Does the Hague Convention set rules for translating documents or apostilles?

No, the Hague Apostille Convention does not set any rules regarding the translation of the document being apostilled or the apostille certificate itself.

The Convention’s scope is strictly limited to simplifying the authentication process for public documents’ origin (signature, seal, capacity of the official). To achieve this, it standardises the apostille certificate between member countries, but it doesn’t venture into language requirements for the underlying documents.

Whether a translation is needed is determined entirely by the receiving authority in the destination country. This could be a government department, court, university, potential employer, or any other organisation you’re submitting the document to. Their specific rules, regulations, or preferences dictate:

• If a translation is required at all.
• What language(s) must the translation be in?
• Whether the translation must be performed by a specific “sworn” or “official” translator.
• Whether the translation itself needs any further certification, notarisation, or even its separate apostille (authenticating the translator’s certification).

While the apostille certificate issued by the UK FCDO contains multilingual elements purely to aid international recognition of the apostille itself. It is not a substitute for translating the main document’s content.

It’s crucial to remember that even if your UK document has a perfectly valid apostille, it may still be rejected by the receiving authority if it’s not accompanied by a translation when one is required (this can be a reason for issues discussed in FAQ: What if a Hague country refuses my valid UK apostille?).

The apostille only validates the signature/seal’s origin, not the suitability of the document’s language or content for the foreign recipient (see FAQ: What does an apostille verify?).

Our recommendation:

As your London-based legalisation agency, we strongly recommend that you confirm any translation requirements directly with the person or organisation receiving your final document before or during the apostille process.

While we can provide next-day apostille services to complete the authentication quickly, arranging certified translations often takes additional time. If required, we can assist in sourcing accredited translators and managing the urgent apostille process. However, the primary responsibility for confirming the need lies with you and the document’s end user.