Reference
IRCC translation requirements — current rules
IRCC requires every supporting document that is not in English or French to be submitted with an English or French translation that is either stamped by a certified translator or accompanied by an affidavit from the person who translated it, together with a certified copy of the original document. All stamps and seals must be translated. The applicant, their family members, and their representative or consultant may not do the translation.
- Current as of
- Last reviewed
- Cite as
- A2Z Language Hub, “IRCC translation requirements — current rules”, https://www.a2zlanguagehub.com/reference/ircc-translation-requirements, as of 2026-09-10.
What does IRCC require for a document that is not in English or French?
Seven rules, each stated on one of the three IRCC pages cited at the foot of this page. Meet all of them for every document; IRCC warns that an application may be refused or rejected if the required documents are not submitted.
| # | Requirement | IRCC’s rule | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Language | Unless otherwise specified, all supporting documents must be in English or French. | IRCC help centre — “What language should my supporting documents be in?” |
| 2 | Translation | A document in any other language must be accompanied by its English or French translation. | IRCC help centre — “What language should my supporting documents be in?” |
| 3 | Translator | The translation must be either stamped by a certified translator — a member in good standing of a professional translation association in Canada or abroad — or accompanied by an affidavit from the person who completed the translation. | IRCC — Express Entry, “Translation of documents” |
| 4 | Affidavit (non-certified translator) | An affidavit for a translation is a document in which the translator swears that the translation is a true and accurate representation of the original, in front of a commissioner authorized to administer oaths in the country where the translator lives. | IRCC help centre — “What is an affidavit for a translation?” |
| 5 | Original document | A certified photocopy of the original document is submitted with the translation. | IRCC help centre — “What language should my supporting documents be in?” |
| 6 | Stamps and seals | All stamps and seals that are not in English or French must also be translated. | IRCC — Express Entry, “Translation of documents” |
| 7 | Who may not translate | Any family member, representative or consultant of the applicant — even one who is a lawyer, notary or translator — is not permitted to translate documents. Affidavits must not be taken by the applicant or any member of the applicant’s family, even if they are a lawyer, notary or authorized translator. | IRCC — Express Entry, “Translation of documents” |
Who counts as a certified translator for IRCC?
For IRCC, a certified translator is a member in good standing of a professional translation association in Canada or abroad. In Canada those associations are the provincial bodies — STIBC, ATIO, ATIA, ATIS, ATIM, OTTIAQ, CTINB — whose “Certified Translator” title is recognized by legislation in British Columbia, Ontario and New Brunswick. A translation stamped by such a translator needs no affidavit.
What “certified”, “notarized” and “sworn” each mean, and who grants the title, is set out on the certified vs. notarized vs. sworn reference page.
When is a translator’s affidavit required?
An affidavit is required when the translator is not a certified translator. It replaces the certified translator’s stamp as IRCC’s proof that the translation is true and accurate. The two routes are alternatives; a translation needs one or the other, not both.
| Certified-translator route | Affidavit route | |
|---|---|---|
| Who translates | A member in good standing of a professional translation association in Canada or abroad. | Any competent translator who is not the applicant, a family member, or the applicant’s representative or consultant. |
| What is attached | The translator’s stamp and signed certification on the translation. | An affidavit sworn by the translator before a commissioner authorized to administer oaths where the translator lives. |
| Third party involved | None. | A commissioner of oaths, notary public or equivalent official in the translator’s country. |
| Also required | Certified copy of the original; all stamps and seals translated. | Certified copy of the original; all stamps and seals translated. |
| Source | IRCC — Express Entry, “Translation of documents” | IRCC help centre — “What is an affidavit for a translation?”; IRCC — Express Entry, “Translation of documents” |
Who is not allowed to translate documents for IRCC?
The applicant, any member of the applicant’s family, and the applicant’s representative or consultant may not translate — the bar applies even when that person is a lawyer, notary or translator. The same people may not take the affidavit. An independent translator with no personal or professional relationship to the application is what the rule requires.
- The applicant.
- Any family member of the applicant, including one who is a lawyer, notary or authorized translator.
- The applicant’s representative or consultant.
Does IRCC require notarized translations?
IRCC’s published rules do not ask for notarization. The two accepted forms are a certified translator’s stamp and a translator’s affidavit; the affidavit is sworn before a commissioner of oaths, which is the only point at which a notary or commissioner enters the process — and only when the translator is not certified. A notarized translation is accepted because it contains a certified translation and a sworn affidavit, not because IRCC requires the seal.
What happens if the translation rules are not met?
IRCC states that an application may be refused or rejected if the required documents are not submitted. In practice that means a partial translation, a missing affidavit from a non-certified translator, untranslated stamps, or a translation done by a family member each put the application at risk of being returned.
Primary sources
The requirements described on this page come from the official sources below. Rules change — check the source itself before you file.
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. What language should my supporting documents be in?. checked .
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. What is an affidavit for a translation?. checked .
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Apply for permanent residence through Express Entry. checked .