Certified German Translation for IRCC (Canada)
Last updated: 2 October 2026
Planning your move from Germany to Canada? Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) wants every supporting document in English or French. We make a certified German translation for IRCC applications, such as Express Entry, study and work permits, and citizenship. Our own German–English translators translate your document in full. On request, the translator then swears an affidavit before a notary (Notar) in Germany. This is the route IRCC describes for translators who are not "certified" in its sense. It is not a German sworn translation (beglaubigte Übersetzung), which is made for German offices.
- Built around IRCC's rule: translation, translator's affidavit and a copy of the original
- Notary appointment for the affidavit arranged for you, on request
- Names kept exactly as on your document, with your passport spelling in a translator's note
- PDF in 3 working days, signed original posted to your German address (usually 1–3 working days)
Fixed price from €25 · You see the price before you pay
What does IRCC need for a German document?
IRCC asks for three things: an English or French translation, an affidavit from the translator, and a copy of the original. A translator's affidavit is a written statement, sworn before a notary, that the translation is accurate. You do not need the affidavit if a certified translator stamped the translation. Always read the guide for your own application.
Quick facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Who translates | Our own professional German–English translators (not a German sworn translator) |
| German name of the document | Geburtsurkunde, Heiratsurkunde, Arbeitszeugnis, Zeugnis, Führungszeugnis and more |
| Price | From €25 per document (+ €9 for a signed paper copy by post); notarised affidavit priced in your quote |
| Delivery | PDF in 3 working days, signed original posted to your German address (usually 1–3 working days) |
| What to upload | A clear scan or photo of every page, front and back |
| Where to verify the translator | On the affidavit, with the notary's seal. Not on justiz-dolmetscher.de, as this is not a German sworn translation. |
The two routes IRCC describes
| Route | What IRCC asks for | Our part |
|---|---|---|
| Certified translator | A member in good standing of a professional translation association. The seal or stamp shows a membership number. | Some IRCC guides say the association must be in Canada. Check your guide before you choose this route. |
| Translator's affidavit | The translator swears to the accuracy of the translation before a notary public (outside Canada). You add a copy of the original. | This is our standard route. Our translator swears the affidavit before a notary in Germany. |
IRCC pages use different wording. The Express Entry page speaks of an association "in Canada or abroad". The study permit guide asks for a provincial or territorial organisation in Canada. The affidavit route appears on both, so we use it.
Who may not translate your documents
IRCC is strict here. On the Express Entry page, these people may not translate your documents:
- You, the applicant
- Your family: parent, guardian, sibling, spouse, partner, grandparent, child, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew or first cousin
- Your representative or consultant, even if they are a lawyer, notary or translator
We are none of these. We only translate. We do not fill in forms or give immigration advice.
Your certified German translation for IRCC: how the affidavit works
- 1Upload your documents. Usually a clear scan or photo is enough. Some offices want the translator to see the original, so check your letter.
- 2Get your fixed price. It shows the translation price and, if you need it, the notary cost for the affidavit.
- 3Check the draft. Tell us if a date or a place looks wrong.
- 4Affidavit. Our translator signs the affidavit before a notary. The notary adds a seal.
- 5Delivery. You get the PDF by email and the signed paper set by post.
IRCC also wants a copy of the original. For Express Entry, you upload a scan of the original document, or a scan of a certified photocopy. Some paper applications ask for a certified photocopy (a copy signed by an authorised person, for example a notary). Your guide tells you which. See the Step-by-step process for details.
Your German police certificate (Führungszeugnis)
For Express Entry, IRCC asks for a police certificate from each country where you stayed 6 months or more in a row in the last 10 years. This applies to you and family members aged 18 or older. In Germany, this is the Führungszeugnis from the Federal Office of Justice (Bundesamt für Justiz). It is mailed to your home address only.
Good news: IRCC says German police certificates are now issued in German, English and French. These new certificates do not need a translation. Only certificates issued before February 2019 are German-only and need a certified English or French translation. Check your certificate before you order.
Übersetzung Deutsch–Englisch für Kanada: documents we translate
| Document (German name + English) | Typical use in a Canadian application |
|---|---|
| Geburtsurkunde (birth certificate) | Family members, children born in Germany |
| Heiratsurkunde / Eheurkunde (marriage certificate) | Spouse or partner in your application |
| Scheidungsurteil (divorce decree) | Proof that an earlier marriage ended |
| Arbeitszeugnis, Arbeitsvertrag (job reference, contract) | Proof of work experience |
| Gehaltsabrechnung, Kontoauszug (payslip, bank statement) | Proof of funds or income |
| Meldebescheinigung (proof of address) | Where you lived and when |
| Führungszeugnis before February 2019 (police certificate) | Police certificate |
Do you need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for your German degree? IRCC says the designated organisation tells you how to send your documents. Check its rules first, then ask us.
Names stay exactly as on your document. If your passport shows a different spelling, we add it in a translator's note.
| On your document | In your passport | In our translation |
|---|---|---|
| Ananya Rao-Müller | ANANYA RAO-MUELLER | Ananya Rao-Müller (translator's note: passport spelling ANANYA RAO-MUELLER) |
Prices
| Option | What you get | Delivery | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | Full English translation, signed by the translator, as PDF | PDF in 3 working days | from €25 per document |
| Signed paper copy | Signed original posted to your German address | usually 1–3 working days by post | + €9 |
| Express | Same, faster | PDF in 1 working day | + €15 |
| Notarised affidavit | Affidavit sworn by the translator before a notary | We confirm the time with your quote | Price in your quote |
All prices shown are starting prices incl. VAT and postage within Germany. Your exact fixed price comes in a written quote after upload, before you pay.
Your files are transferred encrypted and deleted after 30 days (GDPR).
If your office asks for a change to our translation, we correct it free of charge.
Compare Our prices or Get your fixed price for your own files.
Going somewhere else?
See German translation for UK passport applications, German translation for Australia, German translation for New Zealand or German translation for USCIS. The full list is on All German to English services. Need the other direction? We also do English to German. And while you still live here, we arrange sworn translation for German offices.
Questions about German translations for Canada
Can a family member translate my German documents for IRCC?
No. IRCC does not allow translations by the applicant or by family members. It also rules out your representative or consultant, even if that person is a translator.
Do I need to translate my German police certificate for Canada?
Only if it was issued before February 2019. IRCC says newer German certificates come in German, English and French and need no translation. Older ones are German only and need a certified English or French translation.
Is a German sworn translation enough for IRCC?
The IRCC pages we checked do not mention German sworn translators. They ask for a certified translator with a membership number, or a translator's affidavit. So we use the affidavit route, and IRCC makes the final decision.
Where is the affidavit sworn?
Our translator swears it before a notary (Notar) in Germany. For affidavits made outside Canada, IRCC names a notary public. We arrange the appointment and show the cost in your quote.
Do I need a certified copy of my original document?
It depends on your application. For Express Entry, you upload a scan of the original or of a certified photocopy. Some paper guides ask for a certified photocopy, so read your guide.
Can you help me with my Express Entry profile?
No. We only translate your documents. For questions about eligibility or your profile, use the official IRCC pages.
Will IRCC accept my translation?
We follow the translation rules on the IRCC pages. But only IRCC decides on your application. We cannot guarantee a decision.
Ready to send your German documents to Canada?
Upload your document today. You see the fixed price before you pay. More answers are in our Frequently asked questions.
Questions? Email us: info@germantranslators.de