Studying abroad can be one of the most exciting and life-change events you’ll undertake.
In fact, a survey that sought to assess students’ appetite for studying overseas found that 55% of those polled were certain or fairly certain they would participate in a study abroad program.
However, studying abroad also comes with the need to make sure all your paperwork is in order, and immigration offices often require certified translations of various documents.
That means you’ll need to access certified translation services to help with immigration documents, and possibly with the documents that the university requires as well.
Read on to learn all about what certified translation services are and how to access them to help your plans for studying abroad in Italy go more smoothly.
Which Immigration Documents Need Certified Translation?
Certified translation services can take care of any documents you need certified for the study abroad process. Certified translation is a type of translation where the translator provides a document stating that they can assure the accuracy of the translation and that they were qualified to complete that translation.
This can seem like a small addition, but it’s often a requirement of immigration and even schools to make sure all the information they have come from another language is accurate.
If you’re looking to study abroad, it’s important to look up what you’ll need for visa requirements or any other immigration paperwork. Visas are often required for international students if they are studying abroad for a certain period of time. Currently, there are around 30,000 international students in Italy. Those from outside the EU will have had to apply for an Italian study visa before commencing their higher education there.
It’s always important to check with the immigration office and coordinate with the school you wish to study at. Longer studies may require a permit or a different visa, so it’s essential that you apply for the right documents.
Immigration requirements vary depending on which country you’re based in and which immigration departments you are going through.
That said, to obtain a visa, most students will be asked to produce a selection of documents from the following list:
- Completed visa forms
- International passport
- Passport photograph
- Proof of school enrollment
- Proof of accommodation in Italy
- Proof of medical insurance coverage
- Proof of adequate English or Italian language skills to participate successfully in the program you wish to pursue.
Other documents may be required to gain a visa, such as proof of financial support/funds, depending on the circumstances of the student. For instance, if the student is under 18, they might need authorization signed by their parents or legal guardians.
Documents for University That May Need Certifying
Above are the documents that are most frequently required by immigration. To study in Italy, you’ll also need certain documents in order to be accepted into the university itself.
Beyond the application, past transcripts and test scores are common requirements, as this helps the university assess whether the student has the grades and has taken the necessary courses to handle the program they plan to study.
Also, students wishing to study abroad may have other documents to provide to the school admission department, like letters of recommendation.
Students wishing to study abroad should carefully coordinate with the admissions office, or a study abroad office if they are working through one.
These documents must often be certified translations if the originals are in another language from the one the school in Italy uses. Read on to learn about how certified translation can help.
Translation Companies That Can Certify Your Study Abroad Documents
Many people start the process by searching online using terms such as ‘certified translation.’ Some people also ask their network for recommendations.
For instance, your school’s study abroad office, a language teacher, or other students who have studied in Italy may all be able to point you in the direction of a decent service. If someone recommends a translation service, it likely means they had a smooth experience with it and that the service helped them navigate the visa process successfully.
Take time to assess the translation you are thinking of working with. This can pay dividends in the long run. For example, translations that focus on quality may offer guarantees that their translations will be accepted universally, which can provide you with peace of mind as part of your application process.
Each company offers a slightly different service, so shop around until you find one that meets your precise requirements. RushTranslate, for example, provides translation and certification by a professional translator within just 24 hours, at a cost of $24.95 per page.
The cost includes any required revisions, along with digital delivery and the firm uses only professional human translators to undertake the work. Notarization, shipping and expedited turnaround are also available.
Tomedes provides certified translation services for any document that you need. Their translation services can translate and certify your personal or official documents for acceptance in most if not all institutions requiring certified translations.
Their translators will accurately translate your document. Then their work will go through two rounds of quality checks. Only then will they provide their seal of certification.
They provide services in real-time, and can accommodate rush orders. For more information, here is the certified translation services page of Tomedes.
Meanwhile, RushTranslate has a streamlined process on their site. You can upload the document for translation on their website, and choose the target language. They claim a normal turnaround time of 24 hours. Visit their page for more.
Day Translations also provides a certificate of authenticity, at no extra charge to its regular translation fee. Clients can go to their website and complete a form including uploading the document to be translated, to get a quote.
The process is simple and straightforward but for someone who needs a translation in a rush, it might take too long. This page is where you can find more information.
If you choose to hire an individual translator through a freelancing platform, assess them carefully too, to ensure they carry certifications in their field and can provide the required documentation certifying the accuracy of the translations that they are providing.
While navigating study abroad paperwork can be stressful, working with certified translation services can actually end up being one of the easiest parts of the process.
Such services are typically set up to be very simple to navigate. The process starts when you submit the document to the translation company, usually through a secure web portal. You will most likely also have to enter your contact information.
You set the languages you need the document translated from and into. Then you simply submit the order and wait until the document is complete.
It’s not uncommon to find a translation with as little as a 24-hour turnaround time for certified translation. This type of translation usually returns the translations in the form of a digital file, with hard copies available upon request.
Refreshingly, certified translation often requires very little input on your part. The translation and certification of official documents have the express goal of keeping the information as accurate and close to the original documents as possible.
While other types of translation, such as literary documents or videos, might require close work with the translator to ensure that points of theme and the original tone stay intact, a translation that is being certified is less discursive.
Certified translators are skilled in making sure all the information is translated so everything in official documents stays the same. They also know how these documents should be formatted in the new language.
By taking the time to properly vet certified translation and selecting the right provider, you can make the process of accessing a university in Italy that much easier to navigate.
