Do I have to go to the notary myself?
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Almost never. The person who signs in front of the notary is the translator, not you, because the act is about who did the language work. There is one exception. If your own signature has to go on the paper, a power of attorney for example, then you attend too, and we book a slot near you.
Someone told me my visa file needs notarising. Should I believe them?
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Ask them to show you where it says so. For a UKVI file a signed and stamped copy has always been enough, and that has not changed. The people who really do ask for a seal are almost always abroad. Send us the exact wording you were given and we will read it with you before you spend anything.
Will you bind my original into the set, and do I get it back?
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A notary usually ties the translation to a copy of your paper, not the paper itself, so your original stays with you. A few consulates insist on the real thing being bound in. If yours is one of them, you will hear that at quote stage, before anything is posted anywhere.
Is a solicitor's stamp the same thing?
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Not outside Britain. A solicitor can certify a copy for use here, and for many UK purposes that is fine. Offices overseas want a notary, because notaries are recognised across borders and their signature can be checked against a public register. If the paper is leaving the country, a solicitor's stamp will usually be sent back.
Can several papers be signed in one appointment?
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Yes, and this is where most people save money. The notary charges per document, but a set signed in one sitting costs far less each than a single paper signed on its own. If you know three more are coming next month, send them now rather than later.
The embassy gave me a list of approved translators. Does that matter?
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It can, so tell us before you order. Some Gulf and North African consulates only take work from names on their own list for papers entering their country. Others take any properly sealed UK translation. We check which rule applies to your office rather than guessing and hoping.
Do you send it to the FCDO, or do I post it myself?
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We send it. The sealed set goes straight on from us, so you are not posting an important document twice and waiting twice. You get a scan the day it is signed, and the stamped original comes back to you by tracked post at the end.
How long does the whole run really take?
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The translation is usually a day. The notary adds about one more. The government stage is the slow part, and by post it can run into several weeks in a busy month. If a consulate stamp follows that, add their own queue on top. We give you a date at the start rather than a hopeful guess.
My country wants it dated within three months. When should I order?
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Once your deadline is in sight, not before. The seal itself never expires, but plenty of offices, especially in the Gulf, refuse anything sealed more than three or six months ago. Ordering far too early is how people end up paying for the same set twice.
