N
NYC Legal
Notary · Translation
NAATI Frequently Asked Question

How should seals and signatures on the source appear in the translation?

Direct Answer

They must be accounted for, normally as a bracketed note stating that a seal or signature appears at that position, with any legible text on the seal translated. Omitting them is not acceptable.

In-depth Answer

A certified translation must reflect every legally meaningful element of the source, not just the typed paragraphs.

A registrar's seal, an authorised signature, the Garuda emblem, revenue stamps, handwritten insertions — all are things an assessor uses to judge authenticity.

Standard practice is a bracketed description at the same position as in the source: noting an official seal and translating the text on it, or noting an illegible signature.

The overall layout should follow the source's structure so a reviewer can lay the two side by side and find any element instantly.

A frequent mistake is producing a handsomely retypeset document that keeps none of the original layout, which makes comparison hard and invites requests for further information.

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Translation for Australia

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