Certified Translation Services in South Africa
Ellipse World provides sworn and certified translations of personal, academic, legal and corporate documents, accepted by Home Affairs, the High Court, SAQA, universities, embassies and immigration authorities worldwide.
What is a certified translation in South Africa?
When a document written in one language must be used officially in another, the receiving authority needs to be sure the translation is complete and faithful. A certified translation provides that assurance: the translation is accompanied by a formal statement, signed by the translator or the translation company, confirming that it accurately reflects the original.
South Africa has a specific and demanding form of official translation: the sworn translation. A sworn translator is admitted by a division of the High Court of South Africa after passing an examination, and takes an oath to translate faithfully. Sworn translations are signed and stamped by the sworn translator and are the standard expected by South African courts and many government departments.
Ellipse World handles both. Ellipse World first identifies which type of translation the receiving authority accepts, then assigns the work to the right professional: a High Court sworn translator for sworn translations, or a qualified translator and reviser for certified translations issued with Ellipse World's certificate of accuracy.
Ask which type you need
Sworn translation vs certified translation
The two terms are often confused. This comparison shows the differences that matter when you choose.
| Sworn translation | Certified translation | |
|---|---|---|
| Who signs | A sworn translator admitted by the High Court of South Africa | The translator or Ellipse World, on company letterhead |
| Form | Translation attached to a copy of the source, signed and stamped on every page, with a sworn declaration | Translation with a signed certificate of accuracy identifying the document and languages |
| Typical use | South African courts, Home Affairs, Deeds Office, Master of the High Court, many government departments | Foreign immigration services, universities, employers, banks and private institutions |
| Language pairs | Limited to pairs for which a sworn translator is admitted | Available in all 30+ languages Ellipse World covers |
| Delivery | Signed originals by courier, plus a scanned copy | PDF by email, originals on request |
| Cost | Higher, as it includes the sworn translator's oath and stamp | Lower |
Rules change and differ between institutions. Ellipse World always checks the current requirement of the authority that will receive your document and confirms it in writing before starting.
Documents Ellipse World translates and certifies
From a single birth certificate to a complete immigration file, Ellipse World translates every document you may need for an official process.
Civil status documents
Birth certificates (abridged and unabridged), marriage and divorce certificates, death certificates, name change documents, adoption orders and certificates of no impediment.
Academic documents
Degrees, diplomas, matric certificates, academic transcripts, course descriptions, letters of enrolment and documents for SAQA evaluation of foreign qualifications.
Identity documents
Passports, identity cards, driver's licences, residence permits, visas, refugee and asylum documents, and international driving permits.
Legal documents
Court orders, judgments, divorce decrees, custody orders, affidavits, powers of attorney, wills, police clearance certificates and criminal record extracts.
Financial documents
Bank statements, payslips, tax certificates and returns, employment contracts, proof of income, loan documents and financial statements for visa and permit applications.
Corporate documents
Company registration certificates, memoranda of incorporation, shareholder registers, board resolutions, tax clearance certificates and B-BBEE certificates for foreign use.
Medical documents
Medical reports and certificates, vaccination records, disability assessments and medical examination reports required for immigration and insurance.
Property documents
Title deeds, sale agreements, lease agreements, municipal certificates and estate documents for property transactions involving foreign parties.
Immigration files
Complete document sets for visas, permanent residence, citizenship and family reunification, translated consistently with matching names and dates across every document.
Where your certified translation will be accepted
Ellipse World prepares certified and sworn translations for the institutions South African clients deal with most often:
- Department of Home Affairs: visas, permits, permanent residence, citizenship, registration of foreign births and marriages.
- High Court and Magistrates' Courts: evidence, foreign judgments, divorce and custody matters, estates.
- Master of the High Court and Deeds Office: foreign wills, inheritance documents and property transfers.
- SAQA and universities: evaluation of foreign qualifications and applications for study.
- Embassies and consulates in Pretoria, Johannesburg and Cape Town: visa and residence applications for France, Germany, Portugal, Spain, Italy and other countries.
- Foreign immigration services: applications to Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and the United States.
- Banks, employers and professional bodies in South Africa and abroad.
How to order a certified translation
Ellipse World handles your order entirely in writing, so every instruction and commitment is on record.
Send your documents
Upload a clear scan or photo of every page, including the back of documents with stamps or annotations. Tell Ellipse World where the translation will be submitted.
Receive your quote
Ellipse World confirms in writing whether you need a sworn or certified translation, the fixed price in Rand and the delivery date.
Translation and check
A qualified translator translates every element, including stamps, seals and handwritten notes, and a second linguist checks names, dates and numbers.
Delivery
You receive a PDF by email and, for sworn translations or on request, signed originals by courier anywhere in South Africa.
Getting your certified translation right the first time
A rejected translation costs time, and sometimes a missed appointment or a lapsed application. Most rejections come from a handful of avoidable mistakes. Ellipse World checks each of them before starting.
Translate every page and every stamp
Authorities expect a complete translation. Stamps, seals, handwritten annotations, marginal notes and the reverse side of a document must all be translated or described. A birth certificate whose back carries an apostille or a registration stamp is incomplete if only the front is translated. Ellipse World translates the entire document and describes non-text elements such as signatures and emblems in square brackets.
Keep names exactly as in the passport
Names are the most common source of problems in immigration files. If a name is spelled differently in a foreign birth certificate and in a passport, the authority may question whether the documents relate to the same person. Ellipse World reproduces names as they appear in the source document, and when transliteration is needed (for example from Arabic, Chinese or Cyrillic scripts) follows the spelling used in your passport, noting it in the certificate.
Check the order of apostille and translation
For documents used abroad, an apostille or legalisation is often required. In South Africa, apostilles for public documents are issued by DIRCO and by the registrars of the High Court. Some foreign authorities want the original apostilled before translation, so the apostille itself is translated; others want the translation authenticated as well. Doing the steps in the wrong order can mean starting again. Ellipse World confirms the correct sequence for your destination country before starting.
Ask whether a sworn translator is needed in the destination country
A South African sworn translation is designed for use in South Africa. Some countries, such as France, Germany, Spain or Belgium, may require a translation made by a translator sworn in their own country. In that case Ellipse World can arrange the translation through a translator recognised by the destination country, drawing on the international network of Group ELLIPSE.
Plan for originals when they are required
Many authorities and foreign immigration services now accept scanned translations uploaded online. Others, particularly courts and some government offices, want the signed original. Ellipse World tells you which applies and dispatches originals by courier so they arrive before your deadline.
Certified translation languages
Ellipse World provides certified translations between English and more than 30 languages, and sworn translations in the language pairs for which a sworn translator is admitted by the High Court. The most frequently requested languages for certified translation in South Africa are:
French and Portuguese are particularly common, because South Africa hosts large communities from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Mozambique, Angola and other French and Portuguese-speaking countries, and because many South Africans relocate to Europe or to Canada. Afrikaans to English sworn translations are frequently required for older civil records, court documents and title deeds.
All languages
How much does a certified translation cost?
Ellipse World prices certified translations per document for standard certificates and per word for longer or text-heavy documents. The price depends on the language pair, the length and complexity of the document, whether a sworn translation is required and how quickly you need it. Rare languages and urgent deadlines cost more; several documents for the same file, such as a complete immigration application, are often quoted at a reduced combined rate.
The exact price is always confirmed in a written quote before work starts. The quote is fixed: the price you see is the price you pay, VAT shown separately, with no surcharge for stamps or certificates. Courier delivery of originals is shown as a separate line when required.
| Document | Typical turnaround |
|---|---|
| Birth, marriage or death certificate | 1 to 2 working days |
| Passport, ID or driver's licence | 1 to 2 working days |
| Police clearance certificate | 1 to 2 working days |
| Diploma with transcript | 2 to 3 working days |
| Court judgment or divorce decree | 2 to 5 working days, depending on length |
| Complete immigration file | According to a written schedule |
Express service is available for most document types. If you have an appointment or a filing deadline, mention it when you request your quote and Ellipse World will plan delivery accordingly.
Why choose Ellipse World for your certified translation
Certified translation is where precision matters most: one wrong digit in a date of birth or one misspelled name can delay an application by months. Ellipse World's team has prepared certified translations for immigration, court and university files in several countries, and the process reflects that experience.
- The right type of translation, confirmed in writing. Ellipse World tells you whether you need a sworn or certified translation before you pay.
- Complete translations. Every stamp, seal, annotation and reverse side is translated or described.
- Double check of names, dates and numbers. A second linguist compares every proper noun and figure against the source.
- International perspective. As part of a group that serves clients in Europe and North America, Ellipse World knows what foreign authorities expect.
- Confidentiality. Identity and civil documents are handled in line with POPIA and deleted after the agreed retention period.
- Free correction. If an authority raises a justified issue, Ellipse World corrects the translation at no cost.
Certified translation: frequently asked questions
Does Home Affairs accept certified translations?
Home Affairs generally requires foreign-language documents to be accompanied by a sworn translation into English made by a translator admitted by the High Court of South Africa. Requirements can vary by application type, so Ellipse World confirms the current requirement for your application before starting.
How long is a certified translation valid?
A certified or sworn translation does not expire in itself. However, some authorities require the underlying document to be recent, for example a police clearance certificate issued within the last six months, in which case a new document and a new translation will be needed.
Can you translate from a scan or a photo?
Yes. A clear scan or photo of every page is sufficient for most certified translations. For some sworn translations, the sworn translator may need to see the original document or a certified copy, and Ellipse World will tell you in writing if that is the case.
Do I need a notarised translation?
In South Africa, sworn translations are the usual form of official translation. Some foreign authorities ask for a translation signed before a notary or commissioner of oaths. Ellipse World can arrange this when the destination authority requires it.
Will my certified translation be accepted in Canada, the UK or Australia?
Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and many other countries accept certified translations that include a statement of accuracy and the translator's or company's details. Each authority has its own wording requirements, and Ellipse World adapts the certificate to the destination.
Can you translate several documents for the same application?
Yes. Ellipse World translates complete files consistently, using the same spelling of names, places and institutions across every document, and quotes the file as a whole.
Need a certified translation? Get your fixed quote.
Send a scan or photo of your document and tell Ellipse World where it will be used. You will receive a written quote with price and delivery date.