Certified Copies and Translations

[zibi762]

I'm unclear from the Guide 3999 how and what exactly needs to be certified. My spouse and I are both currently living in Germany, and therefore have several documents which need to be translated (our lease, his visa to live here and his German police clearance).

Question 1: My understanding is that only photocopies of items being translated need to be certified? If we have an original document, this does not need to be certified? And photocopies of documents that are already in English (or French) do not need to be certified?

Question 2: It states in the guide that "certified true copies" need to state “I certify that this is a true copy of the original document, the name of the original document, the date of the certification, his or her name, his or her official position or title, and his or her signature." Is an official certification stamp sufficient? Because we live in Germany, they cannot write anything on the document in English. Is it a problem if it's in German? We will be sending our documents that need translation to a Canadian translator in order to avoid also needing an affidavit on the translated documents - can the translator just translate what it says in the official German certification seal?

Thanks so much!

 

[etienbjel]

You can send originals if you want, but you probably won't get them back. It's recommended that you send certified copies in case you need the documents for other reasons later. But you must send original copies of documents if specifically requested.

Question 2. Who's "they"? It can't be that hard to find a lawyer or notary public in Germany who can write in English. Alternatively, the Canadian embassies provide notarial services. Or you can check their approved lawyers lists: http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/germany-allemagne/consular_services_consulaires/legal-juridique.aspx?lang=eng

 

[surleplateau]

You do not make any marks on the originals. You get yourself an accredited translator who is certified to make translations (each Canadian province has a board of translators, not all of them are certified for translation of "official documents" so you have to pick one who is). If you are both in Germany, you can contact the Canadian consulate in Germany to find out where you can find a translator to use, but they might just point you to the internet.

I sent my translator a PDF scan of the documents I required translated. She created a translation of that as a separate document that translated exactly each stamp, seal, blurb, and phrase. While my original document was 1 page, to back, with the translations for the stamps and seals, that ended up being a 2.5 page translation, just to give you an idea.

I sent the original document with the translation behind it to CIC.

When you want to make a certified copy, I suggest that you contact the Canadian consulate.