Sworn Translator in Canada
In Canada, what people call a sworn translator is a certified translator. They sign the certified translations that IRCC, the MIFI, courts and universities ask for.
Free quote within 1 business hour · Certified translators, members of Canadian provincial associations
Are there sworn translators in Canada?
Not under that name. In Canada, what people call a sworn translator is a certified translator, member of a provincial order or association of translators (OTTIAQ, ATIO, STIBC…). Their signature and seal are enough for IRCC. An oath only comes in when no certified translator is available: that is the affidavit.
- Title in Canada: certified translator (OTTIAQ, ATIO, STIBC…)
- What you receive: a certified translation, signed and sealed
- No certified translator for the language: translation plus affidavit
- For a French authority: a court-registered expert in France
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Sworn, certified, agréé: who means what?
In Canada, people often say “sworn translator” when they mean a certified translator. The words change from country to country; the role stays the same: a recognized professional attests that the translation is accurate.
| Term | Where it is used | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Certified translator | English Canada (ATIO, STIBC, ATIA…) | Member of a provincial order or association of translators; ATIO uses the “C. Tran.” designation |
| Traducteur agréé | Quebec, and the French version of IRCC instructions | The same status in French; the title of OTTIAQ members |
| Certified translation | All of Canada | The document: the translation signed and sealed by the certified translator |
| Sworn translator | France and many other countries | A translator who took an oath before a court; in France, a court-registered expert (expert judiciaire) |
| Affidavit | Canada | The translator's sworn statement, made before a notary or a commissioner of oaths |
In Canada, the oath is the affidavit
In Canada, being sworn is not a title: it is a one-off step. When no certified translator can do the translation, IRCC accepts a translation accompanied by an affidavit, in which the translator swears that the translation is accurate and that they are proficient in both languages.
- In Canada, the oath is taken before a notary public, a commissioner of oaths or a commissioner for taking affidavits; abroad, before a notary public or the equivalent.
- Neither the applicant nor a family member may do the translation or the affidavit, even if they are a translator, lawyer or notary.
- With a certified translator, IRCC needs no affidavit: their signature and seal are enough.
Is a translation sworn abroad valid in Canada?
It can be. IRCC treats as certified a translator who is officially recognized or authorized in the country where the translation is done. Outside Canada, the MIFI also admits a translator who is a member of a professional order or authorized to act as one. In practice, three points decide:
The target language
The translation must be into English or French. A translation into another language does not count for the file.
Verification
The officer must be able to confirm the translator's status. A seal or note written in another language must be translated too.
The Quebec format
The MIFI asks for a paper original bearing the translator's name and seal, stapled to the source document.
If all three are met, your translation may be enough, and the decision remains the officer’s. Otherwise, a Canadian certified translator settles all three at once: their status can be checked in Canada, and OTTIAQ, ATIO, STIBC and CTINB are the four bodies admitted by both the MIFI and IRCC.
Need a sworn translator for France?
For a French administration or court, French rules apply: the translation is done by a court-registered expert listed with a court of appeal or the Court of Cassation. From Canada, service-public.gouv.fr points to the French embassy or consulate, some of which publish a list of translators.
A Canadian certified translation is therefore not automatically accepted in France: check with the French authority. The Asiatis group has an entity in France, asiatis.com, that can point you in the right direction.
service-public.gouv.fr page (in French)Coming from France with documents in French? French is an official language of Canada: IRCC and the MIFI accept them as they are, without translation.
Price and turnaround
- 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.
- Standard turnaround for a certified translation is 2 to 3 business days. An express service in 24 to 48 hours is available on request, at a surcharge.
- The price does not depend on the word you use in your request: “sworn” or “certified”, it is the same service.
Frequently asked questions
Is a sworn translator the same as a certified translator?
In Canada, in practice, yes: “sworn” is not an official title there, and the word refers to a certified translator, member of a provincial order or association. In France, a sworn translator is a court-registered expert listed with a court of appeal: a different status, which applies first of all before French authorities.
Do I need an affidavit on top of a certified translation?
Not for IRCC when the translation is signed by a certified translator: the affidavit is only needed when no certified translator can do it. A court may still ask for the translator’s sworn statement as well; check its requirements.
How can I check that a translator is certified?
Their seal shows their name and membership number, which IRCC can have validated with their order. ATIO and STIBC also let you check a digital seal online.
Does IRCC accept a sworn translation done in France?
It can: IRCC admits a translator officially recognized in the country where the translation is done, which a French court-registered expert is. The translation must still be into English or French, and the officer must be able to verify the translator’s status. The decision is the officer’s.
My documents are in French: do I need them translated to immigrate?
No, neither for IRCC nor for the MIFI: French is an official language of Canada, and these bodies accept documents in English or French as they are. An English-speaking body, such as a university or a driver licensing office outside Quebec, may still ask for an English version.
Is “official translation” a legal status in Canada?
No. It is a common term with no single legal definition in Canada. What matters is what the receiving body asks for: a certified translation by a certified translator, an affidavit or another formality.
How much does a “sworn” 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. The price does not depend on the term used in your request.