School Certificate Translation with Notarization

School certificate translation is often needed when an applicant, a student or a parent is preparing documents for study abroad, for admission to a university or college, for an exchange programme, for a scholarship or for submission to an embassy. The school certificate confirms completion of school and is often one of the main documents in an educational application package.

When a school certificate is translated, it is important to render correctly the personal data, the name of the school, the date of issue, the document number, the level of education, the grades, the seals, the signatures and other official entries. If the document includes a transcript or an annex, its translation also needs particular care, because universities often assess a candidate's academic history precisely from this data.

When do you need a school certificate translated?

A school certificate translation is most often needed when the document confirming completion of school has to be submitted to an educational institution or an official authority in another country. This may be admission to a university, registration at a college, a preparatory programme, an exchange programme, a scholarship application, a visa procedure or a process of recognition of education.

Sometimes the receiving party asks only for a translation, and sometimes a notarized translation of the school certificate is required. Notarization is especially common when the document has to be submitted to a foreign university, an embassy, a state body or an official administrative procedure. So before ordering, it is best to know which format the receiving organization requires.

• to continue your studies abroad;
• for admission to a university or college;
• for an exchange programme;
• for an international scholarship application;
• for submission to an embassy or consulate;
• to prepare a student visa;
• for recognition of education or nostrification;
• in line with the requirement of a school or university;
• for submission to a state authority in another country.

Which documents are translated together with the school certificate?

Together with the school certificate, a transcript, a certificate issued by the school, a student status document, an academic record or another educational document is often translated. If the receiving university or college asks for a full package, a translation of the school certificate alone may not be enough.

When a transcript is translated, it is especially important to carry over correctly the subject names, the grades, the school years and the school's details. Grading systems differ from country to country, so the text has to be clear, accurate and in line with the official format.

• school certificate;
• transcript;
• school letter;
• certificate of student status;
• academic record;
• certificate;
• another official document issued by the school.

Translation of school letters on student status

If a family moves abroad in the middle of the school year, the child does not yet have a school certificate - it is issued only on completion of school. For enrolment in a foreign school, the main document at that point is the school letter, which confirms which grade the pupil is in, which subjects they take and which grades they have in the current school year.

It is precisely from this letter that the receiving school decides which grade to enrol the child in. So the translation has to reflect exactly the grade and the school year, the semester and annual grades, absences if the letter states them, and the school's full details. Georgian schools use a 10-point scale, with passing grades from 5 to 10. In the translation the marks are carried over unchanged, and where needed we add a translator's note on the grading scale, so that a foreign teacher reads a "7" correctly.

• a school letter on student status;
• an extract of the grades for the current school year;
• annual grades for previous years, if the receiving school asks for them;
• birth certificate;
• a vaccination card or a medical certificate, if the country requires it at enrolment.

Which languages do we translate school certificates into?

TARGMANEBI translates school certificates from Georgian into foreign languages and from foreign languages into Georgian. The most requested are school certificate translations into English, German, Russian, Italian, French, Spanish, Turkish, Greek, Ukrainian, Polish, Czech, Arabic, Chinese and other languages.

The choice of language depends on the country and the institution. For example, for study in Germany or Austria a German translation may be needed; in the USA, Canada or the UK an English translation is often used; for Italy an Italian translation may be needed; and for Poland, the Czech Republic, Turkey or other countries the requirements differ by university.

When a school certificate is translated, the spelling of the name and the description of the grading system are often checked at the same time. The features of educational documents of the relevant countries are described on the Hungarian interpreter and Romanian interpreter pages.

Does a school certificate need notarization?

Notarization of a school certificate is needed when the receiving party asks for an officially certified translation. This is common at universities, embassies, consulates, state authorities and in the process of recognition of education. A notarized translation confirms that the translation has been made in official form and can be submitted to the relevant authority.

If you are not sure whether you need notarization, you can send us the text of the requirement or the receiving organization's instructions. We will help you work out whether an ordinary translation is enough, whether notarization is needed, or an apostille as well.

Does a school certificate need an apostille?

Whether an apostille is needed depends on the country and the institution where the school certificate has to be submitted. In some cases the apostille is needed on the original document, sometimes on a copy of the document; a notarized translation made in Georgia, however, is not apostilled. And some universities may have their own requirement for the format of certification.

Requirements for educational documents are often strict, so it is important to start preparing the documents correctly. If you have a list of requirements from a university, an embassy or another organization, you can send it to us and we will help you determine which document has to be translated, which needs notarization and where you may need an apostille.

School certificate translation for a university

Translating a school certificate for a university is a particularly common request. Many students prepare documents for a bachelor's programme, a preparatory programme, an exchange programme or an international scholarship. In such cases the university may need both the translation of the school certificate and the transcript and other educational documents.

Universities often require the document to be officially translated and, where needed, certified. Some institutions ask for an English translation, others for a translation into the language of a specific country. So when you order, be sure to state which university or country the school certificate is to be submitted to.

How to prepare a school certificate for universities in Germany and Europe

European universities, as a rule, ask for a Georgian school certificate with a notarized translation, and often with an apostille too. The sequence is: first the apostille on the original, then the translation, in which the text of the apostille is translated as well, and finally notarization. In Georgia, the apostille on educational documents issued in Georgia is placed by the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement. If the sequence is broken and the translation is done first, the apostille is not reflected in the translation and part of the work has to be done again.

In Germany, many universities accept applications from foreigners through uni-assist. For a Georgian school certificate, uni-assist asks for the school certificate and the extract of subjects and grades, in the original language and with a German or English translation. It accepts a translation made in Georgia only if a Georgian notary has confirmed the translator's signature and identity - this rule also applies to a bureau translation. Whether the school certificate gives you direct admission or you first have to complete a Studienkolleg is determined by the anabin database.

• Germany: the school certificate and the extract of grades, a notarized German or English translation, following the instructions of uni-assist or the university;
• Italy: an Italian translation, an apostille and a Dichiarazione di valore or a CIMEA statement for comparing the school certificate;
• Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland: a notarized translation, often an apostille, and in some cases a local recognition procedure as well;
• English-taught programmes in Europe: a notarized English translation is often enough, although the requirement differs by programme.

At the visa stage, the embassy may ask for a translation into the country's language, so if the university accepts both languages, for Germany it is better to have a German translation from the start. A detailed plan: translating documents for study in Germany.

Specifics of documents for minors

The holder of a school certificate is often not yet 18: a 17-year-old graduate applies to a college or university, a 10th- or 11th-grade pupil goes to a summer school or a language course. In such cases, besides the education documents, the receiving organization asks for the parents' consent and, if the child is accompanied by a third person, a power of attorney in that person's name.

TARGMANEBI prepares the whole package in a single order: the translation of the school certificate or school letter, the parents' consent or power of attorney for certification at the notary and its translation, and the translation of the birth certificate. All the documents are translated by one translator, so the names of the child and the parents are written the same way everywhere and in line with the passport - this is the mismatch that most often holds people up at the border or at the receiving school.

• notarized consent of one or both parents to the travel and the studies;
• a power of attorney for the accompanying person or the programme organizer;
• the birth certificate, which confirms who the parents are;
• the school certificate, a school letter or a transcript;
• a medical form, if the summer school or college asks for one.

How do you order a school certificate translation?

You can order a school certificate translation online or at the office. The easiest way is to send a clear photo or scan of the document on WhatsApp, by email or through the order form on the website. Once we receive the document, we assess the volume, the target language, whether notarization is needed and the turnaround.

• send us a photo or scan of the school certificate;
• if you have a transcript or an additional document, send that too;
• state the target language;
• tell us which country or organization the document is to be submitted to;
• indicate whether you need notarization;
• if you have a specific deadline, let us know in advance;
• receive the price, the turnaround and a recommendation on the right format.

It is important that the photo or scan of the document is clear. If the seal, the document number, the date or the grades are hard to see, you may need to send a better-quality file. This helps us avoid errors and prepare the translation correctly.

How much does a school certificate translation cost?

The price of a school certificate translation depends on the volume of the document, the target language, the turnaround, whether notarization is needed and whether a transcript or another educational document is translated as well. A translation of the school certificate alone can be assessed quickly, while a full educational package is priced individually.

To get an exact price, send us a photo or scan of the school certificate. If you need the document urgently, say so in advance too. Our team will tell you what the translation costs, how long it will take and whether notarization or clarification of the apostille question is needed.

See the prices page →

How long does a school certificate translation take?

The turnaround for a school certificate translation depends on the volume of the document and the target language. If only the school certificate is translated, the turnaround is often short. If the document comes with a transcript, several pages or an additional school letter, it may take longer.

Notarization or additional procedures can also affect the turnaround. So when you order, we always tell you the real time and offer possible options, including expedited completion, if that is possible in the specific case.

School certificate translation online

Ordering a school certificate translation online is especially convenient if you are preparing documents to send abroad, are in another city or need a quick assessment. You can send a photo or scan of the school certificate on WhatsApp or by email and get an answer on the price, the turnaround and the certification required.

Ordering online does not mean the document is handled with less care. Every school certificate and educational document is checked in detail, so that all personal data, institution information, grades, dates and official entries are reflected correctly in the translation.

Why choose TARGMANEBI?

Translating a school certificate requires knowledge of the specifics of academic documents, keeping to the correct format and particular attention to detail. TARGMANEBI works with educational, legal, personal, medical, technical and other official documents, so we can help you prepare your school certificate correctly according to the requirements of different countries.

• we work in more than 14 languages;
• notarization of the school certificate is available;
• the transcript and school letters are translated too;
• we offer apostille advice;
• for a minor, we also translate the parent's consent and the power of attorney in the same order;
• you can send the document online;
• we keep your data confidential;
• we give you the price and the turnaround in advance;
• we work in Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi and online from all over Georgia.

Frequently asked questions