Search the Civil Procedure Rules for a general rule that every foreign document must be translated, and you will not find one. In the Business and Property Courts, disclosure "does not require any document to be translated" at all (PD 57AD paras 5.7 and 9.10).
The duty arrives at particular steps instead: a witness statement, an affidavit, service abroad, a foreign judgment, a tribunal bundle. Each step has its own rule, and the rules do not ask for the same things.
HMCTS administers the criminal, civil and family courts in England and Wales and the reserved tribunals across the UK, but the translation rules sit in each jurisdiction's procedure rules and practice directions. This page sets them out court by court, then covers Welsh, interpreters, and Scotland and Northern Ireland. For disclosure, bundles and disputed translations in practice, see certified translations for UK courts.
Is there one HMCTS rule for translated documents?
No. The requirement depends on the court and the step:
| Court and step | Rule | What it requires |
|---|---|---|
| Civil: witness statement | CPR PD 32 paras 18.1, 23.2 | Drafted in the witness's own language; filed with a translation; translator signs the original and certifies the translation |
| Civil: affidavit | CPR PD 32 para 10.2 | Translator's own affidavit verifying the translation |
| Civil: service abroad | CPR 6.45 | Translation into the official language, with the translator's name, address and qualifications |
| Civil: foreign judgment | CPR 74.4(1)(b) | Translation certified by a notary or other qualified person, or with written evidence of accuracy |
| Family: statement or affidavit | FPR PD 22A para 8.2 | Translator signs the translation to certify accuracy |
| Family: service abroad | FPR 6.47 | As CPR 6.45, with different exemptions |
| Criminal | CrimPR 2025 rule 3.8 | Court arranges interpretation; may order written translation for the defendant |
| Immigration and asylum tribunals | FtT rule 12(5); UT rule 13(6) | English translation of any document not in English |
| Employment tribunals | ET Rules 2024 | No specific rule; case management orders |
What do the Civil Procedure Rules require?
Different things at different steps: the witness's own language and a certified translation for statements, a translator's affidavit for affidavits, and a formal translator's statement for service abroad.
Witness statements
A witness statement "must in any event be drafted in their own language" (PD 32 para 18.1). In the Business and Property Courts, PD 57AC para 3.3 widens that to any language in which the witness is "sufficiently fluent to give oral evidence (including under cross-examination)". The statement of truth must also be in the witness's own language (PD 22 paras 2.2 and 2.6), and the first page shows "the date of any translation" (PD 32 para 17.2).
Then PD 32 para 23.2 applies. The party relying on the statement must have it translated and "file the foreign language witness statement with the court", and "the translator must sign the original statement and must certify that the translation is accurate".
Affidavits
Stricter. Under PD 32 para 10.2, "the translator must make and file with the court an affidavit verifying the translation and exhibiting both the translation and a copy of the foreign language affidavit." A signed certificate is not enough; the translator swears an affidavit.
Service abroad and from abroad
Serving a claim form or other document through a foreign government, judicial authority or British consul, or on a foreign State, requires a translation into the official language of the country (CPR 6.45), and where a country has several, into the one "appropriate to the place" of service. It must come with the translator's statement that it is a correct translation, including the translator's "name, address and qualifications for making the translation". No translation is needed where English is an official language of that country or, for service through foreign authorities, where the recipient is a British citizen, unless a convention requires one.
In the other direction, foreign process served here needs an English translation unless the foreign court certifies that the recipient understands the language (CPR 6.50).
Foreign judgments
To register a foreign judgment under the 1920, 1933 or 1982 Acts, a judgment not in English needs a translation "certified by a notary public or other qualified person" or "accompanied by written evidence confirming that the translation is accurate" (CPR 74.4). See enforcing a foreign judgment.
What do the Family Procedure Rules require?
Similar duties, one different detail. Under FPR PD 22A para 8.2, a party relying on a foreign-language affidavit or statement must have it translated and file the original, and "the translator must sign the translation to certify that it is accurate". The civil rule has the translator sign the original statement; the family rule has them sign the translation.
Service abroad follows FPR 6.47, which mirrors CPR 6.45 except for the exemptions: no translation is needed where English is an official language of the country, or where the person served "is able to read and understand English" and is served directly. Bundles follow PD 27A, whose contents rules are "subject to any case-specific direction of the court, including in relation to any translations required". Our family court translation guide covers these cases in detail.
What do the Criminal Procedure Rules 2025 require?
Interpretation for the defendant at every hearing, and written translations of documents where the court orders them. The consolidated Criminal Procedure Rules 2025 came into force on 6 October 2025, replacing the 2020 rules. Rule 3.8(4) requires the court to find out whether a defendant needs interpretation because they do not speak or understand English or have a hearing or speech disorder. Where they do, rule 3.8(5) provides that:
- the court officer must arrange interpretation at every hearing the defendant is due to attend;
- the court may require a written translation for the defendant "of any document or part of a document", unless it is not needed to explain the case against them or they clearly and voluntarily agree to do without;
- a defendant who complains about "the quality of interpretation or of any translation" can apply for directions, including a different interpreter.
Witnesses are different. GOV.UK says a defence witness's interpreter is found by the defence solicitor, and a prosecution witness's by the prosecuting agency.
What do tribunals require?
An English translation of every document not in English, in the immigration tribunals at least. In the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber), rule 12(5) of the 2014 Procedure Rules requires notices of appeal and application notices in English and says that "if a document provided to the Tribunal is not written in English, it must be accompanied by an English translation". Rule 13(6) of the Upper Tribunal Rules 2008 says the same.
In the Upper Tribunal, the 2018 joint practice directions go further: a bundle translation should be typed, "signed by the translator, and certifying that the translation is accurate", placed next to the original, "together with details of the identity and qualifications of the translator". The First-tier Tribunal's own practice direction of 1 November 2024 displaced those directions there: it sets no translation format, but allows a witness statement drafted in English for a witness who does not understand English, if the witness and interpreter both sign an attestation that it was read back. Civil courts do not allow that. See immigration tribunal translation.
The Employment Tribunal Procedure Rules 2024, in force since 6 January 2025, contain no specific translation rule; a tribunal can deal with foreign-language documents through case management orders under rule 30.
Can documents and evidence be in Welsh?
Yes. Under section 22(1) of the Welsh Language Act 1993, in legal proceedings in Wales "the Welsh language may be spoken by any party, witness or other person who desires to use it", with any necessary interpretation provided. In civil cases in or connected with Wales, the Welsh language practice direction (para 1.4) lets any document before the court be in English or Welsh, though the court must be told as soon as practicable, and HMCTS's Welsh Language Unit provides translation facilities. Both immigration tribunals accept documents in Welsh in proceedings connected with Wales.
Who pays for interpreters and translations?
HMCTS pays for interpreters at hearings in defined cases, and the party relying on a document pays for its translation. GOV.UK sets out when an interpreter is free:
| Court | When HMCTS provides an interpreter |
|---|---|
| Any court or tribunal | Always, if you are deaf or hard of hearing |
| Civil | Possession or committal cases; otherwise only if you cannot afford one, do not qualify for legal aid and have no friend or relative the judge approves |
| Family | Cases involving children, domestic violence or forced marriage; otherwise the same three conditions |
| Tribunals | Ask on the appeal form or contact the tribunal office |
| Criminal | The defendant |
Interpreters normally attend only the hearing itself, and they interpret speech; they do not translate your bundle. Official Translations translates documents and does not provide interpreters for hearings.
How do Scotland and Northern Ireland differ?
Separate courts services, separate rules. Scottish courts are run by the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service under their own rules: in the Court of Session, rule 16.6 requires documents served in a country where English is not an official language to be accompanied by a translation "certified as correct by the translator", with a certificate including "his full name, address and qualifications". In Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service applies the Rules of the Court of Judicature (Northern Ireland) 1980, and Order 11, rule 6 sets a similar requirement for notices served abroad. The First-tier Tribunal's immigration and asylum rules apply across the UK.
Common mistakes with court translations
- Filing the translation without the foreign-language original, which PD 32 para 23.2 and FPR PD 22A para 8.2 both require.
- A service translation missing the translator's address or qualifications, which CPR 6.45(3) requires.
- The wrong language for service in a country with several official languages.
- Assuming the court will translate documents because it books interpreters.
Questions people ask
Does HMCTS translate documents for court?
Generally no. HMCTS arranges interpreters for hearings in defined cases, but the party relying on a document provides its translation. The exceptions are criminal defendants, for whom the court may order written translations, and Welsh, where HMCTS's Welsh Language Unit provides translation facilities.
Does a translation for an English court need to be certified?
It depends on the step. A translated witness statement needs the translator's signature and certificate of accuracy, an affidavit needs the translator's own affidavit, and service abroad needs a statement with the translator's name, address and qualifications. For other documents there is no general certification rule, but a translation the other side can rely on is far easier to agree.
Do translations for court need to be notarised?
Generally no. CPR 74.4 lists a notary as one option for certifying the translation of a foreign judgment, alongside another qualified person or written evidence of accuracy. Foreign-language affidavits need the translator's own sworn affidavit, which is a different thing from notarisation.
Do tribunals need translated documents?
The immigration tribunals do: rule 12(5) of the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) Rules 2014 and rule 13(6) of the Upper Tribunal Rules 2008 require an English translation of any document not in English, and Welsh is accepted in proceedings connected with Wales. The Employment Tribunal Procedure Rules 2024 have no specific translation rule, so check the case management orders in your case before preparing the bundle.
Who pays for an interpreter in a civil court?
HMCTS provides one in possession and committal cases. In other civil cases it does so only if you cannot afford an interpreter, do not qualify for legal aid and have no friend or relative the judge approves to interpret.
What translation is needed to serve court papers abroad?
A translation into the official language of the country, or the one appropriate to the place of service, with the translator's statement that it is correct, giving their name, address and qualifications (CPR 6.45). None is needed where English is an official language there or, for service through foreign authorities, on a British citizen, unless a convention requires one.
How much does a certified translation for court cost?
Official Translations charges £29.95 per page, a page being up to 300 words of the source document. Each translation is complete, comes with a signed certificate of accuracy and is delivered as a signed PDF by email, with a printed hard copy by post available.
