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Foreign-language documents as court evidence in England and Wales

What the court rules actually require before a foreign-language document can stand as evidence, which court asks the translator to sign what, and the one thing the rules never mention: translator qualifications.

Every fact below links to its official source. Last checked 27 July 2026.

The short answer

The courts take foreign-language evidence, but the rules want three things: an English translation, the original filed with it, and a translator who signs to certify the translation is accurate.

The core rule

What the rules require, in every jurisdiction on this page

  • Civil and family courts: a foreign-language witness statement or affidavit must be translated, and the foreign-language original must be filed with the court alongside the translation
  • The translator certifies in writing that the translation is accurate, and for a civil affidavit the translator swears their own affidavit verifying it
  • Immigration tribunal: any document not written in English must be accompanied by an English translation, and the notice of appeal itself must be completed in English
  • Upper Tribunal bundles: the typed translation sits next to the copy of the original, signed and certified by the translator

Source: CPR Practice Direction 32, FPR Practice Direction 22A, Tribunal Procedure (First-tier Tribunal) (IAC) Rules 2014, joint IAC Practice Directions 2018

Three traps in these rules

In the civil courts the translator must sign the original foreign-language statement. In the family courts the translator must sign the translation itself. Getting this backwards is a defect of form, and both sets of rules give the court power to refuse the document as evidence and to refuse the costs of preparing it.

The civil and family translation rules quoted on this page sit under the provisions for witness statements and affidavits. The practice directions do not state a general rule for translating a documentary exhibit, so the official guidance does not say how an exhibit translation must be certified. Where the rules are silent, we say so.

Many pages still quote a 2022 immigration tribunal practice direction that required a certified translation of witness statements in the First-tier Tribunal. That practice direction was replaced on 1 November 2024, and the current one says nothing about translating documentary evidence. The requirement that remains is rule 12(5): every document not written in English must be accompanied by an English translation. The rule does not use the word certified.

  • 2 documents

    You file the foreign-language original and the English translation, the court gets both

  • None stated

    No translator qualification or accreditation requirement appears in any rule we checked

  • Equal status

    English and Welsh are treated on the basis of equality in the courts of Wales

Who verifies the translation, court by court

The verification always comes from the translator. What changes between courts is what the translator has to sign:

  1. 1Civil courts, witness statements: the translator "must sign the original statement and must certify that the translation is accurate" (CPR Practice Direction 32, paragraph 23.2)
  2. 2Civil courts, affidavits: the translator "must make and file with the court an affidavit verifying the translation", exhibiting both the translation and a copy of the original. This is the heaviest form of verification in these rules (CPR Practice Direction 32, paragraph 10.2)
  3. 3Family courts, affidavits and statements: the translator "must sign the translation to certify that it is accurate" (FPR Practice Direction 22A, paragraph 8.2)
  4. 4Immigration First-tier Tribunal: "if a document provided to the Tribunal is not written in English, it must be accompanied by an English translation" (rule 12(5)). The rule does not say who must certify it, and the current practice direction is silent on the point
  5. 5Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum) bundles: a typed translation "signed by the translator, and certifying that the translation is accurate", inserted next to the copy of the original, "together with details of the identity and qualifications of the translator" (joint IAC Practice Directions, 18 December 2018, paragraph 8.2(b))
None of these provisions requires the translator to be professionally qualified, accredited or sworn. They specify what the translator does, not what the translator holds. GOV.UK's general certification guidance asks the translator to confirm in writing on the translation that it is a "true and accurate translation of the original document", with the date, their full name and contact details. Wording from GOV.UK, Certifying a document.

If the translation rules are not followed

These are not box-ticking rules. Each jurisdiction attaches real consequences to a defective document:

  • Civil courts: where an affidavit, witness statement or exhibit does not comply with the rules on form, the court "may refuse to admit it as evidence and may refuse to allow the costs arising from its preparation" (CPR Practice Direction 32, paragraph 25.1). Permission to use a defective document can be sought from a judge (paragraph 25.2). The court also holds a general power to exclude evidence that would otherwise be admissible (CPR rule 32.1(2))
  • Family courts: the identical sanction applies. The court may refuse to admit a non-compliant document as evidence and refuse the costs of preparing it (FPR Practice Direction 22A, paragraph 14.1), with the same route to a judge's permission for a defective document (paragraph 14.2)
  • Immigration tribunal: the practice direction states "The Tribunal will not overlook breaches of the requirements of the Procedure Rules, Practice Directions, Practice Statements and failures to comply with directions issued by the Tribunal" (paragraph 1.2). Sanctions for failing to comply with case management directions may include the exclusion of evidence (paragraph 5.3). For evidence filed less than 5 working days before a hearing, "the judge must decide as a preliminary matter whether to admit that evidence at the hearing", and wasted costs can follow an adjournment (paragraph 7.14)

Welsh is not a foreign language in these courts

Everything above is about foreign languages. Welsh is not one of them. In the administration of justice in Wales, the official position is that "the English and Welsh languages should be treated on the basis of equality". Two provisions carry that status:

"In any legal proceedings in Wales the Welsh language may be spoken by any party, witness or other person who desires to use it, subject in the case of proceedings in a court other than a magistrates' court to such prior notice as may be required by rules of court; and any necessary provision for interpretation shall be made accordingly." Welsh Language Act 1993, section 22(1).
"Any document placed before the court in civil proceedings in or having a connection with Wales may be in the English or Welsh Language. The parties or their legal representatives must inform the court as soon as practicable if a document in the Welsh language will or may be placed before the court so that appropriate arrangements can be made." Welsh language Practice Direction, paragraph 1.4.
  • Parties must tell the court whenever it is possible that Welsh will be used by a party, a witness or in a document, so the case can be managed and listed accordingly (paragraph 1.3)
  • HMCTS forms are available in Welsh, and the Welsh Language Unit of HMCTS provides translation facilities (paragraph 1.5)
  • Cases are listed "wherever practicable before a Welsh speaking judge", and at a court with simultaneous translation facilities where needed (paragraph 4.1)
  • Where an interpreter is needed between English and Welsh, the Court Manager secures one from the list of approved court interpreters (paragraph 5.1)
  • Witnesses may be sworn or may affirm in Welsh or English as they wish (paragraph 6.1)
  • The immigration tribunal mirrors this: "In proceedings that are in Wales or have a connection with Wales, a document or translation may be provided to the Tribunal in Welsh." (rule 12(6))
  • GOV.UK's certification guidance points the same way: certifying a translation is only needed for documents "not written in English or Welsh"
One warning sits inside the Welsh Practice Direction itself: "If costs are incurred as a result of a party failing to comply with this direction, a costs Order may be made against that party or their legal representative." (paragraph 1.6). Tell the court early.

Sources for this page

We only publish what an official source says, and we re-check these pages on a schedule. If a source changes, this page is reviewed before we rely on it again.

What it confirmsOfficial sourceChecked
Civil translation rules for witness statements and affidavits, and the refuse-to-admit powerCPR Practice Direction 3221 Jul 2026
The court's general power to exclude evidenceCPR Part 32, rule 32.121 Jul 2026
Family translation rule and the matching sanctionFPR Practice Direction 22A21 Jul 2026
English translation requirement and the Welsh option in immigration appealsTribunal Procedure (First-tier Tribunal) (IAC) Rules 2014, rule 1221 Jul 2026
Current First-tier Tribunal practice direction: procedural rigour, and its silence on translating documentary evidenceFtT IAC Practice Direction, 1 November 202421 Jul 2026
Upper Tribunal bundle translation ruleJoint IAC Practice Directions, 18 December 201821 Jul 2026
Welsh language in the civil courts of WalesWelsh language Practice Direction21 Jul 2026
The right to use Welsh in legal proceedings in WalesWelsh Language Act 1993, section 2221 Jul 2026
What a certified translation must sayGOV.UK, Certifying a document21 Jul 2026

This page is general information based on the official guidance linked above, as it stood on the date shown. It is not legal or immigration advice, and requirements can change. The decision on any application always rests with the receiving organisation, so confirm the current requirements with them before you apply. Lingo Service is not responsible for decisions made by third parties.

Related official requirements

More pages in this series, each quoting the receiving organisation's own published wording, plus the prices if you need the translation done.

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Common questions

Does the translator have to be sworn, accredited or officially registered?

The rules we checked do not state any qualification requirement. CPR Practice Direction 32, FPR Practice Direction 22A and the immigration tribunal rules say what the translator must sign and certify, not what qualifications they must hold. The only provision that mentions qualifications at all is the Upper Tribunal bundle direction, and it only asks for the translator's identity and qualifications to be stated. Nothing we found accepts or rejects foreign sworn translators either. The guidance is silent on that.

Do I file the original foreign-language document as well as the translation?

Yes. In the civil and family courts the rules say the party must file the foreign-language statement or affidavit with the court, alongside the translation. In Upper Tribunal immigration bundles the typed translation must be inserted next to the copy of the original document. The court gets both.

What happens if the translation is not done properly?

In the civil and family courts, a statement or affidavit that does not comply with the rules on form may be refused as evidence, and the court may refuse to allow the costs of preparing it. A judge can give permission to use a defective document, but that is a request you do not want to be making. In the immigration tribunal, the practice direction states that breaches of the rules will not be overlooked, and sanctions can include the exclusion of evidence.

My case is in Wales. Does a Welsh-language document need translating?

No. Welsh is not a foreign language in these courts. Any document placed before the court in civil proceedings in or having a connection with Wales may be in English or Welsh, and the two languages are treated on the basis of equality. You must tell the court as soon as practicable that a Welsh document is coming, so arrangements can be made. GOV.UK's certification guidance only applies to documents not written in English or Welsh.

Will my document definitely be accepted by the court?

No page can honestly promise that, and you should be cautious of any that does. What we can tell you is what the rules and practice directions require, with the source, so your translation is prepared exactly as the court asks. Whether evidence is admitted is always the court's decision.