Translation Services in Canada for Immigration, Education, Life, Business, and Government

A certified translation is an official translation prepared by a professional translator and confirmed by a seal or signature that makes it valid for use with government bodies, courts, universities, and employers.

In some cases, a translation must be completed and stamped specifically by a certified Canadian translator who is a member of a provincial association such as ATIO, OTTIAQ, or STIBC. While most government offices do not demand this stricter form of certification, certain licensing organizations or professional boards do.

For some organizations, a translation can be certified by a representative of a professional translation agency, on a letterhead of that agency, with the necessary contact information.

One more option is getting the translations certified by a Canadian Commissioner for Taking Oaths (Commissioner for Taking Affidavits), who can certify the signature of the translator on their affidavit (written oath attesting to the completeness and correctness of the translation).

Another type is the notarized translation, which is usually required for use outside of Canada. Certain embassies and consulates ask that a Canadian Notary Public notarize translations. This additional step provides legal recognition abroad and confirms that the translation has been properly verified.

Finally, there are non-certified translations, often chosen by business clients who do not need official paperwork. These translations are performed by the same skilled linguists, but without formal certification, making them suitable for websites, marketing materials, or internal use.

We can assist in both cases.

When documents need to be used abroad, a standard certified translation is sometimes not enough. Many foreign institutions, such as embassies, consulates, and government offices, require translations to be additionally notarized or accompanied by an apostille.

A notarized translation involves having a Notary Public in Canada officially attest to the authenticity of the translation. In such cases, the notarized translation assures that a qualified professional did the work and that the certification is legally binding.

An apostille is another form of legalization, now simplified in Canada since joining the Hague Apostille Convention in 2024. With this system, Canadian documents can be authenticated through a single streamlined process, making them valid in all other member states of the Hague Apostille Convention.

Check this page for details.

By the way, for countries that are not part of the Hague Apostille Convention, the process may still involve full consular legalization, where the document passes through several offices, including the consulate or the embassy of the destination country.

Machine translation uses advanced software to process large volumes of text quickly. It is efficient for internal use or when speed is the top priority, and the output can later be reviewed by a human translator to ensure quality.

By contrast, human translation is carried out entirely by a professional human linguist. At our agency, native-speaking translators with multiple years of full-time translating experience provide what we call the “Gold Standard” service. These translations are fully manual, ensuring accurate, fluent, and error-free results that reflect not only the words but also the intended meaning and the tone of the original document.

For clients who require the highest level of precision, our “VIP” service package includes not just a manual translation by one expert, but also a second round of review and refinement by another senior translator.
In practice, the choice between machine-assisted and fully human translation depends on the purpose of the document. If you need speed and efficiency for internal communication, machine translation with light post-editing (MTPE) may be sufficient. But for external distribution, official documents, or sensitive content, human translation is essential.

All of these have their role in the language industry, but are completely different services:

• Transcription or subtitling involves converting speech from audio or video into written text—and optionally translating and embedding subtitles directly into the video.
• Translation focuses on converting written text between languages.
• Interpretation (not explicitly detailed on the site) generally means live, spoken (oral) translation in real time.
• Localization is adapting content (like websites, marketing materials, or apps) to fit not just the target language, but also cultural norms, legal requirements, and audience expectations of a specific region—e.g., converting tone, idioms, date formats, or imagery.

Yes. For Canada, adaptations should reflect Canadian-specific language norms.

We offer translations specifically localized into Quebec French, rather than European French, to align with regional language standards and cultural context.

Our approach to cultural accuracy also ensures that English usage is adapted to the Canadian context according to the Canadian English Style Guide—just as we do with French.

Absolutely.

We provide expert support for businesses in Quebec looking to comply with the Charter of the French Language. This includes helping with:

• Registration with the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF).
• Establishing a Francization Committee.
• Meeting employee‑threshold deadlines (25+, 100+ employees) to obtain a francization certificate.

With our support, your business can avoid huge fines for non-compliance with Quebec laws.