Arabic Immigration & Visa Translation

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) requires certified English translations of all foreign-language documents submitted with visa applications. For Arabic-speaking applicants, this typically means translating a wide range of personal, financial, and legal documents — each of which must meet UKVI's specific formatting and certification requirements.

The most commonly translated Arabic documents for UK immigration include:

• Birth certificates — Required for almost every visa type. Arabic birth certificates vary significantly by country: Egyptian certificates are bilingual (Arabic/English), Syrian certificates follow a family booklet format, Saudi certificates are issued in Arabic only, and Moroccan certificates may be bilingual (Arabic/French). Each format requires a translator who understands the specific layout.
• Marriage certificates — Essential for spouse and partner visas. Islamic marriage contracts (عقد الزواج) from countries like Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Yemen contain religious and legal terminology that requires specialist translation. Egyptian marriage certificates issued by the civil registry differ from those issued by religious authorities.
• Bank statements and financial documents — Needed for proof of funds and maintenance requirements. Banks in the Gulf states (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar) issue statements in Arabic or bilingual format. Iraqi and Syrian banks may issue handwritten or partially typed statements that require careful interpretation.
• Police clearance certificates — Required for settlement (ILR) and certain work visas. Each Arab country has its own format: Saudi Arabia issues a حسن سيرة وسلوك, Egypt issues a فيش وتشبيه, and the UAE issues a شهادة حسن سلوك. We translate police clearances from all 22 Arab League countries.
• Academic documents — Degree certificates, transcripts, and professional qualifications from Arab universities. Important for Skilled Worker visas, student visas, and points-based applications where qualifications affect eligibility.

Documents from Arabic-speaking countries across the Middle East and North Africa — including Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Yemen, Sudan, Libya, Jordan, Lebanon, Kuwait, and Qatar — each have distinctive formats, stamps, and terminology. Our translators have direct experience with official documents from every Arab League country, ensuring accurate translation that UKVI accepts without query.

Arabic is one of the most frequently encountered languages in UK immigration, reflecting both the size of the UK's Arabic-speaking community and the ongoing demand for visas from across the Arab world. Different visa categories require different sets of translated documents, and understanding what your application needs can save time and avoid costly delays.

• Spouse and partner visas — The most document-intensive visa category. Applicants must provide translated marriage certificates, birth certificates, financial evidence, accommodation details, and English language test results. For marriages conducted in Arab countries, the Islamic marriage contract and any civil registration documents both need translation.
• Skilled Worker visas — Require translated qualifications, professional certificates, and sometimes employment references from previous roles in Arabic-speaking countries. Gulf-based professionals relocating to the UK often need translated experience letters from employers in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, or Qatar.
• Student visas — Require translated academic transcripts, degree certificates, and financial sponsorship letters. Students from Arab countries may also need translated bank statements showing tuition and maintenance funds, particularly if sponsored by family members in the Gulf.
• Settlement visas (ILR) — Indefinite Leave to Remain applications require translated police clearances from every country where the applicant has lived for 12 months or more. For applicants who have lived in multiple Arab countries, this can mean translating police clearances from several different jurisdictions.
• Asylum and protection — Arabic speakers form a significant proportion of UK asylum applicants, particularly from Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Sudan, and Libya. Asylum claims require translated identity documents, personal statements, country-of-origin evidence, and supporting documentation. The Syrian resettlement programme and Iraqi interpreters scheme have specific documentation requirements.

We provide certified Arabic translation for every UK visa category and can advise on which documents typically need translation for your specific application type. For applicants submitting multiple documents, we offer multi-document discounts and can prioritise urgent visa deadlines.

Submitting uncertified or incorrectly formatted translations is one of the most common reasons UK visa applications are delayed or refused. UKVI has clear requirements for how translated documents must be presented, and understanding the difference between certification levels helps you submit the right format first time.

• Certified translation — The standard requirement for UKVI visa applications. A certified translation includes a signed statement from the translator (or translation company) confirming the translation is a true and accurate rendering of the original document. The statement must include the translator's name, qualifications, date, and contact details. This is what UKVI requires for the vast majority of immigration applications.
• Notarised translation — A certified translation that has been additionally verified by a UK notary public. Notarisation is not typically required by UKVI for UK visa applications, but it may be needed when submitting documents to Arab embassies, consulates, or foreign authorities. Some immigration solicitors request notarised translations as an extra safeguard for complex cases.
• Apostille translation — The highest level of document authentication, involving an apostille stamp from the FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office). Required when UK documents need to be legally recognised in countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention. Several Arab countries (including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman) accept apostilled documents.

Common reasons immigration translations are rejected include:

• Missing certification statement — The translation does not include a signed declaration of accuracy. UKVI will not accept translations without this statement, even if the translation itself is accurate.
• Incomplete translation — Stamps, seals, handwritten annotations, or marginal notes on the original Arabic document were not included in the translation. UKVI requires a complete translation of everything visible on the document.
• Incorrect translator credentials — The certification statement does not include the translator's qualifications or the statement is signed by someone who is not a professional translator. Machine translations (Google Translate, DeepL) are never accepted.
• Poor formatting — The translation layout does not mirror the original document, making it difficult for caseworkers to cross-reference information between the Arabic original and the English translation.

Our certified Arabic translations are formatted to UKVI standards and have a 100% acceptance rate across all UK immigration application types. Every translation includes a full certification statement, is formatted to mirror the original document layout, and is delivered as a PDF ready for submission.