Which Documents Need to Be Translated for British Citizenship: Complete 2026 Guide

14 Aug Which Documents Need to Be Translated for British Citizenship: Complete 2026 Guide

Among the requirements for a British naturalisation application, translating foreign documents is one that generates the most confusion — and the most mistakes. Which documents need to be translated? Who can do it? How must the translation be presented? In this guide we answer everything.

The Home Office’s Basic Rule

The Home Office requires that all documents not in English or Welsh attached to a citizenship application be accompanied by a full English translation. Presenting the original document alone is not sufficient, even if the caseworker happens to know the foreign language.

The translation must be:

• Complete (the entire document, including headings, stamps and annotations)
• Faithful to the original
• Signed by a professional translator
• Accompanied by a declaration from the translator confirming their competence and the accuracy of the translation
• Including the translator’s full name, contact details and the date

The Most Common Documents to Translate

Birth Certificate If you were born in Italy or another non-English-speaking country, your birth certificate must be translated into English. The Home Office uses your birth certificate to verify your identity, original nationality and parents’ details.

Marriage or Civil Partnership Certificate If you are married to a British citizen and applying through the spouse route (Section 6(2)), your marriage certificate is one of the key documents. If the marriage took place in Italy or a non-English-speaking country, translation is mandatory.

Criminal Record Certificate from Your Country of Origin This is one of the most frequently required documents to demonstrate the good character requirement. For Italian citizens, this is the Certificato del Casellario Giudiziale issued by the Italian Ministry of Justice. It must be translated into English — and should be recent (generally no more than six months old).

Divorce Decree or Dissolution of Marriage If you have divorced and the proceedings took place in Italy or a non-English-speaking country, the decree or ruling must be translated. This applies even if you have since remarried: the Home Office must be able to verify that the previous marriage was officially dissolved.

Foreign Academic Qualifications If you are demonstrating the English language requirement through an academic qualification obtained abroad (whether in English or another language), the diploma must be translated. The same applies to professional qualifications in a foreign language.

Name Change Documents If you have changed your surname (for example following marriage or divorce) and the document confirming this change is in a foreign language, it must be translated.

Expired Passports If you have old or expired passports issued by a non-English-speaking country, and the information they contain is not clearly readable or understandable, you may need to provide a translation.

What Does Not Need to Be Translated

Not all foreign documents require translation. In general, there is no need to translate:

• Documents already in English or Welsh
• The apostille affixed to the original document (the apostille itself is not translated)
• Documents in languages that the caseworker can verify independently through standardised government systems (e.g. biometric passports)

Important: Machine Translation Is Not Accepted

Google Translate, DeepL and any other automated translation tools are not accepted by the Home Office under any circumstances. The same applies to translations carried out by family members or friends, even if bilingual. The translation must be produced by a professional third-party translator.

Does the Translation Need an Apostille?

No. An apostille relates to the original document, not the translation. If your Italian birth certificate needs an apostille (for example for Italian consular procedures), the apostille goes on the original document — but for a British citizenship application, an apostille on the original document is not required by the Home Office. What is required is the translation, not the apostille.

How We Can Help

Words at Hand specialises in certified translations for Home Office and UKVI applications. We translate from Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, German, French, Polish and many other languages into English — in the correct format, with the translator’s declaration included, ready to attach to your application.

• Italian birth certificate → English
• Italian marriage certificate → English
• Italian Casellario Giudiziale → English
• Divorce decree → English
• Academic diplomas and qualifications → English
• Urgent service available

Contact us: cristina@wordsathand.com | WhatsApp: +44 7824 347667 | wordsathand.com/contact