Translation services in Fredericton: hiring guide

Start with the office that will receive your documents

Ask the receiving office which language it accepts, which translator credentials it requires, and whether it wants a digital file, paper original, certified copy or affidavit. Save its written instructions and send them with your quote request. Describe the purpose: a provincial immigration application, a driver’s licence exchange, school admission or use abroad.

For Immigration New Brunswick, documents in languages other than English or French require translation. Candidates must submit a copy of the original and a copy of the translation. A certified translator’s package needs proof of certification; a non-certified translator’s package needs an affidavit. Follow these provincial instructions for the provincial application, and confirm the requirements for any separate federal submission. [2]

Check the translator’s status and independence

Ask who will translate your documents and request evidence of that person’s certified status when your receiving office requires it. CTINB has certified members and candidates for certification. It describes candidate status as a transitional step toward certification. Check the membership category before treating association membership as proof of certification. [3]

For a provincial immigration application, check independence before paying a deposit. Immigration New Brunswick excludes the candidate, relatives and anyone who works for the paid representative helping with the application. Ask the provider to confirm who will do the work and how they will supply certification proof or an affidavit. [2]

For legal, medical or academic material, ask about experience with that document type and the language direction you need. Agree on how the translator will handle unclear handwriting, stamps and name spellings. Give the translator a contact method for questions and flag any text you cannot read.

Request a complete quote and delivery date

Send legible images of all relevant pages, including reverse sides and attachments. Identify the source language and target language, the receiving organization and your submission deadline. Ask the provider to confirm that the quote covers the full document set before authorizing work.

Request document-specific quotes and compare the complete package. Ask for a total in Canadian dollars, the billing basis and any minimum charge. Confirm whether the total includes credential evidence, an affidavit, notary appointments, formatting, taxes, paper copies and shipping.

Agree on a delivery date for the complete package and leave time to review it before submission. Ask how the provider handles corrections and requests from the receiving office for a different format. For sensitive records, confirm the transfer method, who can access the files and when the provider will delete working copies.

Plan additional steps for documents used abroad

Before ordering translation for overseas use, ask the destination authority whether it requires authentication, an apostille or legalization. Global Affairs Canada explains that the destination country’s law determines whether authentication is necessary. It accepts authentication requests for documents issued or notarized in New Brunswick, subject to its document requirements. [4]

For Global Affairs Canada authentication, documents containing languages other than English or French generally need a certified translation alongside the original, with specified exemptions. Its accepted routes include certification by a member of a recognized provincial translation association or an attestation by a Canadian notary who speaks the required languages. Some destination countries also ask for the certified translator’s affidavit signed and sealed by a Canadian notary. [4]

Ask your translator which parts of this package they will provide and which require a separate appointment. Confirm the sequence with the receiving authority before sending original records away. Keep copies and agree on tracked return delivery if you need to move paper documents between offices.

Residents able to converse in French: New Brunswick metropolitan areas

Match the translation package to its purpose

Your hiring checklist

1. Get the receiving organization’s written language, credential and format requirements.
2. Prepare legible copies of the full document set, including stamps and reverse sides.
3. Confirm the named translator’s status and any required independence.
4. Request an itemized total in Canadian dollars for the complete package.
5. Agree on delivery, review time and the correction process.
6. Confirm secure file transfer and retention arrangements for personal records.
7. Check name spellings, dates, document numbers and page completeness before submission.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a bilingual relative translate my immigration documents?

Immigration New Brunswick prohibits candidates and relatives from translating application documents. It also excludes anyone working for the candidate’s paid representative. Choose an independent third party and request certification proof or the required affidavit. [2]

Does a certified translation always need notarization?

Confirm the requirements for your submission. Immigration New Brunswick asks for proof of certification from certified translators and an affidavit from non-certified translators. Global Affairs Canada describes additional affidavit and notary requirements that some destination countries impose. Check your intended use before ordering notary work. [2] [4]

Do I need to translate a French driver’s licence for an exchange?

The New Brunswick identification guidance requires an official agency translation or an International Driver’s Licence when the out-of-province licence is in neither English nor French. Check the remaining exchange and identification requirements before your appointment. [1]

How should I compare translation quotes?

Give each provider the same documents and written requirements. Compare the total for translation, supporting paperwork, delivery format and correction terms. Ask for a firm completion date for the whole package before choosing.