Professional Lao Translation Services UK

Lao (Laotian) is spoken by approximately 7 million people in Laos and by ethnic Lao populations in northeastern Thailand (Isan region). The UK has a small but established Laotian community, many of whom arrived as refugees following the Vietnam War era, with newer arrivals including students and professionals.

Lao script is closely related to Thai script, both descending from the ancient Khmer script. However, Lao has its own distinct characters and spelling conventions. The language is tonal, with six tones that affect meaning. Laotian documents follow specific government formats established under the Lao PDR system.

Our Lao translators are native speakers with expertise in Laotian administrative systems and UK immigration requirements. Whether you need birth certificates for visa applications, academic credentials for UK universities, or legal documents for official purposes, our certified translations are accepted by the Home Office, UKVI, UK courts, and all official bodies.

We translate all types of Lao documents from Laos:

• Civil registry documents — Birth certificates (ໃບຢັ້ງຢືນການເກີດ), marriage certificates (ໃບຢັ້ງຢືນການແຕ່ງງານ), death certificates from Lao civil registration offices
• Identity documents — Lao ID cards, Lao passports, family registration books (ປຶ້ມສຳມະໂນຄົວ), residence certificates
• Academic credentials — Baccalaureate certificates, university degrees from National University of Laos and other Laotian institutions, school leaving certificates
• Legal documents — Court orders, contracts, property documents, powers of attorney, police clearance certificates from Lao authorities
• Business documents — Company registration, commercial contracts, investment certificates from Lao PDR
• Historical documents — Pre-1975 documents, refugee documentation, resettlement papers

All translations include certification accepted by UK authorities for immigration and official use.

Accurate Lao translation requires specific expertise:

• Distinct from Thai — While Lao and Thai scripts appear similar, they have different characters, spelling rules, and vocabulary. Our translators are specifically trained in Lao, not Thai
• Socialist-era documents — Lao PDR documents follow specific communist-era formats with particular terminology. We understand these conventions for accurate translation
• French colonial legacy — Older Laotian documents or legal terminology may include French elements. We handle bilingual historical documents
• Buddhist calendar — Some Lao documents use the Buddhist Era (BE) calendar. We convert dates clearly for UK authorities
• Refugee documentation — Many Laotians in the UK arrived as refugees. We have experience with UNHCR documents, resettlement papers, and reconstructed civil records

Our translators understand both Laotian administrative systems and UK official requirements, ensuring your documents meet all standards for acceptance.