How to Get a Bank Statement Translated for a UK Visa

If you are applying for a UK visa, you will almost certainly need to show proof of finances. For most applicants, that means bank statements. And if those statements are not in English, you will need a certified translation.

This guide covers exactly what you need, which banks cause issues, and how to avoid the common mistakes that delay visa applications.

What UKVI Requires for Bank Statement Translations

The UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) service requires that any document not in English or Welsh must be accompanied by a certified translation. For bank statements specifically, UKVI expects:

• A full, accurate translation of every element on the statement, including bank name, account holder, dates, transactions, and running balance
• A certification statement confirming the translation is accurate and complete
• The translator's credentials, including their name, signature, and contact details
• Company letterhead from the translation provider
• The date of translation

Crucially, the translation must be done by a professional translator, not the applicant or a family member. UKVI will reject self-translated documents.

How Many Months of Bank Statements Do You Need?

This depends on your visa type:

• Spouse/Partner visa: Usually 6 months of statements showing the financial requirement is met (currently £29,000 per year)
• Student visa: 28 consecutive days of statements showing you can cover tuition and living costs
• Skilled Worker visa: At least 28 days of statements if your employer is not certifying maintenance
• Visit visa: 3-6 months is typical, though not always required

Each month of statements counts as a separate page for translation pricing purposes, so a 6-month bank statement is typically 6-12 pages.

Common Reasons Bank Statement Translations Get Rejected

We see the same issues repeatedly from customers who had translations done elsewhere:

1. Missing Transaction Details

Some translators summarise transactions rather than translating every line. UKVI wants to see all transactions, including reference numbers and descriptions. A summary is not acceptable.

2. Incorrect Currency Formatting

Different countries format numbers differently. In Germany, €1.234,56 means one thousand two hundred and thirty-four euros and fifty-six cents. The translation needs to either preserve the original format with an explanation, or convert to UK formatting consistently.

3. No Certification Statement

A translation without a proper certification statement is not accepted by UKVI. The statement must confirm the translation is accurate and complete, and must be signed by the translator.

4. Bank Name Not Translated

This catches people out. If your bank is called 中国银行, the translation needs to include "Bank of China" alongside the original characters. Just translating the transactions but leaving the bank header in the original language is insufficient.

Which Banks Cause the Most Issues?

Some banks produce statements that are particularly challenging to translate:

• Chinese banks (ICBC, Bank of China, CCB) often use specialised financial terminology and stamps that need careful translation
• Middle Eastern banks with Arabic statements require right-to-left formatting expertise
• Online-only banks that produce PDF statements rather than official printed statements — these are still acceptable to UKVI, but the translation needs to note this

Certified vs Notarised: Which Do You Need?

For most UK visa applications, a certified translation is sufficient. You do not need a notarised translation unless specifically asked. Certification means the translator confirms the translation is accurate. Notarisation adds a solicitor or notary public's stamp on top, which adds cost and time without benefit for standard UKVI applications.

How to Get Your Bank Statement Translated

The process is straightforward:

1. Scan or photograph your bank statements clearly — every page, front and back
2. Upload them to our instant quote tool for an automatic price
3. Choose your service level — standard (48-72 hours), fast (24 hours), or express (same day)
4. Receive your certified translation as a PDF, ready to submit with your visa application

We translate bank statements from all languages, with particular expertise in Chinese, Arabic, Polish, Romanian, and Turkish financial documents.

What Does It Cost?

Bank statement translation is priced either as a certificate (fixed fee per page) or by word count for longer statements. A typical single-page bank statement costs £35 for certified translation. Multi-page statements with extensive transaction histories are priced per word, which often works out cheaper than per-page pricing.

Upload your documents for an instant quote — you will see the exact price before committing.