Marriage Certificate Translation for UK Spouse Visa: Step-by-Step Guide

Applying for a UK spouse visa is stressful enough without worrying about whether your translated marriage certificate will be accepted. Every year, thousands of applications are delayed or refused because of translation issues that could have been easily avoided.

This guide walks you through exactly what the Home Office expects, the mistakes that cause rejections, and how to get it right the first time.

What the Home Office Requires

If your marriage certificate is in any language other than English or Welsh, you must submit a certified translation alongside the original document. The Home Office is very specific about what counts as a certified translation:

• Full translation of every word on the certificate, including stamps, seals, and marginal notes
• Translator's certification statement confirming the translation is accurate and complete
• Translator's credentials — their full name, signature, date, and contact details
• Professional qualification — the translator must be qualified and identifiable

The translation does not need to be notarised or apostilled for a standard UK spouse visa application. A certified translation from a professional translator is sufficient.

Which Visa Routes Need a Translated Marriage Certificate?

You will need a translated marriage certificate for several immigration routes:

• Spouse visa (Appendix FM): The most common route. You must prove a genuine, subsisting marriage.
• Fiancé(e) visa: If you have a foreign marriage certificate from a previous marriage, it may be requested.
• Settlement (ILR): If your original spouse visa application included a translated certificate, the same translation is usually accepted, but a fresh translation may be requested.
• EEA family permit / EU Settlement Scheme: Marriage certificates from EU countries are often required in translation.

The 5 Most Common Rejection Reasons

Having processed thousands of marriage certificate translations for visa applications, these are the issues we see most often:

1. Partial Translation

The Home Office expects every element translated — not just the names and dates. Stamps from the registrar's office, marginal annotations, and even pre-printed headings on the certificate must all be included. Leaving anything out can trigger a request for further information, adding weeks to your application.

2. Missing Certification Statement

A translation without a signed certification statement is treated as an unofficial document. The statement must confirm the translation is "a true and accurate translation of the original document" and include the translator's full name, signature, date, and qualifications.

3. Using a Family Member or Friend

Translations by friends or family members are not accepted, even if they are fluent in both languages. The Home Office requires an independent, professional translator with no personal connection to the applicant.

4. Wrong Certificate

Some countries issue multiple types of marriage documents. For example, many Middle Eastern countries issue both a religious marriage contract and a civil registration certificate. The Home Office typically requires the civil registration certificate. If you are unsure which document to submit, check with your immigration adviser.

5. Poor Quality Scan or Photocopy

If parts of the original certificate are illegible due to a poor scan, the translator cannot translate what they cannot read. This leads to gaps in the translation that the Home Office will query. Always provide a clear, high-resolution scan or the original document.

How Long Does It Take?

Professional marriage certificate translation typically takes 1-2 working days for common languages (Arabic, Polish, Romanian, Spanish, Portuguese, Turkish, Urdu). Rare languages may take 2-3 days.

If you need an urgent translation, same-day or next-day turnaround is available for most languages at an additional cost.

How Much Does It Cost?

Marriage certificates are short documents (typically one page), so they fall under certificate pricing rather than per-word pricing. At Lingo Service, certified translation of a marriage certificate starts at £35.

This includes the certified translation, translator's certification statement, and digital delivery. Hard copies or postal delivery can be arranged if needed.

What About Multilingual Certificates?

Some countries issue marriage certificates that are already bilingual or multilingual (e.g., Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg). If English is one of the languages on the certificate, you may not need a separate translation. However, if the Home Office specifically requests one, it is safer to provide a certified translation rather than risk a delay.

Religious vs Civil Marriage Certificates

In many countries, religious and civil marriages are separate legal processes. The Home Office recognises marriages that are legally valid in the country where they took place. This means:

• Religious marriage only (e.g., Islamic nikah without civil registration): May not be recognised by the Home Office unless it is legally valid in the country of origin.
• Civil registration: Always recognised if legally valid.
• Both religious and civil: Translate both if you have them, but the civil certificate is the key document.

Tips for a Smooth Application

• Submit the translation alongside the original certificate (or a certified copy). Do not send the translation alone.
• Ensure the translator's name and contact details are clearly visible on the certification statement.
• Keep a copy of everything you submit — the Home Office does not always return original documents promptly.
• If your certificate is in a language with multiple scripts (e.g., Urdu in Nastaliq and English), ensure the full Urdu text is translated, not just the English portions.
• Apply for translation before you book your biometrics appointment, not after.

Get Your Marriage Certificate Translated

At Lingo Service, we translate marriage certificates from over 90 languages for UK visa applications. Every translation includes a certified statement accepted by the Home Office, UKVI, and all UK courts and authorities.

Get an instant quote — upload your marriage certificate and receive your certified translation within 1-2 working days.