Can I translate my own supporting documents for a Canadian passport application?

No. Translations completed by the applicant or their family members are strictly rejected, regardless of their language proficiency. This restriction applies to parents, guardians, siblings, spouses, grandparents, children, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and first cousins.

What is Form PPTC 659 E?

Form PPTC 659 E is the official Statutory Declaration for Translators. It must be completed by the translator (certified, non-certified professional, or third-party) to legally swear to their language skills and affirm the precise accuracy of the translated documents.

Are the translation rules different for a proof of death document?

Yes. If you are submitting a foreign death certificate solely to cancel a deceased individual's passport, a signed and dated statement detailing the contents of the document is acceptable. However, if the document is used for any other processing reason, a formal certified translation is required.

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Canadian Passport Application: Official Guide to Document Translation

When applying for a Canadian passport, all supporting documentation must be submitted in either English or French. If your structural documents, such as a foreign birth certificate, marriage certificate, divorce decree, or legal name-change certificate, are issued in any other language, Service Canada requires an official translation.

Failure to satisfy these precise legal parameters will cause immediate application rejection or severe processing delays.

If the document(s) is/are not in French or English, it must be translated and the passport applicant must also submit the Statutory Declaration for Translators (PPTC 659) form. Click here.

Core Translation Submission Elements

To submit a valid file to the Passport Program, you must provide a three-part package:

The Original Document: The official source document issued in its original, non-English or non-French language.
The Translated Version: The complete, precise translation matching every layout element, seal, and stamp of the original text.
The Authenticating Attestation: A mandatory statutory declaration or affidavit verifying language competency and accurate output.

Authorized Translator Categories & Strict Criteria

Service Canada establishes specific tiers for acceptable translators. Crucial Rule: Self-translations or documents translated by any family member—including spouses, parents, siblings, children, aunts, uncles, or first cousins—are strictly forbidden.

1. Certified Professional Translators

Translators registered in good standing with a Canadian provincial or territorial translation association (such as ATIO, OTTIAQ, or STIBC).

Validation Requirements: Must feature an official certification stamp or seal.
Documentation: Complete business contact information (name, organization, telephone, physical address, and email if available), individual signature, professional membership number, date of translation, and a completed Statutory Declaration for Translators [Form PPTC 659 E].

2. Non-Certified Professional Translators

Professionals operating within verified translation agencies, private corporate bodies, or government institutions who do not possess a formal credential seal.

Validation Requirements: Lacks a registered association stamp but must supply full corporate identifiers.
Documentation: Complete agency contact data, full translator name, signature, date, and a completed Statutory Declaration for Translators [Form PPTC 659 E].

3. Third-Party Translators

Any independent individual who possesses fluent linguistic capacity in both the target language and English/French, but does not translate by profession.

Legal Restrictions: Third parties are prohibited from translating court documents, custody papers, or legally binding multi-party agreements. These documents require certified professionals.
Validation Requirements: The third party must sign and date the translation, providing their full contact info. Crucially, their Statutory Declaration for Translators [Form PPTC 659 E] must be formally notarized by an authorized Canadian lawyer, notary public, or commissioner of oaths.

Special Exceptions: Proof of Death Documentation

The rules shift slightly if you are submitting foreign proof-of-death records (such as death certificates or Allied Forces/Red Cross notifications) solely to report and cancel the passport of a deceased citizen:

A signed and dated content summary statement outlining the core details of the document may be accepted instead of a full translation.
Note: Service Canada reserves the right to request a certified translation if the accuracy of the summary is suspect, or if the proof of death is being used for any secondary purpose beyond basic passport cancellation.

Translation of documents with passport application

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