Translation in a Canadian immigration application: what kind of translation does IRCC want

IRCC, which administers Canadian immigration and visa applications, requires a translation for documents that are not in English or French. The point that most confuses applicants from Türkiye is the standard that this translation has to meet.

Certified translation rests on the logic of a declaration

The certified translation that IRCC expects is a type of translation in which the translator declares that the document has been translated completely and accurately. The issue, in other words, is not simply that the text is translated; it is that the translator takes responsibility for that accuracy. This approach overlaps in spirit with the understanding of sworn translation in Türkiye: under both models the translator is answerable for the fidelity of the translation.

The translator’s declaration and identifying details matter

The translation is generally accompanied by a document setting out the translator’s name, their competence and a declaration of accuracy. In some cases further approval steps can come into play; but since which document requires which further approval varies with the type of application, the soundest course is to go by the current IRCC guidance. Rather than claiming a fixed formula, the file needs to be assessed document by document.

The most common mistake in Canadian applications is submitting the translation without a declaration of accuracy or with incomplete details. When you are preparing your set of documents, planning the accompanying declaration from the outset reduces the risk of the file coming back. At our Ankara Kızılay office we prepare translations for IRCC files together with the translator’s declaration.