What is the difference between an uncertified translation and one that is certified under ISO 17100?
If your business requires the utmost precision in the translation of technical and/or specialised documents, certified translation is the most suitable type for your needs.
Revision by a second translator and by a specialist who is a native speaker of the target language ensures a higher level of accuracy in technical translations and provides you with an excellent opportunity to enhance the presentation of your project. With this service, you have an even greater guarantee of the quality of your translation, since it is checked over by a second translator who will revise the translated text, as required by the ISO 17100 standard.
For simpler and less demanding translations, you can opt for a service that does not include revision. You can still count on excellent quality and delivery will be faster, since there is no need to involve a second translator to revise the text. Even though this service does not include revision, we guarantee that we will always do a final check of your translation before delivering it to you.
And if you change your mind, you can always ask for an additional revision. After all, two pairs of trained eyes are always better than one!
What is ISO 17100?
The ISO 17100:2015 international standard was published on 1st May 2015 and specifies the requirements that define quality in translation services. For the customer, the standard provides a guarantee of better quality translations, stricter compliance with deadlines and monitoring by qualified project managers at every stage of the process.
Inpokulis was the first translation company in Portugal to obtain this certification and our compliance with the standard is verified annually during an independent audit carried out by Bureau Veritas.
How do I request a quote for a translation?
The first step is to send us the documents you want translated. This lets our team see what you need and help you choose the most suitable type of translation. They will also send you details of the cost and delivery deadlines.
What languages do you translate into?
Thanks to our international network of translators, revisers and linguists, we can arrange for translations from and into an extensive range of languages. We have the internal resources and experienced translators necessary to be able to provide fast translations into more than 100 languages.
Who are your translators?
We work only with translators who are native speakers of the target language and who have proven experience in their specialist fields.
Pursuant to our certification under ISO 17100, the international standard that regulates quality in translation services, our professional translators meet the following requirements:
- Formal university-level training in translation (recognised diploma);
- An equivalent qualification in another area plus a minimum of two years’ proven experience as a full-time professional translator;
- A minimum of five years’ proven experience as a full-time professional translator.
What types of translation are there?
From medical to legal and scientific to technical translation, the world of translation is vast and can span anything from translating a patent to an apostille, financial translations of balance sheets to localising websites as part of marketing translation services. Anything that can be said, written or signed can be translated in one way or another, so whatever you need to say in a different language, let us know because we’re likely to have the right professional translators to meet your needs.
What types of revision are there?
Here at Inpokulis, we offer four types of revision:
- Linguistic revision: this involves checking for spelling mistakes and misinterpretation, as well as polishing the translated text.
- Specialist revision: a reviser with experience in the subject matter will review the terminology used in the translation.
- Proofreading (final proof): your final proof will be checked over for such things as spelling mistakes, incorrect hyphenation, omissions or missing translations, in readiness for printing.
- Online revision: the translation will be revised directly online prior to publication.
- Final consistency check: a last check to ensure the terminology is consistent.
How much does a translation cost?
The pricing structure for the services we offer is totally transparent. We reply to every request with a detailed and customised quote (free of charge and with no commitment) so that you always know from the outset how much you’ll have to pay. There are no hidden taxes or extra costs that only show up on completion of the project. Simply send us the files you need to translate by e-mail or using the form available on our website.
What is included in the cost of my translation?
- A professional and personal approach to your needs
- Dedicated, qualified project managers with a number of years of experience
- Rigorously selected translators and revisers with a university degree in translation or a minimum of five years’ experience in translation.
- Mastery of the specialist field in question
How long will it take for my documents to be translated?
The time taken to translate your documents will depend on the complexity of the documents and the languages requested. We don’t offer a “one-size-fits-all” solution or service. As every request is different, please contact us to discuss your individual requirements and we’ll always do our best to exceed your expectations, within any deadline.
What is an official, certified or sworn translation in Portugal?
In Portugal, the term “official translation” lacks clarity because different entities may have different certification requirements. It should also be noted that there is no such thing as a “sworn translator” in Portugal. We can supply certified translations that come either with a certificate issued by our company or one issued by a notary or lawyer.
Some documents you may need certified translations for include:
- Marriage certificate translations
- Birth certificate translations
- Apostille translations
- Patent translations
- Legal translations
- Medical translations
Are translations done in Portugal accepted abroad?
It depends on what you have been asked for by the entity where you will be submitting the translation. We can issue our own company certificate in the same language as the translation and in which we state that we are a company certified under ISO 17100, the international standard for translation; or we can have the translation certified by a notary in English, French or Spanish, and even arrange for an apostille from the Attorney-General of the Republic, if necessary.
Additionally, we can also provide translations done by sworn translators from various countries. While there is no such thing as a sworn translator in Portugal, they do exist in other countries. A sworn translator is recognised by and registered with their country’s courts. If a foreign entity requires a sworn translation, the translation in question must be done by one of the translators on the respective country’s list of sworn translators.
What does your company’s certificate consist of?
Issued on company letterhead and bearing our stamp and the translator’s signature, our company certificate attests to our responsibility for the translation delivered. It also states that we are a certified company under ISO 17100, the international standard for translation. This certificate is attached to the original (or copy of the original) and to the completed translation and it can be issued in the same language as the translation.
What is a notary’s certificate?
A notary’s certificate is a page that the notary attaches to the original (or copy of the original) and to the translation, certifying the signature of the translator who presents the translation at the notary’s office. It usually includes the notary’s details, the identification of the translator, the source and target languages of the translation and a brief description of the translated document. It not only bears the translator’s signature but also the notary’s signature and embossed seal. It can be issued in Portuguese, English, French or Spanish.
What is a notarised copy? And what about a certified or authenticated copy?
A notarised copy is a copy taken by a notary to whom the original document is given specifically for the purpose. The notary’s certification will state that the copy is true and faithful to the original document.
A certified or authenticated copy is similar to a notarised copy but is done by other competent entities such as lawyers, civil parish councils and post offices.
What is an apostille?
An apostille is a formality whereby a competent authority of the Portuguese State, typically the Attorney-General of the Republic, recognises the signature on a public document, the capacity in which the person who signed it is acting and, if necessary, the authenticity of the seal or stamp that it bears.
Documents may only be apostilled by entities from the country where they were issued but it is possible to arrange for translations certified by a notary to be apostilled, if necessary. In this case, the apostille applies only to the translation and not to the original document.
Inpokulis can arrange with the Attorney-General of the Republic for documents issued in Portugal to be apostilled.
If I need a translation, do I have to give you the printed original document?
For the actual translation process, no. A digital copy of your document is all we need to get the process started. And, if it will suffice, we can also deliver your translation only as a digital document.
Nevertheless, in some cases we do the need the printed original (or a notarised/certified copy) in order to have the translation certified. It really depends on what you have been asked for by the entity where you will be submitting the translation.
What is interpreting?
Interpreting is an oral translation carried out on the spot, often in person, though it can also be provided online. Providing both translation and interpretation services, our range of linguists are equipped with any circumstances you throw at us.
What is transcription?
This is an additional service that we offer and is particularly useful for professionals who need regular specialist support in transferring audio and audiovisual content to written text.
Often, the texts of institutional and advertising videos, procedural pieces and documentaries, among others, need to be put into written format in order to ensure that nothing is inadvertently omitted during the translation process.
What if I need to translate a menu?
Working in partnership with the marketing company Descomunal, we have developed a solution that allows your multilingual digital menu to be made available in any language in just a few clicks. All so that you can easily and intuitively tailor your multilingual digital menu to your customers’ needs, highlighting the most appropriate dishes and providing detailed information in various languages.
We can also provide you with access to our multilingual database of ingredients and allergens, as well as local tourist information, so that a meal at your establishment will contribute to culinary tourism as a way of discovering the city’s culture and lifestyle.
You should also bear in mind that it is important to provide mandatory information such as the names of dishes, the ingredients used to make them and any allergens they contain in your customers’ own languages. With our services, it will be easier to have all this information available in the blink of an eye.
Our vast experience of doing food-related translations means we can offer you unique solutions such as access to a culinary database containing translations in over 10 languages.
It can be really difficult to explain a traditional dish and the various ingredients used to make it to a customer whose language you don’t speak, and we understand that.
Among those who have come to us for help are several of Portugal’s regional tourism boards, publishers, municipal councils and hundreds of restaurants.
