Family document translation for spouse and dependent visas
We separate relationship evidence, civil registry records and documents concerning children, then check name spelling and the receiving authority's translation requirements against the actual checklist.
ILC reviews the scope and coordinates translation based on your real documents. Send the receiving authority's checklist so our staff can assess the work before confirming.
Fees: ask our staff for a quotation.
Start from the application type and the relationship to prove
Spouse, child and dependent visas do not share one document list. Tell us the applicant, the sponsor, the destination country and the application type, together with the current checklist from the receiving authority. ILC's role on this page is scoping and translation coordination — not a guarantee of visa approval.
A translation lets the receiving officer read the source document, but it does not replace relationship evidence or certificates that have not been issued. If the checklist asks for evidence beyond the marriage record, that evidence must be prepared separately; a translator's certification cannot add facts the original does not contain.
A marriage certificate and a registry extract are not the same document
Match each item on the filing checklist to the actual original. Do not send only the certificate when the authority asks for a registry extract, and do not assume every marriage-related document is interchangeable. Check also whether the authority wants a freshly issued copy, a certified copy, or a document confirming current status.
Birth certificates, house registrations, divorce records, court orders concerning children and name-change certificates each explain a different point. Send only the relevant items, but include every page and attachment of each document ordered for translation.
Keep former names, current names and children's data traceable
- Provide the passport spelling of every person involved.
- Identify the name-change documents that link one record to another.
- Check parents' names, dates of birth, entry numbers and dates on every page of the originals.
- Separate court orders, consent letters and guardianship documents according to the checklist.
If the originals disagree, flag it and resolve the correction with the issuing office — do not fix the translation to hide the difference. A travel consent letter does not replace a custody order in every case, and a translation is not a legal ruling on the signatory's authority.
US and UK examples apply in their own context
USCIS requires supporting documents to be in English or accompanied by a complete English translation, with the translator certifying completeness, accuracy and competence to translate from the source language. Apply this together with the instructions of the specific form being filed — a certified summary does not replace a full translation.
GOV.UK describes translation certification as the translator confirming accuracy, date, full name and contact details, but the specific checklist of the application must still be checked. These two country examples do not establish that every country accepts the same certification, nor do they certify the credentials of any individual translator of this company.
Separate translation, certification and filing format
If the receiving authority specifies NAATI or a translator on a national register, verify the individual's credentials and language pair — a website route or package name is not evidence of certification. Notary and legalisation steps depend on what the authority wants certified and by whom; they are not mandatory for every visa bundle.
Check whether filing is digital or on paper, and whether originals, signatures and certified copies must be attached. USCIS warns against sending originals unless the instructions or regulations require them, so we do not send original documents automatically. That rule applies in the USCIS context and does not replace other authorities' rules.
Send the checklist first to request a quotation
Tell us the country, visa type, language pair, number of documents and the filing appointment date. Staff will check document and translator readiness before quoting, separating translation, certification, any additional legalisation the authority requests, and delivery format. Terms for revisions when the original changes are agreed in advance in the quotation.
We do not publish fixed company fees or fixed completion dates on this page, and we do not guarantee visa outcomes. Share family and children's data only as needed through the agreed channel, and never send account passwords or OTPs to a translator.
Common questions about family document sets
Is one translated marriage certificate enough?
It depends on the receiving authority's checklist. If it asks for registry extracts or other evidence, those must be prepared accordingly — a marriage certificate does not substitute for every record.
What if a former surname does not match the passport?
Flag the difference and provide the linking name-change evidence. The translation must reflect the original; do not correct the name in the translation instead of correcting the source.
Does a certified translation guarantee the visa?
No. Language review is not an assessment of the application's overall eligibility or evidence; the receiving authority decides.
Official sources for checking supporting documents
- USCIS — complete translations, certification and supporting documents
- GOV.UK — certifying a translation in the UK context
- NAATI — verify translators and language pairs
Check the current guidance of the actual application; an example from one country is not a requirement for every country.
Contact and related services
This page is preparation guidance for translation work, not a certification of originals or of the receiving authority's decision. Documents must be reviewed case by case before work begins.