Certified Farsi translation services in Canada (2026)

Newcomers arriving from Iran, Afghanistan, and other Farsi-speaking countries often reach the same point in their immigration paperwork: a birth certificate, a marriage certificate, a diploma, or a police clearance certificate that is written in Farsi and needs to be translated before Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) or a provincial body will accept it. This guide covers what certified Farsi translation actually means, which documents typically need it, and how to request one.

What counts as a certified Farsi translation

IRCC's guidance on document translation (verified against the live page) requires that any supporting document not in English or French be accompanied by a translation "stamped by a certified translator," or, where no certified translator is available, by a translation accompanied by a sworn affidavit from the person who completed it, per IRCC's passport translation page and the same requirement in the Express Entry document guidance. A certified translator is one recognized by a provincial association of translators and interpreters, such as the Society of Translators and Interpreters of British Columbia (STIBC), Ontario's ATIO, or Quebec's OTTIAQ, or one holding certification through the Canadian Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters Council (CTTIC).

Not every bilingual Farsi speaker can provide a certified translation. Certification means the translator has passed a standardized exam and is authorized by a provincial or national body to stamp a translation as accurate. A translation from a friend or family member, however fluent, is not accepted by IRCC on its own.

Documents that commonly need Farsi to English translation

• Birth certificates (Shenasnameh-based extracts) and national identity documents
• Marriage and divorce certificates
• Educational diplomas and academic transcripts
• Police clearance certificates issued in Iran or Afghanistan
• Employment letters and reference letters used to support a work history
• Medical and vaccination records where a province requires them

Each of these is treated the same way by IRCC: the original document, plus a certified translation, plus (in most cases) a copy of the original in its source language, are all submitted together. See our full guide to which documents need certified translation for an IRCC application for the complete list across all languages.

Why certified translation is stricter than it sounds

A certified translation is not simply a word for word conversion. The translator is attesting, under their professional certification, that the translation is a complete and accurate rendering of the original, including seals, stamps, and any handwritten annotations on the source document. This is why IRCC and provincial bodies do not accept a translation from an uncertified person even when the applicant is confident it is accurate. Our certified vs notarized translation guide covers the related but separate step of notarization, which some provinces additionally require for specific document types.

How WelcomeAide's certified Farsi translation service works

WelcomeAide works with certified Farsi to English translators to prepare documents for IRCC and provincial submissions. The process:

1. Submit a request through our translation quote form, uploading the document (PDF, Word, or a clear photo) and specifying Farsi to English.
2. Receive a quote by email within one to two business days, itemized so you can see exactly what is included.
3. Approve and pay to begin the translation.
4. Receive the completed, stamped translation within five business days of payment, as a PDF ready to submit alongside your original document.

Documents are transmitted through an encrypted upload, never by email attachment, and are only accessible to the translator assigned to your file. See our full certified translation service page for the complete list of accepted file types and language pairs.

What to prepare before you request a translation

• A clear scan or photo of the complete original document, including any stamps or seals on the back
• The purpose of the translation (IRCC application type, provincial credential body, employer, or other)
• Whether you need a rush turnaround, and by what date
• Confirmation of whether the receiving body also requires notarization, which is a separate step

If you are not yet sure which documents your specific application requires, our settlement checklist walks through the paperwork stage by stage, and the WelcomeAide AI assistant can answer specific questions about your situation in Farsi or English, any time of day.

Common mistakes with Farsi document translation

• Translating only the front of a document and skipping a stamp, seal, or note on the back. IRCC requires the complete document translated.
• Using a translation done outside Canada. IRCC generally expects certification recognized under a Canadian provincial or national body, not a foreign notary or translation bureau.
• Assuming a translated name spelling matches other documents. Farsi to English transliteration is not standardized; confirm your translator uses the same spelling as your passport and other official Canadian documents.
• Waiting until an application deadline is close. Certified translation, like any professional service, takes real business days to complete properly.

Farsi translation for provincial and professional purposes

Certified translation needs are not limited to IRCC applications. Provincial licensing bodies, universities, and employers verifying a foreign credential often require the same standard: a translation certified by a recognized translator, accompanied by the original document. If you are having a diploma or transcript assessed for a professional license or further study, confirm directly with the receiving body whether they require the translation to come from a specific provincial association's member, since requirements can differ from IRCC's own rules.

Working with a translator across a language barrier

One advantage of working with a Farsi-speaking translator specifically, rather than a general translation service, is that transliteration questions, honorifics, and regional naming conventions common in Iranian and Afghan documents are already familiar territory. This reduces the back and forth needed to confirm a name spelling or a place name matches your other Canadian documents, which is one of the more common sources of delay described above.

Frequently asked questions

Does IRCC accept a translation done by a family member who speaks Farsi fluently?

No. IRCC requires the translation to come from a certified translator, or from another translator accompanied by a sworn affidavit. A family member's translation, however accurate, does not meet this requirement on its own.

Do I need to send my original Farsi document as well as the translation?

Yes. IRCC and most provincial bodies require a copy of the original document alongside the certified translation, not the translation alone.

Is a Farsi to English translation different from a Dari to English translation?

Farsi and Dari are closely related but distinct languages with some differences in vocabulary and script conventions. Confirm with your translator which language your specific document is written in.

How long does a certified Farsi translation take?

Through WelcomeAide's service, a quote is provided within one to two business days, and the completed translation is delivered within five business days of payment. See our certified translation cost guide for how pricing typically works across providers.

Can the same translator handle both Farsi and Dari documents?

Some certified translators are recognized for both, but not all. Confirm directly which language pair a specific translator is certified for before submitting your document.

If you have a document that needs certified Farsi translation, you can request a free quote today, or chat with WelcomeAide in Farsi or English for guidance on your specific application.

Related Resources

• IRCC: translation of documents
• IRCC: Express Entry document requirements
• Society of Translators and Interpreters of British Columbia (STIBC)
• Which documents need certified translation for your IRCC application
• Certified vs notarized translation in Canada
• Certified translation cost in Canada
• WelcomeAide translation service
• Settlement checklist