18/04/2025
Do you need a translation from French for the UK Passport office?
I am registered on various UK government websites as a service provider helping UK nationals with translation services in France. I have no official accreditation and I am in no way affiliated with or approved by the UK passport authorities.
I am, however, accredited by the courts in France and I went through an application and vetting process to be included on a list of sworn translators.
This means that I am allowed to provide official, signed translations that have a legal value. The UK accepts my French accreditation as proof of my ability to translate official documents.
I always advise my clients to seek help from translators in their area first. Any sworn translator with any French court of appeal can provide translations for the UK passport office. Using a professional in your area will save time, cut down on postal fees and limit the risk of your documents getting lost.
You can request the official list of translators from your town hall in France or I can recommend a trusted colleague in your area.
Are you based in the UK? I can also recommend a local translator who is qualified to translate your documents.
Birth certificates
The French authorities offer a plurilingual birth certificate that includes a French translation.
This will not be accepted by the UK passport office.
They will only accept an “acte de naissance intégral”.
You can apply for a full birth certificate online from the town hall where the birth was registered and it will be issued for free within a matter of days.
You can then scan this document and email it to your chosen translator.
Unless the passport office has explicitly required it, I do not need to see the original document to make the translation.
I will add a section at the end of the translation certifiying its accuracy and include my name and contact details, the date and my signature. I will also make a copy of the birth certificate, sign it and attach it to my translation. This process fully complies with the passport office’s requirements.
Depending on my workload at any particular time, it should not take me more than a week (generally 3 working days) to deliver your translation. I always send a scanned copy by email as well as the original paper translation by post.
My standard translation rate for a French birth certificate is €55 plus €5 for postage within mainland France. You will receive a written quote by email when you send me your document. Any personal data that you share with me will be processed in accordance with EU GDPR requirements.
I ask for payment by bank transfer to confirm the order.
Please get in touch at annikatisserant@proton.me or +33 7 55 09 07 11 for more information.
*
*
*
06/05/2025
Are you a company looking to hire an interpreter?
Here are a few things to consider to help you get the best possible service:
- Clearly outline the assignment in as much detail as possible. Give the interpreter some context about your company and why you need them.
- Tell them about working conditions, the number of people involved and if the interpreter will need any specific safety equipment while on your site.
- Share any relevant documents and consider compiling a list of vocabulary and company jargon.
- You could even think about inviting the interpreter to visit your site beforehand so they know their way around and meet the right people.
- Make sure you give your interpreter regular breaks and provide coffee (essential!) and water. This is important for good concentration. A tired interpreter makes mistakes!
These are the things that will make sure the interpreter arrives properly dressed and prepared for the assignment, with the right terminology ready to go.
*
*
*
07/05/2025
Why does a certified translation seem so expensive?
I’ve been thinking about this subject for a while now as the price for longer document translations can seem very pricey.
So let’s think about what’s included in the price:
Subject-specific research and terminology: legal documents deal with complex situations and use specific terminology that we have to make sure we get right. We also have a responsibility to keep our client’s data secure so running a document through an AI tool to save time is out of the question!
Drafting the translation: typing out the translation and formatting the document to allow for line-by-line comparison. I also add a box at the end to include my certification statement.
Revising the translation: I revise my work at least twice in different formats to pick up any errors that might have slipped in.
Proofreading the translation: a certified translation has legal value and as soon as I sign it I have a legal responsibility for its accuracy. Any mistakes could have negative consequences for both my client and my own career.
Printing, signing, stamping, scanning: Hopefully in the near future I will be investing in an electronic signature so the scanning process will become obsolete, but for now all my translations are delivered as paper originals with an optional scan sent by email.
In addition to the actual work of the translation process, the price you pay to the translator includes all the fees and taxes that a freelancer is required to pay:
Business tax
Social security contributions (25%)
Compulsory training
Software subscriptions
Professional body membership
Professional liability insurance
And much more…
So the translator will pocket only a portion of the price that you pay them for their work.
Consider these factors the next time you need to have a document translated.