Before uploading a non-English document for a PR application, check the required translation and supporting certification. A fluent English translation is not necessarily a document accepted through the prescribed route.
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ICA’s translation FAQ accepts embassy translations, notary-public translations, or private translations attested by the relevant embassy or notarised by an appropriate notary. ICA does not endorse private translation companies.
Match the translation to the complete original
Identify the document, issuer, date, reference and every relevant page. Include stamps, endorsements and reverse-side information where they form part of the record. A translated front page may omit an amendment appearing on the back.
Keep the original scan and translation associated. A reviewer should be able to identify which original produced the translation without guessing from similar filenames.
Example: a certificate has a later name annotation
A qualification certificate contains an original name and a later official annotation. The translation should accurately reflect the document, including the annotation where relevant. Do not replace the original name silently with the applicant’s current passport name.
Check the accepted route before ordering
- The issuing country or place.
- The translation provider and method.
- Attestation or notarisation required for the selected route.
- The original document and complete pages.
- Names, dates and reference numbers.
- The application’s current certification and upload instructions.
Ask the provider precisely what it will deliver. A commercial label such as “certified translation” should be checked against ICA’s stated requirements rather than accepted without explanation.
Resolve discrepancies through evidence
Compare the translated name, birth date and document details with the rest of the application. Transliteration differences can be genuine, but they should be identified and explained accurately. Collect official name-change evidence where applicable.
If a source document contains an error, ask the issuing authority about correction. A translator should not rewrite the underlying fact to make the application more convenient.
Review legibility after the files are prepared
Open the final files and check that text, seals and references can be read. Ensure pages are in order and no relevant area was cropped. Reducing file size should not make important details unreadable.
Follow the current e-Service requirements for format and size. Do not assume the translation provider’s default package is ready for every immigration upload.
Retain the original and submission evidence
Keep the original record, translation, attestation or notarisation and final submitted version. If ICA requests further information, respond with the actual documents and prescribed process. A corrected translation saved locally is not an updated application until properly provided.
Review originals and formalities against the current PR application instructions. Translation is one part of document preparation and does not guarantee acceptance or approval.
Can an informal translation by a colleague be used automatically?
Check the accepted route and required certification. Accuracy alone does not replace the formal requirements.
Should names be made identical by editing the original scan?
No. Preserve the source document and explain genuine differences with proper evidence.
Related immigration and company resources
Explore our PR service overview, Employment Pass guidance and PR application preparation guide.
Help preparing an accurate application file
For immigration document preparation, company administration or accounting support, email [email protected] or WhatsApp +65 8501 7133. Where legal advice is required, advisers from our associated law firms can assist. Raffles Corporate Services is not affiliated with ICA, and preparation support cannot guarantee an immigration outcome.