Certified Arabic Translation Services in Ottawa, Ontario

Ottawa has a large and growing Arabic-speaking community, and many important documents here still begin in Arabic. If you’re dealing with immigration, passports, court matters, school admissions or professional licensing, those documents usually have to be translated into English before Canadian authorities will accept them. On this page you’ll learn when you need certified Arabic to English translation in Ottawa, what IRCC, Passport Canada and schools expect, and how to choose a reliable translator so your file is processed smoothly.

When you’re ready, you can book an appointment with Naya Translation to review your documents and plan next steps.

Why Certified Arabic to English Translation Matters in Ottawa

Across Canada, official institutions generally require documents in English or French. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) makes it very clear: if a supporting document is not in English or French, you must send an English or French translation, an affidavit from the person who completed the translation, and a certified copy of the original document.

For Arabic-speaking individuals, families and organizations in Ottawa, that often means getting certified Arabic to English translations of:

• Birth, marriage, divorce and family status documents
• Police certificates and criminal record checks for immigration or work
• Diplomas, transcripts and training certificates for Canadian schools or credential evaluation
• Court decisions, contracts, settlement agreements and other legal documents
• Medical reports, specialist letters and insurance documents
• Passports and civil registry documents used in Canadian applications

Naya Translation serves clients across Ontario, including Ottawa, with professional Arabic to English translation for these kinds of high-stakes documents. You can see an overview of services on the Translation Services page, then book an appointment when you’re ready to talk through your file.

When Do You Need Certified Arabic to English Translation in Ottawa?

Immigration and IRCC applications

For permanent residence, study permits, work permits, visitor visas and other immigration programs, IRCC requires that documents not in English or French be accompanied by:

• an English or French translation
• an affidavit from the translator
• a certified photocopy of the original document

This typically applies to Arabic-language:

• Birth, marriage, divorce and death certificates
• Police certificates and criminal record checks
• Military service records
• Adoption, custody and guardianship documents
• Employment records and reference letters

IRCC explains these rules on its document language and translation page and in individual document checklists:

• What language should my supporting documents be in?
• What is an affidavit for a translation?

If you’re in Ottawa with Arabic documents on your IRCC checklist, it’s smart to book an appointment with Naya Translation early so translation doesn’t become the bottleneck.

Canadian passports and citizenship documents

For Canadian passport and travel document applications, the Government of Canada states that all documents submitted must be in English or French or be accompanied by a translation. You must provide both the original document and the translated version.

If you’re using Arabic-language civil status documents, court orders or name change records for a passport or citizenship application, you will generally need an official Arabic to English translation that clearly matches the original. Passport Canada also distinguishes between translations completed by certified professional translators and non-certified translators, and sets specific expectations for each.

Courts, lawyers and legal matters in Ottawa

Ottawa is home to many federal and provincial institutions, and legal matters here often involve complex documentation. Legal and immigration resources for Ontario consistently stress that:

• any foreign-language document used for an immigration application must have a translation into English or French, plus a certified copy of the original, and
• those translations should be completed by a qualified, professional translator, not by the applicant or family members.

Common Arabic to English legal translations include:

• Court decisions, judgments and orders
• Separation agreements, settlement documents and contracts
• Affidavits, statutory declarations and powers of attorney

If an Ottawa lawyer has asked you to translate Arabic documents, you can share their instructions and contact Naya Translation to map out which files to translate first and how formal the translations must be.

Education, licensing and employment

Ottawa residents frequently deal with universities, colleges, credential evaluators and professional regulators. These organizations often require that transcripts, diplomas and related documents be translated into English or French before they can be assessed.

For example:

• Credential services like WES require exact, word-for-word translations completed by professional translators.
• Academic and admission resources explain that if your documents are not in English or French, an official or certified translation may be required.

If you plan to study or work in Ottawa and your academic or professional history is documented in Arabic, it’s worth booking a consultation with Naya Translation once you have your admission or licensing checklist.

What Does “Certified Arabic Translation” Mean for Ottawa Clients?

For most Canadian authorities, “certified translation” means more than just adding a seal. They usually expect:

• A complete, accurate Arabic to English translation of the entire document
• All visible text translated, including stamps, seals, letterheads, margins and handwritten notes
• A statement from the translator declaring that the translation is a true and accurate representation of the original
• When required (often by IRCC or passport offices), an affidavit or statutory declaration from the translator confirming accuracy

Canadian legal information sites also clarify that a certified translator is typically understood as a member in good standing of a recognized provincial or territorial translators’ organization, and that these professionals are the ones expected to produce certified translations for immigration and legal use.

Because requirements differ between IRCC, Passport Canada, universities and regulators, it’s always worth:

1. Checking the relevant official website (IRCC, Canada.ca, school or regulator), then
2. Booking an appointment with Naya Translation to confirm what kind of Arabic to English translation package your situation in Ottawa actually needs.

How to Choose an Arabic to English Translator in Ottawa

Searching for “certified Arabic translation Ottawa”, “Arabic to English translator Ottawa” or similar terms brings up a mix of large agencies and local specialists. Here’s how to narrow the list in a way that protects your file.

1. Look for true Arabic to English specialization

For high-stakes documents, you want someone who regularly works from Arabic into English for Canadian authorities, not just a general multilingual agency that occasionally handles Arabic. Reputable translation providers that market Arabic services in Ottawa emphasize:

• Arabic ↔ English as a core language pair
• Immigration, legal, medical and academic use cases
• Certified translations for Canada-wide use

On your first call or email with Naya Translation or any other provider, you can ask:

• “How often do you translate Arabic documents for IRCC or Canadian institutions?”
• “Have you handled similar documents before (police checks, court orders, diplomas, medical reports)?”

Naya Translation focuses specifically on Arabic to English and English to Arabic work, which is ideal if you need consistency across multiple documents. To learn more about this focus, you can visit the About Us page.

2. Check experience with immigration, legal and academic files

Requirements aren’t the same for every situation:

• Immigration files must match IRCC expectations for translation packages (original/certified copy + translation + translator statement/affidavit).
• Legal documents need precise terminology and careful handling of dates, names and clauses.
• Academic and credential documents have detailed formatting requirements and must be translated in full, including reverse sides when there’s relevant text.

When you book an appointment with Naya Translation, bringing your checklists and sample documents makes it easier to confirm that the team has experience with your type of file.

3. Clarify what’s included in your Arabic to English quote

Guides for immigration and credential translation stress that you may need more than just translated text—you may also need a translator’s declaration and, in some cases, a notarized affidavit.

When you compare quotes from different Arabic translation providers in Ottawa, ask:

• Is pricing per word or per page, and what counts as a “page”?
• Does the quote include a translator’s statement and any required affidavit, or are those extra?
• How are revisions handled if IRCC, a school or a regulator asks for clarification?
• Is there a different rate for standard vs. urgent work?

These are excellent questions to cover in a first call when you contact Naya Translation.

4. Put privacy and human quality ahead of machine tools

Legal, academic and immigration-focused sources repeatedly warn that machine-generated translations are not appropriate for documents that must be certified or used in court or immigration applications, and that automated output can cause misunderstandings or rejections.

For sensitive Arabic to English immigration, legal or medical files, it’s safer to choose a provider that:

• Relies on professional human translators for core work
• Has clear policies on confidentiality and document storage
• Is willing to explain their quality control process in plain language

Naya Translation emphasizes individual, Ontario-focused service rather than anonymous bulk processing, which can be reassuring when you’re handing over passports, police checks, financial records or medical reports. To understand exactly how your information is handled, you can book an appointment and ask.

Common Arabic to English Documents in Ottawa

People and organizations in Ottawa frequently request Arabic to English translation for:

• Civil status documents (birth, marriage, divorce, family book) for immigration, sponsorship, citizenship and passports
• Police certificates and criminal record checks required by IRCC, employers or licensing bodies
• Diplomas, transcripts and academic records needed for admission or credential evaluation
• Employment contracts, offer letters, pay slips and reference letters
• Court documents, settlement agreements and legal correspondence
• Medical reports, diagnostic test results and specialist letters used by insurers or doctors

If you’re unsure which Arabic documents must be translated, a simple approach is:

1. Go through your IRCC, school, employer or regulator checklist.
2. Highlight every item you currently have only in Arabic.
3. Book an appointment with Naya Translation and upload those documents so you can get specific guidance.

Practical Tips Before You Order an Arabic to English Translation

Make sure your copies are complete and readable

Policies from immigration, education and credential-evaluation bodies emphasize that all relevant text on a document must be translated, including stamps, seals and reverse sides.

To help any translator produce an accurate Arabic to English translation:

• Scan or photograph the entire document, front and back, including edges and margins
• Make sure names, dates, signatures and stamps are clear and not cut off
• Avoid shadows, glare or low-resolution images that make details hard to read

Standardize English spellings of names and places

In Arabic, the same name can be written in English in several ways. Inconsistent spellings across different translations can raise questions or cause delays during immigration or credential evaluation.

Before ordering translations, it helps to:

• Decide on the English spellings you will use (typically the version found on your passport or PR card)
• Share those spellings clearly with the translator
• Check that the same spelling and date format are used consistently across all your translated documents

Use online translation tools only for your own understanding

Machine translation tools are useful if you just want to know roughly what a document says. However, for documents that need to be officially certified or used in immigration, legal or licensing processes, multiple Canadian and international sources emphasize that human, professional translation is required.

If you’re unsure where the line is, you can schedule a call with Naya Translation and ask which documents must be formally translated and which can safely remain as they are.

How Naya Translation Supports Clients in Ottawa

Naya Translation is based in London, Ontario but works seamlessly with clients in Ottawa and across the province through secure online communication. The team offers:

• Professional Arabic to English translation services for immigration, legal, medical, academic and business purposes
• Clear expectations about timelines and scope so translations fit your IRCC, court, school or licensing deadlines
• Optional language courses if you want to strengthen your English while you navigate Canadian systems

You can explore the full range of services on the Translation Services and Language Courses pages, and learn more about Naya’s story and values on the About Us page.

If you’re in Ottawa and need certified Arabic to English translation, the easiest way forward is to:

• Collect your Arabic documents and any official checklists
• Note your deadlines and priorities
• Book an appointment with Naya Translation

That conversation gives you a clear, realistic plan to turn your Arabic documents into accurate English translations that are ready for immigration, legal, medical and academic use in Ottawa and throughout Ontario.