Translation
Translation of official documents
Wisma Putra requires documents not in English to be translated into English, and many embassies ask for a translation in their own language. We handle both, then carry the document through the rest of the chain.
Languages we work in
Translation is handled alongside the attestation and stamping, so the translated document carries the same chain of endorsements as the original.
- English
- Malay
- Arabic
- Persian
- Mandarin
- Tamil
Translate before you legalise, not after
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs requires documents not in English to be translated into English before attestation. Several destination missions additionally want the document in their own language.
A translation produced after the chain has run carries none of the endorsements, so it has to travel through the chain again. Doing it first is the cheaper order of operations.
Why the translation has to come first
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that documents not in English must be translated into English before it will attest them. If the destination embassy wants the document in its own language as well, that translation is usually needed before their stamp too.
Translating after the fact means starting the chain again, which is the expensive way to do it.
- 01
Issuing authority or notary public
The document is verified at source, or certified as a true copy by a notary public.
- 02
The relevant ministry
Education certificates go through the education authorities. Other documents go through the ministry that governs them.
- 03
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The consular division at Wisma Putra in Putrajaya legalises the document for use abroad.
- 04
The destination embassy
The embassy or consulate of the destination country adds the final stamp. Most sit in Kuala Lumpur, a few in Putrajaya.
What gets translated most often
- Degree certificates and academic transcripts
- Birth, marriage and death certificates
- Letters of good conduct and police clearance
- Company documents and contracts
- Medical reports
Worth knowing
Tell us the destination before we translate. Whether a second translation is needed depends entirely on which mission receives the document.
Questions
Which languages do you translate?
English, Malay, Arabic, Persian, Mandarin and Tamil.
Does the translation need attesting too?
Usually yes. The translation travels through the same chain as the original document so that both carry the endorsements the destination expects.
My document is in Bahasa Malaysia. Does it need translating?
For Wisma Putra, documents not in English must be translated into English. Whether the destination embassy wants a further translation depends on the country, and we confirm that before submitting.
Related
Get a quote
Tell us the document and the destination
Send the scans and the country. We come back with the steps your document needs, the cost and the timeline.