This section contains policy, procedures and guidance used by CIC staff. It is posted on the CIC website as a courtesy to stakeholders.
This section is about the policy and procedures for translation of documents submitted at Canadian missions by clients living outside Canada and applications submitted in Canada.
Policy
Any document that is not in English or French must be accompanied by
- the English or French translation, and
- an affidavit from the person who completed the translation, if required.
Translations by family members are not acceptable. (Family member is defined as being a: parent, guardian, sibling, spouse, grandparent, child, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew and first cousin.)
Note: An affidavit is a document on which the translator has sworn, in the presence of a commissioner authorized to administer oaths in the place where the affidavit is sworn, that the contents of the translation are a true translation and representation of the contents of the original document. Translators who are certified members in good standing of one of the provincial or territorial organizations of translators and interpreters of Canada do not need to supply an affidavit.
Original documents may be requested later in the process by an officer.
For overseas applications
Procedure for staff at the CIC mission outside Canada
Upon receipt of the translated English or French documents, an embassy official must:
- thoroughly review the translation to verify that its content conforms to the original document upon which the translation was based;
- affix a stamp (or write) “VERIFIED – TRUE TRANSLATION” and the Embassy wet seal on the document; and
- initial the document.
