; seals and signatures included | Paper original bearing the translator's name and seal, stapled to the source document; the PDF is for the Arrima upload and does not replace the original |
| SAAQ | Exchange of a foreign driver's licence | Translation by an OTTIAQ-certified translator, bearing their seal | Sealed paper original generally required in person |
| WES | Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for immigration and employment | Word-for-word translation, with no grade conversion or equivalency, submitted with the original document | Sent directly by the institution or by the translator, depending on the country |
| IQAS | Assessment of foreign credentials in Alberta | Certified word-for-word translation; IQAS does not accept translations made by the applicant or a relative | Sent directly by the translator |
Are you a lawyer or a regulated consultant?
A partner account replaces paying file by file: volume rates accumulated across the year, one invoice a month, a single contact, secure upload, and optional delivery under your own brand.
See partner accountsAre you outside Canada?
A translation done by a sworn translator in your country is often refused by IRCC, whose instructions call for a Canadian certified translator, or an affidavit. Each page below covers your country's documents, under their local names.
Your document, in its original script
Each guide sets out what the document proves, which version to request and what makes its translation fail.
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