On this page
- Where refugees usually need translations
- Translations for jobs and university
- Medical records for your GP and the NHS
- Documents for DWP, Universal Credit and council housing
- Driving licences: exchange, insurers and employers
- Police clearance certificates for employers
- How to order a translation for a UK organisation
- Languages and prices
- Frequently asked questions
Where refugees usually need translations
Getting status is the start of a new set of forms. Each organisation has its own rules, and some will accept your document without a translation. Always ask the organisation first what it needs. The table shows the requests we see most often.
| Organisation | Documents they may ask about | What usually helps |
|---|---|---|
| Employer | Degree, diploma, work references, police certificate | Certified translation, sometimes a UK ENIC statement |
| University or college | Transcripts, school leaving certificate | Certified translation plus UK ENIC statement |
| GP or hospital | Vaccination records, test results, discharge letters | A clear translation your doctor can read |
| DWP (Universal Credit) | Birth certificates, marriage certificate, ID | Certified translation |
| Council housing team | Birth and marriage certificates, family ID | Certified translation |
| Bank | ID documents, proof of address | Usually your eVisa; translation if asked |
| DVLA, insurer | Foreign driving licence | Depends on the country (see below) |
Every certified translation we deliver includes a statement that it is a true and accurate translation of the original, the date, and the translator's full name, signature and contact details. That is the standard set out in GOV.UK's certifying a document (opens in a new tab) guidance.
Translations for jobs and university
Employers want to know what you studied and where you worked. A qualification translation for UK jobs sets out your degree title, grades and institution in English, exactly as on the original. We do not upgrade or "convert" a qualification; the translation says what the certificate says.
For many jobs and most universities, you may also need a Statement of Comparability from UK ENIC (opens in a new tab). This compares your qualification with the UK system. UK ENIC can ask for a translation with your application, so order the translation first.
Our education certificate translation for refugees page covers degrees, transcripts, the Sudan School Certificate, Iranian and Afghan diplomas and professional licences in detail. Transcripts with many subjects are laid out as tables, so the English copy matches the original line by line.
Work references and employment records are translated the same way. If they come from government departments or international organisations, see our page on employment letter translation.
Medical records for your GP and the NHS
When you register with a GP, your medical history helps the doctor care for you. Translation for NHS records often covers vaccination cards, hospital discharge letters, test results and prescriptions.
A GP or hospital may not ask for a certified translation. But a clear, complete translation avoids mistakes with medicine names and doses. Our translators keep drug names, units and test values exactly as written, and flag anything they cannot read.
For detailed hospital records or specialist reports, see our medical report translation for asylum page. It covers the same standards we use for medical evidence in asylum claims. Medical records are sensitive, so we handle them under UK GDPR and delete them after delivery.
Documents for DWP, Universal Credit and council housing
New refugees often apply for Universal Credit and council housing quickly. Documents for Universal Credit translation usually include birth certificates for children, a marriage certificate and identity documents. A certified translation for DWP should show every name and date clearly, matching your eVisa.
Council housing teams may ask for the same documents to confirm who lives in your household. Translation for council housing application forms should show each family member's name spelt the way the Home Office spells it.
Our birth certificate translation for asylum page explains how we handle late-issued and handwritten birth records. If your family's names are spelt differently on different papers, we can follow your eVisa spelling and explain any variation in a translator's note.
Driving licences: exchange, insurers and employers
The rules for foreign licences depend on the country that issued yours. This is where people most often pay for a translation they do not need, so check first.
Designated countries
Only licences from designated countries can be exchanged for a GB licence, using form D1 (fee £43). For some of these countries, such as the Republic of Korea, GOV.UK says you need an official translation of your licence from your embassy, not a private one.
Other countries
If your licence is from a country that is not designated, such as Afghanistan, GOV.UK (opens in a new tab) says you can drive on it for 12 months after becoming resident. After that you must get a GB provisional licence and pass the theory and practical tests.
Insurers and employers
During that 12-month period, an insurer or a driving employer may ask for an English translation. We can provide a certified translation for them. Our driving licence translation for refugees page explains which situations need one.
Police clearance certificates for employers
Some jobs, especially in care, education and security, ask for a criminal record certificate from every country you have lived in. If you can safely obtain one, it will usually be in your own language.
A police clearance certificate translation shows the issuing authority, reference number, dates and the result, with every stamp noted. Our police clearance certificate translation page covers formats from the main countries. If you cannot get a certificate from your home country, for example because of the reasons you claimed asylum, explain this to the employer; they may accept other evidence.
How to order a translation for a UK organisation
- Ask the organisation exactly which documents it needs translated, and whether a certified translation is enough.
- Photograph or scan every page, front and back, including stamps.
- Upload the files and tell us the spelling of your name on your eVisa.
- We send a price and delivery date. You pay only if you are happy.
- You receive a certified PDF by email, ready to upload or print.
Keep the PDF safe. Many refugees need the same birth certificate or degree translated for several organisations over the next few years, and one certified copy can often be printed again.
Languages and prices
We translate from all the main languages spoken by refugees in the UK, including Urdu asylum document translation, Arabic asylum document translation, Farsi asylum document translation and Tigrinya asylum document translation, plus Pashto, Dari, Kurdish, Bengali, Amharic and Somali.
In total we cover 140+ languages. A certified translation costs from £18 per page, or from £15 per document for an ID card or single certificate. Standard delivery is 1 working day for ID cards and certificates, and 2–3 working days for longer documents. Prices shown are starting prices and include VAT. We confirm your exact price in a written quote before any work starts. If you already had documents translated for your asylum claim, you may be able to reuse them; our refugee ILR and citizenship translation page explains when a new translation is needed later on.
Frequently asked questions
Will my employer accept a certified translation?
Most employers accept a certified translation that shows the translator's name, contact details, signature and date, with a statement that it is accurate. Each employer sets its own rules, so ask HR what they need. For some jobs they may also want a UK ENIC statement, which compares your qualification with UK levels. We cannot promise any organisation will accept a document, but our translations follow the published GOV.UK standard.
Do I need notarisation for a bank?
Usually not. Banks normally check your identity using your eVisa and passport or travel document. If a bank asks for a translation of a foreign document, a certified translation is normally enough. Only order a notarised translation for refugees if the bank tells you in writing that it needs one.
Can you translate my degree for UK ENIC?
Yes. We translate the degree certificate and the full transcript, with every subject, grade and credit. Names are spelt as on your eVisa so your application matches. Upload both sides of each page, including stamps on the back. UK ENIC then decides how your qualification compares with the UK system.
Starting work, study or a new home? Send your documents for a refugee translation quote, and tell us which organisation asked. We will confirm the price and delivery date before you pay.
Last reviewed 1 October 2026. This page explains our translation service and is not legal advice.