Absolutely. If your marriage certificate, divorce decree, or any other supporting document is not in English or French, it must be translated—and not just by anyone.

IRCC has very specific rules:

  • The translation must be done by a certified translator.
  • You must include a copy of the original document, even if it's unreadable to the officer.
  • You need a translator’s affidavit or declaration if done outside Canada.

A surprising number of refusals come from incorrect or missing translations. It’s not enough to rely on personal translations or machine tools. Even a friend who happens to be bilingual isn’t acceptable unless they’re certified. The translator must also be independent—no family members allowed.

Some applicants assume that documents issued in “widely spoken” languages like Arabic or Spanish are exceptions. They’re not. IRCC doesn’t make allowances based on how common the language is. If it’s not English or French, it must be translated and formatted according to the official guidelines.

We often assist clients who were refused or delayed because of improperly formatted translations. Sometimes it’s a matter of missing translator credentials. Other times, the translation doesn’t match the original due to name spelling inconsistencies. Either way, these are preventable issues.

Don’t let a weak translation delay your file. When we prepare applications, we cross-reference translated content with the original document, confirm translator credentials, and ensure everything is IRCC-compliant.