In Poland, the phrase «notarial translation» usually means sworn translation — an official translation with the seal of a translator registered with the Ministry of Justice. This is not the same as notarial certification in CIS countries or certified translation for a UK or US visa. Below: four translation types, what offices and consulates accept, and what to order.
A translation with a notary seal from a CIS country will not be accepted by a Polish office. You need a new sworn translation by a Polish translator from the MS register — even if the document was already «certified» abroad.
QuoteBefore ordering, call the office or check the document list: if it says «sworn translation» or «official translation» — order sworn. Don't pay for notarial certification until you receive a written requirement for it.
LEGIX Team
Four translation types that get confused
In everyday speech and in CIS countries, «notarial translation» is the familiar name for an official translation. Polish offices and consulates abroad follow different rules. Here are four formats.
Sworn translation — what Polish offices accept. The translator passes an exam, is registered with the Ministry of Justice, and certifies the translation with their seal and signature.
Certified translation — for a UK visa (UKVI) and US immigration (USCIS). A full English translation with a certification statement, bureau seal, signature, date, and contact details. Consulates do not require a sworn translator's MS register seal — they need the certified format from an independent bureau. LEGIX provides these in Warsaw — details on the UK / US visa translation page.
Notarial certification of the translator's signature — a separate procedure. It does not replace sworn translation for karta pobytu, USC, or court.
«Notarial» translation from CIS countries — Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and others. Unofficial for a Polish office. A new sworn translation in Poland is required.
What to order in your situation
Where you submit the document determines the format. Polish office — sworn. UKVI or USCIS — certified.
Karta pobytu, voivodeship office, USC
Court, prosecutor's office, police, customs
Employment with translated diploma or certificate
University admission, diploma nostrification
Bank, insurer, notary for a transaction
UK visa (UKVI) — applying from outside the UK
US immigration (USCIS) — visa, green card, citizenship
Consulate requests certified translation in English
Translation «for yourself» — reading a lease
Messenger chat without official submission
Polish office did not request notarial certification in writing on top of sworn
Why documents get returned: common mistakes
Most rejections are due to the wrong translation type, not document content.
Ordered sworn translation for a UK or US visa instead of certified — UKVI and USCIS require a certification statement and bureau seal, not an MS register seal
Ordered «notarial translation» from a Polish notary instead of sworn
Brought a ready translation from CIS countries — even with a notary seal
Paid for unnecessary notarial signature certification
Translator not in the MS register or wrong language pair
Translation from a copy where the original is required
Names or dates don't match the passport
Cost, turnaround, and how to order
Cost depends on document type and volume. We quote the exact price after reviewing scans — before work starts. See our price list for details.
24–48 hours for single-page documents. Diploma with appendix — 2–4 days.
Send scans to LEGIX — we match a translator for your case, quote the price, and deliver by courier. For UK / US visas — certified translation with a bureau seal. For Polish offices — sworn translation. More in our article on sworn translation online.
Check: (1) office requires sworn — order it, not «notarial» by habit; (2) MS register seal and page numbering; (3) names match passport; (4) notarial certification only if requested in writing.
FAQ
Official translation for offices is sworn — with the seal of a translator from the MS register. «Notarial» in everyday speech often means the same. Separate notarial signature certification is a different procedure.