Translation Services Explained: A Complete Guide for 2026
Certified translation of official documents for embassies and government entities in Egypt
"Translation services" covers far more than turning words from one language into another. Depending on who will read your document – an embassy, a court, a university, a regulator or your customers – you may need a certified translation, a specialist legal or technical translation, localisation or simply a careful proofread. This guide explains each service in plain English so you can order the right one first time.
The main types of translation service
| Service | Typical documents | Who usually asks for it |
|---|---|---|
| Certified translation | Birth and marriage certificates, degrees, transcripts, police certificates, bank statements | Embassies, ministries, universities, courts |
| Legal translation | Contracts, powers of attorney, judgments, articles of association | Lawyers, courts, notaries, companies |
| Technical translation | Manuals, specifications, tenders, safety data sheets | Engineers, contractors, manufacturers |
| Medical translation | Medical reports, discharge summaries, clinical documents | Patients, hospitals, insurers |
| Localisation | Websites, apps, marketing campaigns | Brands entering a new market |
| Proofreading and editing | Existing translations, in-house drafts | Companies, students, authors |
Many projects combine services: a company registering a branch in Egypt may need legal translation of its articles of association plus certified translation of its commercial register extract.
What makes a translation "certified"?
A certified translation is a complete and faithful translation that the translation office signs and stamps to confirm it matches the original. It normally carries the office's details, the translator's declaration and the date. Embassies and government bodies in Egypt and abroad ask for this so they can rely on the content without reading the source language. For a full explanation, read what a certified translation is.
Remember that certification of the translation is not the same as legalisation of the original. Egypt is not a party to the Apostille Convention, so Egyptian documents used abroad usually go through legalisation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then the destination country's embassy.
Specialist translation: legal, technical and medical
Specialist texts need translators who know the subject as well as the languages. A mistranslated clause in a contract, a wrong tolerance in a specification or a confused dosage in a medical report can cause real harm. Specialist translation therefore relies on subject-matter linguists, approved glossaries and a second-linguist review. See our pages on legal translation services and technical translation services for detail.
Localisation: adapting, not just translating
Localisation adapts content to a market: date and number formats, currency, measurement units, imagery, tone and right-to-left layout for Arabic. It matters most for websites, software and marketing, where a literal translation can sound foreign or even offensive.
How a professional translation project works
- Quote: you send clear scans or files and say who will receive the translation.
- Assignment: a native-level translator with the right subject knowledge is chosen.
- Translation: names, dates and numbers are copied exactly as in your passport or original.
- Review: a second linguist checks accuracy, terminology and completeness.
- Certification and delivery: stamped hard copies and/or scanned PDFs are delivered.
The international standard ISO 17100:2015 – Translation services describes this translate-and-revise process and the competences translators should have.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a certified translation or a standard one?
If the document goes to an embassy, ministry, court or university, you almost always need a certified translation. For internal reading, marketing or research, a professional standard translation is usually enough.
Can one office handle several types of translation?
Yes. COT works in 120+ languages and covers certified, legal, technical, medical and business translation, plus proofreading and localisation.
Is machine translation acceptable for official documents?
No. Authorities expect a human translation that a translation office certifies. Machine output may be used only as a draft for informal content, and even then it needs full human post-editing.
How should I send my documents?
Clear colour scans or photos of every page, including stamps and the back side, by WhatsApp or email. Tell us the receiving authority and any deadline.
Get the right translation service first time
Not sure which service your documents need? Send them to COT and we will advise you, quote and agree a delivery time before work starts.
- WhatsApp / phone: +20 111 176 0177
- Email: Operation@cottranslation.com
- Branches in Maadi, Downtown Cairo and Mohandessin – addresses and opening hours on our contact page.
Note: This article is general information, current as of the last-updated date above. Embassies, universities and authorities can change their requirements at any time, so always confirm the current rules with the receiving body before you submit your documents.