Understanding Certified Japanese Translation Requirements

Certified translation and certified translator – the terms seem to go hand in hand, right?

Well, it's not as straightforward as it may initially appear. The requirements for certified translation can vary from country to country, making it essential to understand the specific regulations of the country where you intend to submit your application.

Let's take a closer look at a few examples.

Navigating the Complexity of Certified Translation

In Japan, there are no government-sanctioned licensing or accreditations for official translators. While professional bodies like the Japan Association of Translators (JAT) offer memberships, these are not official government bodies. Similarly, in the United States, the American Translators Association (ATA) provides accreditations for translators in certain language pairs and fields.

However, neither Japan nor the United States requires translators to be licensed to provide certified Japanese translation

Even within the same country, different official and governmental organizations may have varying requirements. For instance, in Australia, the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters Ltd (NAATI) states that "accreditation is the only credential officially accepted by employers." However, many organizations in Australia accept certified translations from Japanese translation companies without NAATI accreditation, as long as the translated documents include a Statement of Certification issued by the translating company.

If all of this seems confusing, here's a golden rule to remember:

Familiarize yourself with the requirements of the specific organization in the country where you plan to submit your translated and certified documents.

In other words, before reaching out to a certified Japanese translation service, empower yourself with accurate information from reliable sources. Understand the specific requirements of the organization where you'll be submitting your documents.