# How much does a certified translation cost in the UK and US?

> How certified translation is priced per page or per word, what pushes the price up, the extras to watch for, and what Lexiveris charges in pounds and dollars.

Published: 2026-10-31. Updated: 2026-10-31. Source: https://lexiveris.com/articles/certified-translation-cost-uk-us/

The price of a certified translation depends mostly on **how much text there is** and **how quickly you need it**. For short official documents such as birth or marriage certificates, most providers in the UK and US charge a fixed price per page. For long contracts or court bundles, a per-word price or an individual quote is more common.

This guide explains how pricing works, so you can compare quotes properly and avoid surprises at checkout.

## How is a certified translation priced?

There are two common models.

| Model | Typically used for | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| **Per page** | Certificates, ID cards, diplomas, police records, bank statements | A fixed price for each page of the original. Easy to compare and know in advance. |
| **Per word** | Contracts, court papers, reports, long business documents | A rate for each word of the original. Fairer for dense text. |

Many services combine the two: per page for standard documents, and a quote for anything long or unusually dense.

## What makes a certified translation cost more?

- **Number of pages.** Every page, including the back of a card or a page that only has a stamp, usually counts.
- **Density.** A full page of small legal text takes much longer than a certificate with a few fields.
- **Urgency.** Same-day or 24-hour delivery normally costs extra.
- **Language pair.** Less common pairs can cost more. Greek, Albanian and French into English are well established.
- **Legibility.** Faded, handwritten or poorly scanned documents take longer to read and check.
- **Formatting.** Reproducing tables, stamps and seals so the translation mirrors the original takes time, and it is what offices expect.

## What extras should I look out for?

When comparing quotes, check whether these are included or charged separately:

- **The certification statement.** It should be included in the price of a certified translation.
- **Express delivery.**
- **Posted hard copies.** Most UK and US offices accept a signed PDF, so check whether you actually need paper.
- **Notarisation or apostille.** Usually not needed for UK visas or USCIS. If an office does ask for it, the fees are set by notaries and governments.
- **VAT.** Some UK providers quote prices without VAT.
- **Corrections.** A good provider corrects its own errors free of charge.

## What does Lexiveris charge?

Our prices are fixed per page and shown in pounds or dollars before you pay.

| Document | Price per page (GBP) | Price per page (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Civil certificates and ID (birth, marriage, family status, police records, licences) | £35 | $45 |
| Academic documents (diplomas, transcripts) | £45 | $55 |
| Legal, financial and business documents | £55 | $70 |
| Long files, or English into Greek, Albanian or French | Quote | Quote |

Extras:

- **Express (24 hours):** +50%
- **Posted hard copy:** £8 in the UK, $25 to the US
- **Certificate of accuracy:** always included

For example, a two-page Greek birth record with standard delivery costs £70 or $90. You can [price your document online](/#order) and see the exact total before paying.

## How can I keep the cost down?

1. **Scan clearly.** A sharp scan or phone photo avoids delays and re-quotes.
2. **Send only what's needed.** Check which documents the office actually asks for.
3. **Order early.** Standard delivery costs less than express.
4. **Order everything together.** It's easier to keep names and dates consistent across documents.
5. **Skip the paper copy** if the office accepts the PDF.

## Frequently asked questions

### Is a cheap certified translation acceptable?

Price alone doesn't decide acceptance. What matters is that the translation is complete and accurate, and that the certificate includes what the office asks for: for the UK, an accuracy statement, the date, and the translator's name, signature and contact details; for USCIS, a statement of accuracy and of the translator's competence.

### Is a machine translation cheaper and acceptable?

Machine translation is cheap, but it is not a certified translation. It can't confirm accuracy, often gets names and stamps wrong, and offices expect a translator's signed statement.

### Do I pay per page of the original or of the translation?

At Lexiveris, per page of the original document. Some providers count translated pages or words instead, so check how a quote is calculated.

### Does a one-page certificate with a stamp on the back count as two pages?

Usually, yes, if the back has text or a stamp that must be translated. A small single-sided ID card counts as one page.

## Sources

- [8 CFR 103.2(b)(3): USCIS translation requirement](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-8/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-103/section-103.2)
- [University of Westminster: Home Office translation guidelines](https://www.westminster.ac.uk/international/visas-and-advice/visas/tier-4-visa/documents-required-for-a-tier-4-general-visa/translation-guidelines)