Who may translate a document that is to be Apostilled?

An Irish registered translator — registered on ATII or from an Irish registered translation company with a CRO number. The translation is then notarised.

What does the Department require for a translation to be Apostilled?

The translator must be Irish registered — on ATII or with an Irish translation company holding a CRO number — and the translation must be notarised. The translator signs, dates and states their qualification to translate; the documents are bound together and the notarial certification goes on the English version or on a covering Notarial Certificate.

Who issues the Apostille?

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Authentication and Apostilles Section, the Competent Authority for the legalisation of Irish public documents.

Certified Translation Ireland: Accuracy

The Department’s conditions

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is the Competent Authority for the legalisation of Irish public documents, and it sets explicit conditions for translated documents.

If the document is going abroad, the bar is higher

The moment a translation needs an Apostille, general practice stops being enough. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade — the Competent Authority for legalising Irish public documents — sets explicit conditions for translated documents, and they are stricter than the usual Statement of Accuracy.

The translator must be Irish registered: on ATII, or working for an Irish translation company with a CRO number.
The translation must then be notarised.
The translator must sign, date, and set out their qualification to translate.
Translated documents must be bound together.
The notary’s certification must be on the English version, or on a covering Notarial Certificate.

There is also a hard limit worth knowing before quoting a client: the Department does not accept for legalisation translations of foreign passports, foreign birth certificates or foreign educational qualifications — even when the translation was made in Ireland. An Apostille confirms that a signature, seal or stamp is genuine; it never confirms that the contents of the document are correct.

Names and transliteration

Personal names follow the official passport spelling in the body; ISO 9:1995 can be added in a footnote. See our transliteration page.

How Lingverra helps

Lingverra reproduces layout and stamps and applies the correct transliteration, flagging uncertain spots. The translator reviews and signs.

Sample certification statement

A statement in Ireland may read as follows. Lingverra places your own wording automatically under the finished translation.

I hereby certify that the above is a true and accurate translation of …… submitted to me.

Sources

FAQ

Who may translate a document that is to be Apostilled?: An Irish registered translator — registered on ATII or from an Irish registered translation company with a CRO number. The translation is then notarised.
What does the Department require for a translation to be Apostilled?: The translator must be Irish registered — on ATII or with an Irish translation company holding a CRO number — and the translation must be notarised. The translator signs, dates and states their qualification to translate; the documents are bound together and the notarial certification goes on the English version or on a covering Notarial Certificate.
Can any translation be legalised?: No. The Department does not accept for legalisation translations of foreign passports, foreign birth certificates or foreign educational qualifications, even if translated in Ireland.
Who issues the Apostille?: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Authentication and Apostilles Section, the Competent Authority for the legalisation of Irish public documents.

Certified Translation in Ireland