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Stop treating Google Translate as certified translation (RCICs)

Stop treating Google Translate as certified translation (RCICs)

If the translator's credential block is missing, it is not an IRCC translation package — it is hope as a PDF.

Direct answer

Ontario RCICs should reject on sight Google Translate screenshots, DeepL exports, and bilingual guesses on the translation checklist line. Approve only when the upload matches the current IRCC path for that program: typically a translation stamped by a certified translator or (when that option is used) a translation with translator affidavit, plus a scan of the original (or certified photocopy the translator used). One line per foreign document — see certified translation collection.

Hivi-X does not translate, notarize, or certify compliance.

What IRCC's Express Entry page typically requires

Program pages differ; Express Entry permanent-residence guidance currently frames non-English/French documents roughly as:

ElementCertified-translator pathAffidavit path (when used)
TranslationEnglish or French translation stamped by a certified translatorTranslation accompanied by translator affidavit
Who may translateMember in good standing of a professional translation association (Canada or abroad), seal/stamp with membership numberIndependent translator under the affidavit rules — not applicant/family/representative
AffidavitOften not required; IRCC allows a short letter explaining no affidavit because a certified translator was usedRequired; refers to both the translation and the source document worked from
SourceScan of original, or scan of certified photocopy if that is what the translator usedSame pairing idea
Stamps/sealsNon-English/French stamps and seals must also be translatedSame

Citizenship and other streams may phrase the Canadian-certified-translator vs affidavit split differently. Always verify the guide or portal checklist for the file you are assembling.

Reject vs approve

UploadAction
Google Translate / DeepL PDFReject immediately
Uncertified bilingual friend letterReject
Translation by applicant, spouse, or representativeReject (Express Entry guidance forbids this)
Certified translation missing seal/stamp or membership cueReject or hold until credentials are visible
Full certified pair, credentials visible, stamps translatedApprove (if that path applies)
Affidavit path complete + source scanApprove only when that path is the one you are using
Translation without source on fileReject — collect both

Standard reject note: "IRCC requires an English or French translation through a certified translator (or the affidavit path when that applies) — machine translation is not accepted. Upload the source document and the complete translation package to this line."

Do not bundle translations into an unlabeled "supporting documents" zip. Auditors and IRCC reviewers need named pairs.

Related: foreign employer letters, CICC folder naming, reject-resubmit loops.

Start a free trial

Start a free trial — translation line per document.

General information only. Not immigration or legal advice. Hivi-X is document-collection software — not a licensed immigration consultant. Not affiliated with or endorsed by CICC or IRCC. Verify all translation requirements against current IRCC guidance for the specific program and each client's documents.

Answers are general operational information only — not legal, tax, regulatory, clinical, privacy, immigration, or professional advice. Requirements vary by matter, client, and regulator.

Frequently asked questions

Does IRCC accept Google Translate?
IRCC requires English or French for supporting documents. If a document is not in English or French, IRCC's Express Entry guidance describes a certified-translator path or an affidavit path — not machine translation. Confirm the program page you are filing under.
What is a certified translator for IRCC?
Typically a member in good standing of a professional translation association in Canada or abroad, with certification confirmed by a seal or stamp showing a membership number. Verify current IRCC wording.
When is an affidavit required?
On the Express Entry path, IRCC describes using an affidavit from the translator when a certified translator cannot complete the translation. Canadian certified translators generally do not need an affidavit — confirm live guidance.
Can the applicant or family translate?
IRCC Express Entry guidance states family members, representatives, and consultants of the applicant are not permitted to translate documents — even if they are translators. Confirm current text.
Partial translation?
Reject incomplete packages. IRCC also expects stamps and seals that are not in English or French to be translated.
Does Hivi-X translate documents?
No. You QC uploads on the translation line.

Collect complete immigration client files without the chase

Hivi-X helps Ontario RCICs collect passports, police certificates, employer letters, and IRCC forms with reusable checklists, the my-id.ca client portal, self-hosted AI summaries, and exportable PDF packages for your client file archive — alongside your immigration CRM.

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