Notarised translation of documents in Almaty — translation and certification in one office, without travelling between a bureau and a notary

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Notarial translation of documents in Almaty: certification, timeframes and languages

A person brings a passport or a diploma to a translator, receives a neat text in another language and thinks the job is done. Then at the consulate, university or bank it turns out that the notary's signature is missing, there is no binding to the original, or only a copy has been translated rather than the document itself. Because of such details the papers are returned, and the time left for a visa or enrolment is already tight.

The confusion starts with terminology. Some call a notarial translation an ordinary translation with the translator's stamp, others mean certification of the correctness of the translation, and others again mean certification of a copy. For the receiving party these are different procedures with different consequences. Below is what the notary checks, what the finished document looks like, which languages are available, and in which cases certification alone is not enough.

Notarial translation of a document: what exactly the notary certifies

An ordinary translation is a text in another language prepared by a translator. It can be printed out, sent by email, attached to a letter. But for a visa, studies, work, a bank or a court such a file is often not accepted: a notarial translation is needed, that is, a translation on which the notary has certified the authenticity of the translator's signature. The signature, not the meaning of the text.

The main thing to understand before ordering follows from this. Responsibility for the accuracy of wording, terms and figures lies with the translator, not the notary: a notarised translation of a document confirms that a particular person signed it, not that they translated everything perfectly. A notary may certify the accuracy of the translation themselves if they speak both languages, but in practice this is rare.

• The notary verifies the identity and signature of the translator
• Checks that the signature appears on the translation itself
• Checks that the set is complete: the translation and the attached document
• Does not check the meaning or terminology of the text

Notarised translation and certification of translation: paper, binding and copies

Once the text of the translation is ready, the formalities stage begins. The translation is bound together with the original document or with its notarised copy: the pages are stitched, numbered and signed, so a paper document is required for notarial certification of a translation — scans and files will not do in this case. Notarial certification of the translator's signature means that the notary confirms who produced the translation and that the signature was made by that person.

It happens that a notarised translation is needed in several places at once: a bank, a university, a consulate, a court. In that case, instead of translating again, notarised copies of the translation are made — they are equivalent in meaning and save you from having the document translated anew. The cost depends on the length of the text, the number of languages and the number of copies that need to be certified. It helps to know in advance what will be needed:

• a translation bound together with the original or its copy
• notarial certification of the translation of documents for submission to an authority
• notarised copies of the translation, if the set is needed in several places
• the paper original of the document — certification cannot be arranged without it

Notarised translation into English: certification of documents in English

For a visa, study abroad or work at an international company, a notarised translation into English is most often required. Such a document looks simple: a page with the translation, the translator's signature, the notary's certification inscription and a seal. The translation is bound together with the original or a notarised copy of the source document, and the notary attests to the authenticity of the translator's signature: they certify the accuracy of the translation itself only if they speak both languages. If the documents were issued outside Kazakhstan, first check whether an apostille is required: it is affixed by the country that issued the document, and only after that is the document translated and certified.

The terms are sometimes confused: a certified translation means that the translator has confirmed their qualifications, while an official translation means that it is intended for submission to an institution. A notarised translation into English is accepted by banks, universities, migration services and courts. A translation into English can be notarised both from Russian and from Kazakh. If you need a translation into English certified for a visa or study, check in advance whether all stamps and seals on the source document need to be translated.

• A notarised translation into English is accepted by embassies, banks and universities.
• A notarised translation into English is made from the original or a copy.
• If the document is foreign, the question of the apostille is settled first, then that of translation.
• The notary makes the certification inscription in Kazakh or Russian — if necessary, it is translated together with the document.

Urgent notarised translation: when the document is needed by a deadline

An urgent notarised translation of documents is needed when the date is already set: a visa submission, an interview, enrolment at a university, a transaction at a bank or a hearing. The work is arranged as follows: the translator prepares the text and signs the translation in the notary's presence — the applicant does not need to come for this; personal attendance is required only if a power of attorney is being drawn up at the same time or a notarised copy is being taken. If the document runs to two or more pages, check in advance how the binding will be done — this determines whether everything can go through the notarial procedure in a single day.

Documents issued in another country as a rule require an apostille or consular legalisation, while for the countries of the Minsk and Chisinau conventions neither is required — this is checked before translation. If a passport or identity card has expired or the details in it have changed, update the document first. Copies must be fully legible: seals, signatures and watermarks must not be cut off. At night and on holidays, notarised translation without days off is possible only by prior appointment, confirmed by phone or in a messenger.

What to prepare in advance so that an urgent translation of documents with notarial certification is not derailed by formalities:

• The original and a full copy of it without cropped edges
• The applicant's identity card and a power of attorney, if you are applying on behalf of someone else
• Details of the authority to which the translation is submitted, and the exact name in the target language
• Confirmation of the appointment, if notarised translation of documents is available without weekends off

Notarised translation of a certificate: how to translate and certify a certificate

A notarised translation of a certificate is a translation of the text of the certificate into another language, which the translator signs before a notary, and the notary certifies the authenticity of the translator's signature. Translations of certificates into English are often needed for a visa, study, work or a bank. The header of the translation states the document details: the name of the authority that issued the certificate, the number, the date of issue and information about the person to whom it was issued. All these details are checked against the original so that there are no discrepancies.

If the certificate is needed for foreign authorities, a notarised translation of the document may be required together with other documents. Errors in the translation of a certificate into English can lead to the documents being refused. To translate a certificate into English correctly, it is important to convey all the details accurately. The cost of a notarised translation depends on the language, the volume and the urgency.

What is checked when translating a certificate:

• The exact name of the organisation that issued the certificate
• Full name, date of birth and other personal data
• The number, date of issue and validity period of the certificate
• Whether the seals and signatures match the original

Notarised translation of a passport, power of attorney and other documents

The passport in a set of documents sets the spelling of the name in Latin script: it is checked against the passport of a citizen of Kazakhstan used to travel abroad, and is kept the same in all translations — visa application forms, powers of attorney, bank forms. If a name is written differently in one document than in the passport, the set is sent back for clarification, and the deadlines shift. That is why translations of passports and translations of passports of family members are prepared using the same spelling.

A notarised translation of a power of attorney requires particular care: the text contains job titles, details, powers and names, and when translating a notarial power of attorney into English it is important to convey the scope of powers, not just the header. A translation of a notarial power of attorney into English is often needed for a bank or a consulate, and here the translation of documents and the notarial certification are done together, so that the notary sees both the original and the translation. When there are several documents in the set, the translation and the notary work from a single spelling of the name.

• Check the Latin script against the passport you use to travel abroad before starting the translation.
• Check that the first name, patronymic and date of birth match in all documents.
• For a power of attorney, clarify whether a translation of all the powers is needed or only the first page.

Notarised translation with German, Czech and other languages

Each country has its own requirements for translation, and here confusion costs the most: the document has already been certified and paid for, and it is returned from the consulate or authority. Some states accept a notarised translation made in Kazakhstan with an apostille, others only a translation by their own sworn translator. For a specific country this is always clarified with the recipient before ordering the translation.

German is more often connected with family reunification, study and work: here a translation of documents into German with certification is needed, and sometimes a notarised translation of documents into German followed by an apostille. For Czech it is usually a matter of a student or work invitation — this is a translation into Czech with certification, and the requirements of the university or authority may differ from notarial ones. A sworn translator abroad is a local specialist entered in the official list of their country: their signature and seal confirm the translation without a Kazakhstan notary.

Check before ordering:

• whether the recipient accepts a Kazakhstan notarised translation;
• whether an apostille is needed on the certification;
• whether a sworn translator of the recipient country is allowed.

A notary for foreigners and translation of foreign documents

When a document is issued abroad, it cannot simply be shown at a Public Service Centre or a bank — a notarised translation of foreign documents is needed. It works like this: the translator translates the text into the language of notarial proceedings and signs the translation before a notary, and the notary certifies the authenticity of the translator's signature. Notarial acts in Kazakhstan are performed in Kazakh or Russian. If a foreigner does not speak the language, the text is translated by a translator — without this the notary cannot explain the meaning of the document and certify the transaction or copy.

For a foreigner, a notary performs two tasks: certifying the translator's signature on the translation of a foreign document and producing a notarial copy of that document. International notarial practice often requires documents to be translated into Russian — for example, to translate a document from Ukrainian into Russian. A notarised translation from Ukrainian into Russian is accepted by courts, banks and educational institutions in Kazakhstan. The document must be translated in full, together with seals, stamps and handwritten marks — otherwise the certification of foreign documents will be incomplete. Timeframes and languages depend on the country that issued the document, so it is better to order the translation of foreign documents in advance.

• passport and identity card of a foreigner
• a document issued abroad, with an apostille or legalisation, if these are required
• translation of the text into Kazakh or Russian
• notarial copy of a foreign document
• translation of foreign documents from Ukrainian into Russian

Where to get a notarial translation nearby and online

It is more convenient to look for a notary with translation nearby on two criteria: that the notary and the translator are in one place, and that the office is within reach. In Almaty such notarial offices with translation are found in different districts, and the nearest notarial translation can be found by the office address — without travelling across the whole city. If English matters, check in advance whether the notary works with translation into English: not every notary accepts documents in a foreign language personally.

When you cannot come in person, an online notarial translation of documents helps: the preparation can be done online using scans, and the originals can be handed over by courier. This is convenient for foreigners and for those who are in another city or country. But bear in mind: an online notarised translation is only preparation, the certification still takes place before a notary, so the originals or their copies must reach the notarial office.

• A notary with document translation nearby: an office in your district of Almaty.
• Notary and translator in one place — no need to look for a translator separately.
• Online notarial translation of documents: preparation using scans.
• The originals can be handed over by courier if you cannot come in person.
• Check whether a notary with translation into English is needed specifically for your document.

Legalised notarial translation and apostille: the procedure for foreign countries

A legalised translation is needed when a document goes outside Kazakhstan and the destination country requires confirmation of its official status. For countries of the Hague Convention the procedure is as follows: first an apostille is placed on the original document, then a translation is made with the apostille stamp and certification of the translator's signature. The result is a notarial translation with an apostille — a legalised translation of documents that is accepted abroad.

The difference from an ordinary certified translation is that the notary certifies only the authenticity of the translator's signature and does not check whether the document itself is recognised abroad. If the apostille is skipped or placed after the translation, the document may not be accepted. That is why it is important to check in advance whether a legalised translation is needed and to order the translation of documents with a notary in the correct sequence. The cost of a notarial translation and the price of translating documents into English depend on the language, the volume and the number of copies, and also on whether an apostille is required.

• Apostille on the original — before translation.
• Certification of the translator's signature by a notary.
• Translation of documents into English and notarial certification.
• Checking the requirements of the destination country.

How much notarial certification of a translation and translation of documents costs

The cost of translating documents is made up of several variables. The language sets the basic complexity: the fewer common translators there are, the higher the price of translating documents. The volume and structure of the text also matter — tables, seals and handwritten marks take more time. Urgency increases the cost: work on the day of request costs more than the usual timeframe.

The notarial part is calculated separately. Notarial certification of a translation includes certifying the authenticity of the translator's signature, checking their qualifications against a diploma, and also production and binding. If a notarial copy is needed, the cost is added for each copy. The number of copies and sets directly affects the total: the original translation, the certified copy and additional duplicates are counted separately. Below is what most often determines the final amount.

• Language pair: a rare language makes the work more expensive
• Scope: number of pages, tables and stamps
• Urgency: translation by a specific date
• Number of copies: original, copies, duplicates
• Type of certification: translation or copy of a document

The final amount depends on the specific set of documents and the required result.

Certified, official and notarised translation: a table of types

All four options are often confused, although they are different procedures. An ordinary translation of documents is done by a translator from the document — for personal reading only, the signature certifies nothing. A certified translation of documents into English is the work of a translator or agency that confirms their qualifications and accuracy with a signature and stamp: there is no institution of accredited translators in Kazakhstan, and such a translation is accepted by foreign universities, banks and consulates if their rules allow it.

An official translation of documents into English is the same text on the letterhead of a translation agency. A notarised translation of documents is when a notary certifies the translator's signature: the result is a notarised translation. It is requested for a visa, court, Public Service Centre, bank and transactions: the notary checks the formatting and the translator's signature, not the content of the text.

Comparison in essence:

• Ordinary — without the translator's signature and stamp: suitable for reading, it is not submitted to official bodies.
• Certified translation — signature and stamp of an accredited translator.
• Official translation — on the agency's letterhead, for internal use.
• Notarised translation — the translator's signature is certified by a notary.

If a document is going abroad, first check with the recipient which version they will accept.

The main mistake is ordering a translation before the requirements of the receiving party are clear: the type of certification, the language and whether an apostille is needed. Check this in advance, otherwise the document will have to be redone entirely.