Professional translators provide verification and authentication to make a translation certified. The certification confirms that the translation maintains complete accuracy relative to the initial document. Does the certification process set any limits on its validity period? When applying for official purposes, do you need to use translations certified five years ago? Let’s find out.
What is a Certified Translation?
A certified translation is a translation of a document that a certified translator has verified to confirm it matches the source document exactly. The translator will attach a signed certificate that validates the accuracy of the translation.
Some key points about certified translations:
- They are signed and stamped by the translator to authenticate them.
- The translator certifies that the target text is a complete and accurate translation of the source text.
- They are required for legal, medical, and government documents.
Certified translations provided by the Rapid Translate service give the reader confidence that the translation is of the highest quality and precision. This is essential when legal or technical documents are involved.
Why Get a Document Certified?
There are a few key reasons to get a document certified, including:
- Authentication. A certification verifies that the translation is accurate, giving the reader trust in its quality.
- Legal Admissibility. For a translated document to be usable in legal proceedings, it must be certified. A certification proves the competence of the translator.
- Official Acceptance. Government agencies, universities, banks, and other official organizations generally accept only certified translations. The certification gives them the confidence to accept the documents.
In short, certification authenticates the translation, making it legally binding and officially recognized. This is critical for important documents such as birth certificates, diplomas, court documents and more.
Does Certification Expire?
Now, let’s look at whether a certified translation can expire.
No Universal Expiration
There is no universal law stating that certified translations expire after a certain timeframe. According to most country regulations, certifications remain valid indefinitely.
For example, there are no expiration rules for certified translations in the US, UK, Canada, or Australia, and certified translators in these countries do not put expiration dates on their certifications.
However…
Individual Organizations May Impose Expirations
While certifications don’t automatically expire, some institutions impose their expiration timeframes. For example:
- Government agencies dealing with immigration or educational documents may require translations done within the last 1-5 years.
- Universities may specify that certified school transcripts remain valid for a set timeframe.
- Foreign consulates in some countries can put an expiration date from the date of certification.
So, if you need a document for official purposes, double-check with the intended recipient to see whether they impose any expiration rules.
Changes in Source/Target Language Impact Validity
Languages naturally evolve over time. New words, phrases, and conventions can emerge while others become outdated.
A certified translation done a decade ago could now read as slightly archaic or not reflect current terminology. This makes the certification less reliable and almost expired.
For most everyday purposes, an old certified translation holds up reasonably well. However, for legal, academic, or publishing uses, an outdated translation may not be accepted.
So, while certifications don’t directly expire, changes in languages themselves can erode the validity of old translations.
Does Getting a Translation Recertified Make Sense?
If you have an old certified translation, does it make sense to get it recertified?
You need to weigh a few key factors:
Cost of Recertification
Getting an existing translation recertified costs additional time and money. You’ll pay recertification fees to the translator on top of the original costs. This could get expensive for long documents.
Before recertifying, decide if you really need the document authenticated again or not.
Changes to the Original Document
If the original document has changed substantially since initial certification, recertification is more reasonable. The old certified translation no longer applies to the updated document.
However, if the original document remains unchanged, paying for a full recertification may not add much value.
Acceptability Concerns
If an institution you want to submit the translation to only accepts documents certified within a set timeframe, recertification makes more sense.
Even minor terminology changes that date a translation may warrant an update. Rejecting a translation because of an expired certification defeats the purpose of translating the document in the first place.
In these cases, recertification gives your document the best chance of being accepted.
Personal Preference
Some people prefer to get old translations recertified for their peace of mind, even if not necessarily required.
If you don’t feel comfortable submitting a 5-year-old certified translation, opting for recertification may ease your mind. It comes down to personal preference.
So, weigh all these factors against the time and costs of an updated certification.
What is the Process for Recertification?
If you decide to get your certified translation recertified, what’s the process? Here are the typical steps:
Step 1: Translator Reviews Original and Current Document
Provide the translator with a copy of both the current source document and the existing certified translation.
The translator compares the two documents to identify any changes to the source text since the original translation.
Step 2: Translator Updates the Translation
If the meaning of the original document has changed significantly, the translator will need to retranslate it from scratch.
For minor changes like terminology updates, the translator can revise directly on top of the existing certified translation.
Step 3: Certification Verification
In the final step, the translator will verify the accuracy of the updated translation. When satisfied, they attach an updated signed certificate attesting to the new certification date.
The client now has a newly recertified, up-to-date translation.
That’s the typical recertification process! Minor changes to existing certified translations are relatively fast and simple.
5 Tips for Maintaining Valid Certified Translations
Here are 5 tips to ensure your certified translations remain valid and don’t expire prematurely:
1. Store Translations Properly. Keep original certified translations in a safe, organized location for easy retrieval when needed. Improper storage can lead to lost or damaged documents.
2. Document Translation Details. Note key details like the translator’s name, contact details, certification dates and other useful information. This will help you trace the translator’s credentials or contact them about recertification.
3. Check Acceptability Periodically. If you foresee needing a certified translation for future official purposes, check periodically to ensure that it remains valid for submission. If necessary, get recertified proactively.
4. Update Translations After Major Source Text Changes. If the original document changes substantially, your certified translation should be updated promptly. Don’t let it become outdated.
5. Recertify After 10+ Years. Recertify any certified translation older than 10 years. Even if the original document remains unchanged, language drift over a decade may warrant refreshing the translation.
Following these tips will ensure your certified translations stand the test of time!
Conclusion
Certified translations remain valid indefinitely in most countries. However, individual institutions may impose expiration rules, so always double-check document acceptability with intended recipients.
Changes to source and target languages can also erode old translation certifications over time. Recertification is recommended if the original document changes substantially, acceptability is a concern, or a translation is 10+ years old.
By properly storing translations, tracking translator details, periodically checking acceptability and recertifying when warranted, you can ensure that our certified translations stay up-to-date and readily usable for official purposes!
