Translation & Certification FAQ — What to Know Before You Order
Straight answers about translation, certification, notarization, pricing, and timing.
Costs, Timelines, and Rush Options
Clear pricing before work begins, with any rush or official-service fees explained upfront.
- How much does translation cost? +
Translation is usually quoted at 1.6-6 THB per word, depending on the language pair and document type. Personal certificates are often priced per page, starting from 350 THB.
Price factors: Language pair, document type, formatting needs, and deadline. Legal, technical, and same-day work usually costs more than general text.
Example pricing: Birth certificate: from 550 THB. Driver license: from 450 THB. Per-word projects start from 1.8 THB/word for Thai-English.
Volume discounts: Projects over 10,000 words may qualify for lower per-word rates. Request a free quote and we will review the file first.
- How much does notarization cost? +
Notary services start from 1,500 THB. We can explain the available notarization options, including an embossed gold seal when suitable.
Combined services: Translation + notarization packages are available from 2,050 THB (translation from 550 THB + notarization from 1,500 THB). MFA legalization, when required for international use, is quoted as a 1,800 THB service fee plus the 200 THB/page government fee.
Note: Complex legal documents may require additional review fees. We provide exact quotes before starting any work.
- Are there rush fees? +
Same-day express service carries a +30% surcharge. Next-day delivery is often possible without an extra fee when the schedule allows.
Rush availability: It depends on document length and current workload. Short documents of 1-5 pages are usually the easiest to expedite. Longer projects may need several translators working in parallel.
Mention your deadline when you send the files. We'll confirm whether rush delivery is possible and include the fee in the quote.
- How long does translation take? +
A normal working pace is about 2,000-3,000 words per business day. Most personal documents are completed within 24-48 hours.
Typical timelines:
Single certificate (birth, marriage certificate, divorce): usually 24 hours
Business contract (5-10 pages): 2-3 business days
academic records: 24-48 hours
Technical manual (50+ pages): 5-7 business days
Large projects: For projects over 10,000 words, we can sometimes assign several translators and a reviewer to keep timing realistic.
- Is same-day service available? +
Same-day service is available for many documents under 10 pages. It carries a +30% surcharge and depends on workload.
Best for: Personal certificates, short contracts, urgent immigration documents, last-minute business needs.
WhatsApp is the fastest way to check. Mention "same-day needed" and your deadline, and we will confirm availability as soon as we review the file.
Notarization: Same-day notarization is often available, and many notarizations are completed within hours once documents arrive.
Certification, Notarization & Legalization
What certification, notarization, and legalization usually mean for embassies and government offices.
- What is a certified translation? +
A professional document translation includes a statement of accuracy, the translator's signature, credentials, and the company seal.
What's included: Translation of your document, certification statement declaring accuracy, translator's qualifications, official stamp/seal, and our company details.
When you need it: Immigration applications, embassy submissions, court filings, university admissions, government agencies, and any official purpose.
Acceptance: Our certified translations are commonly used for Thai Immigration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, embassies in Thailand, and international organizations. Requirements can vary by destination, so we check the purpose before advising.
- Will embassies accept your translations? +
Our certified work is regularly used for embassies in Thailand, Thai government offices, and international authorities. Final acceptance always depends on the receiving office and its current requirements.
Common receiving offices: Royal Thai Government agencies, Thai Immigration Bureau, foreign embassies in Bangkok, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), and international organizations and NGOs.
Our credentials: We are members of the Thai Translators and Interpreters Association with 15+ years of experience formatting documents for official acceptance.
- What's the difference between certification and notarization? +
Certification: The translation company confirms that the translation is accurate. It includes the translator signature, credentials, and company seal, and is enough for many domestic uses.
Notarization: A licensed Notarial Services Attorney (Thailand's equivalent of a notary public) verifies the document or signature. Some international uses require this extra step.
When you need notarization: Documents going to foreign embassies, international legal proceedings, or when the receiving organization specifically requests "notarized" documents.
We provide both: Translation, certification, and notarization can be arranged together when the receiving office requires it.
- Do you handle MFA legalization? +
We can handle official document legalization as part of the document process.
When MFA legalization is needed: Documents for foreign embassies in Thailand, government agencies overseas, international legal proceedings, visa and citizenship applications abroad.
Process: Translation, certification, MFA authentication, and embassy verification if required. We can coordinate the chain for you.
Timeline: MFA legalization typically takes 3-5 business days. We submit documents and collect them on your behalf.
Apostille note: Thailand is in the process of joining the Hague Apostille Convention. Until the system is implemented, MFA legalization is still the process most clients need. See our apostille alternatives guide.
- Does Thailand have apostille? +
Not yet. Thailand is joining the Hague Apostille Convention, but for now most documents still need MFA legalization instead.
Current process: MFA legalization and, where the destination country requires it, embassy authentication. Private documents take the separate route of notarization by a licensed attorney, submitted to the embassy directly. It is more involved than apostille, but it is the accepted process for many international submissions.
What this means for you: If you need documents for international use, we guide you through the current authentication process. Once apostille is implemented, the process will simplify.
Learn more: See our detailed apostille Thailand guide for current requirements.
Languages, Accuracy, and Confidentiality
Native-speaker translators, a second review, and careful handling of private documents.
- What languages do you translate? +
We work with Thai, English, and 15+ Asian and European languages, including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Burmese, Lao, Malay, Russian, and more.
Core languages:
Thai-English services | Chinese (Mandarin & Cantonese) | Korean translation | Indonesian (Bahasa) | Burmese (Myanmar) | Lao translation | Malay | Russian translation
Other languages: Japanese, Vietnamese, German, French, Spanish, and more through our linguist network. Reach out to us for specific language pairs.
- How do you check translation accuracy? +
Each project is translated by a suitable linguist and reviewed by a second person for accuracy, terminology, and natural flow.
Our process: Native-speaker translators, subject matching (legal to legal, medical to medical), terminology glossaries where needed, second review, proofreading, and a final check before delivery.
Why this matters: The two-person review catches errors that single-translator workflows miss. This is standard on every project regardless of size.
- What if there's an error in my translation? +
Tell us what looks wrong and we will review it promptly. One round of revisions is included with every project.
How to request corrections: Email or message us with the specific issue. We review and correct the same day in most cases.
Our policy: If the issue is our error, we correct it at no charge. Our review process reduces mistakes, but we still stand behind the work.
Preference revisions: If you prefer different wording (not an error, just preference), one revision round is included. Additional revisions may incur fees.
- Are my documents kept confidential? +
Projects are handled under professional confidentiality, and access is limited to the people assigned to your job.
Our measures: Professional confidentiality agreements for all translators, secure file transfer and storage systems, documents deleted after project completion (unless you request otherwise), access limited to assigned project staff only.
Who trusts us: Law firms, corporations, government agencies, NGOs and international organizations that regularly handle sensitive information.
Get in Touch
Can't find your answer? Send us the document or a short description and we will point you to the right translation, certification, or notarization option.