Translation of documents with passport application

All documents submitted with the passport application(s) must be in French or English. 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.

You must submit both:

• the original document in the original language and
• the translated version of the document

Translation requirements

Documents submitted with your passport application that are not in English or French must be translated by either

• certified professional translators or
• non-certified professional translators

Translation requirements vary depending on the translation service you use: certified professional, non-certified professional or third party.

A certified professional translator is a member of a professional translation organization in Canada or abroad.

A certified professional translator

• certifies translations using a seal or stamp
• can be validated through their member organization

A translation produced by a certified professional translator must include

• a certification stamp or seal
• contact information for the translation organization
  • name
  • phone number
  • address
  • email address (if available)
• information about the translator
  • name
  • signature
  • membership number (if available)
• the date of the translation
• a completed Statutory Declaration for Translators [PPTC 659 E] form confirming the translator’s skills and the accuracy of the translated documents

A non-certified professional translator is a member or an employee in good standing of an official organization.

Official organizations include, but are not limited, to

• translation organizations
• government institutions
• private agencies

Unlike translations done by certified professional translators, the translations of non-certified professional translators are not certified by a stamp or seal.

A translation done by a non-certified professional translator must include

• contact information for the translation organization
  • phone number
  • address
  • email address (if available)
• information about the translator
  • name
  • signature
• membership number (if available)
• the date of the translation
• a completed Statutory Declaration for Translators [PPTC 659 E] form confirming the translator’s skills and the accuracy of the translated documents

A third party translator is an individual who is not a translator by profession but has the required language skills and knowledge to translate documents.

Translations done by you or by your family members are not acceptable.

Passport Canada don’t accept translations of court documents and legally binding agreements that were done by a third party. These documents must be translated by a certified professional translator or a non-certified professional translator.

A translation from a third party translator must include

• information about the translator
  • name
  • signature
  • phone number
  • address (if available)
• the date of the translation
• a notarized  Statutory Declaration for Translators [PPTC 659 E] 
  • confirming the translator’s skills and the accuracy of the translated documents
  • notarized by a
    • lawyer
    • notary
    • commissioner of oaths

Passport Canada may contact your translator to confirm that they produced the translation. If they aren’t sure the translation is accurate, they may ask you to have the document translated again. Failure to meet the criteria will result into the rejection of your passport application.

You can now check the walk-in wait times at Passport Canada offices only

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