Translation of Business Documents
Docsbase specialises in certified translation of business and financial documents, as well as providing Apostille and consular legalisation services. We have permanent offices in the US, the UK, Ireland, and Switzerland, and maintain a wide network of skilled translators and localisers all over the world.
Why is Certified Translation of Business or Financial Documents Necessary?
Business documents vary dramatically from one industry to another. They might include proof of ownership of an asset, registration as an agent, certification of expert or professional status, or something as simple (and vital) as proof of a person’s identity.
It would be virtually impossible to do business in today’s increasingly globalised economy without being able to rely on documents that originate in foreign countries, and many of these documents will not be readable by the officials or business partners in another country. Just imagine trying to do business overseas and not being able to prove that your company even exists, let alone whether you have clear legal title to a load of goods or that your workers have the training and safety certifications necessary to complete a project.
That is why the process of the certified translation was developed – to ensure that governments and other businesses alike can trust in the accuracy of the translation they read, as well as the authenticity of the original document.
What is Certified Translation?
Often, the language barrier between a document’s country of origin and the country where it must be used is too great. Apostille or consular legalisation of a document only establishes that the document itself is legitimate and properly signed or sealed. It does not make the actual content of the document readable to someone who does not speak the language very well.
What is needed is a trustworthy translation of the content of a legalised document, in the official language of the country in which it is to be used. That is a “certified translation”. However, each country has its own standards for what constitutes a translation that is good enough to be trusted.
Sometimes, a document must be translated after it has already gone through the Apostille process or another legalisation method. Other times, a document and its certified translation can be apostilled as a single piece, saving time and money for all parties involved. There are more convolutions than we could hope to address here, and that is why you need an organisation like Docsbase.
We offer more than just expert translators with native level fluency in the world’s most important languages and experience working for the business and financial clients. Our document legalisation and certification team understands all of the official and unofficial requirements that different countries and their embassies have for acceptable translations.
When Might I Need Certified Translation of Financial or Business Documents?
There are a number of scenarios where the certified translation of financial documents, business records, and similar papers becomes necessary. For example many people travel abroad to launch a start-up, open a business or buy an existing company. Sometimes this involves making large transactions or purchases of local goods and real estate. Not only would such an entrepreneur generally require some kind of a visa to even begin such a venture, but they may also need to prove that they have a particular skill certification, access to overseas funding, and a clear criminal record before they will be allowed to move forward.
Even something as simple as opening a bank account in another country might require certified translations of your birth certificate, proof of your current financial status, or even a check of your legal records if any.
Other kinds of business might require certified translations of shareholder agreements, records of employment, company financial statements, and other documentation.
Certified translations of all of these documents may be necessary. Docsbase can provide them, as well as any other visa or document legalisation services you might require.
What Types of Business or Financial Documents are Commonly Translated?
We are regularly called upon to deliver certified translations of:
- Annual and Quarterly Financial Statements
- Company Records
- Audit Reports
- Shareholder Reports
- Compliance reports
- Stock Market Analyses
- Business Plans and Strategy reports
- Minutes of Official Meetings
- Service Agreements and Contracts
- Proposals and Presentations
How Does Docsbase Actually Conduct Certified Translation of Business Documents?
The exact process of certified translation varies from country to country, and sometimes even from business to business.
Countries like Slovakia, Romania, France, and Spain require all official translations to be conducted by a translator who is sworn in with or certified by the government in question. In such cases, the sworn translator can self-certify the translation, eliminating the need for notarising or even Apostille.
In other countries – such as the UK – there is no clear standard for what constitutes an acceptable certified translation. One official agency might have developed completely different standards than another, even within the same industry or branch of government.
In both cases, documents are often rejected for minor paperwork errors. If a signature is out of place or a stamp has been applied to the wring page, the entire translation might be rejected.
This is why the expertise Docsbase brings to the table is more important than ever. We have had many years to understand the policies and motivations of the receiving bodies, and we have a close working relationship with many of the officials who are called upon to determine which documents are acceptable. This lets up provide much faster and more reliable service than almost anyone else in the industry today.
