Certified translation services in San Diego by native speaking linguists.
Certified and document translation for legal, immigration, healthcare, education and marketing, plus Spanish and website translation, in more than 30 languages. Every new project starts with a free consultation, and every translation includes one free revision.
Get a quote within one business day.
Trusted by the San Diego Tourism Authority, MANA de North County, authors, attorneys and nonprofits · Certified Minority and Women Business Enterprise · 16+ years of experience
CERTIFIED TRANSLATION
Certified translation services in San Diego
A certified translation is a complete and accurate translation that comes with a signed statement attesting to its accuracy. Courts, immigration authorities such as USCIS, universities and government agencies often ask for one before they accept a document in another language.
We provide certified translation for legal, immigration and official documents, including:
- Birth, marriage and death certificates
- Immigration and visa paperwork
- Court and legal documents
- Diplomas, transcripts and academic records
- Medical records and health insurance documents
- Other official government documents
Tell us where you will submit the translation, and we will prepare it in the format that office asks for.
Document translation for legal, immigration, healthcare and education
Before we begin, we look at your document’s purpose, audience, subject matter and language pair, so the translation fits how it will be used.
Legal and immigration
Immigration document translation
Birth certificates and other official government documents, legal paperwork and the documents you need for visa and immigration applications, with certified translation when required.
Healthcare
Healthcare communications
Medical records, health insurance materials and healthcare communications, translated with care for accuracy and confidentiality.
Education and training
Education and reports
Educational materials, reports, presentations, training documents, books and subtitles for video.
Word and PDF are our preferred file formats.
Spanish ↔ English Translation Services
Spanish is one of our core languages. Our Spanish translation services cover English to Spanish and Spanish to English, from Spanish document translation to marketing and community outreach.
We help you choose the right regional Spanish for your audience, including Latin American and U.S. Spanish, and we localize between regions, such as Spanish from Spain to Spanish from Mexico.
Beyond Spanish, we translate Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Haitian Creole, Somali, French, Portuguese, Russian, Ukrainian and more, for more than 30 languages in all.
Website and marketing translation (localization)
Our website translation services and website localization services adapt websites, campaigns, brochures, mailers, advertisements, social media content and media scripts so they read naturally for your audience. Localization goes beyond direct translation: it adjusts the language, references and tone so your message feels like it was written for the people you want to reach.
Translation review and proofreading, including AI translation review
Already have a translation? Our translation proofreading services check terminology, grammar, clarity, cultural fit, consistency, formatting and readability before you publish.
We also review translations made by other providers or by AI, and offer machine translation post editing (MTPE). A professional review is especially valuable for materials that will be published, shared publicly or relied on by audiences with limited English proficiency.
How long translation takes
Turnaround depends on the language pair, word count, complexity, file condition, subject matter, formatting and review needs. Share your materials and deadline early, and we will recommend a realistic timeline and tell you if expedited support is available. Rush projects may incur an extra fee.
How our translation process works
- Free consultation. We learn about your files, language pair, deadline, subject matter and the audience who will read the translation.
- Clear quote. You receive a quote. Once you approve it, we start the project.
- Files and references. Send the files to translate plus any glossaries, style guides or published versions you have.
- A native speaking translator. We assign the linguist who best matches your subject and audience. They translate, research terminology, proofread and run spelling and grammar checks.
- Final check and delivery. We double check the translated files and deliver them to you. One free revision is included.
What affects the price of translation
Every quote is tailored to your project. The main factors are:
- Language pair and the availability of specialized translators
- Word count and complexity of the content
- Turnaround time. Rush projects may incur an extra fee.
- Subject matter, such as legal, medical or technical content
- File format and quality. Word and PDF are our preferred formats, and illegible sources may incur an extra fee.
- Formatting and review needs
Discounts may be available for ongoing projects and nonprofits. Rates are confirmed in your quote.
Frequently asked questions
Do you offer certified translation?
Yes. We provide certified translations for legal, immigration and official documents. Each certified translation comes with a signed statement attesting that it is complete and accurate, the format that courts, USCIS, universities and government agencies typically ask for.
Do you provide Spanish translation and interpretation?
Yes. Spanish is one of our core languages. We provide culturally appropriate Spanish translation and interpretation for organizations, businesses, events, community outreach, legal matters, healthcare communications, education, marketing and more. We help you choose the right regional Spanish for your audience, including Latin American and U.S. Spanish.
Why use a professional language services provider instead of machine translation?
Professional language support matters most when clarity, cultural relevance, accessibility, confidentiality, reputation or compliance are at stake. We work with human linguists who are native speakers of the target language, so your content reads naturally instead of like a literal, word for word conversion.
What types of documents can you translate?
Brochures, websites, forms, outreach materials, reports, training documents, presentations, marketing content, media scripts, educational materials, legal and immigration documents, healthcare communications and other client facing or internal content. Before we begin, we look at your document’s purpose, audience, subject matter and language pair.
Can you translate website content and marketing materials?
Yes. We translate and localize websites, campaigns, brochures, mailers, advertisements, social media content, media scripts and other public materials. Localization goes beyond direct translation by adapting the language so it is clear, natural and right for your audience.
Do you offer proofreading, editing or translation review?
Yes. We offer translation review, proofreading and quality assurance. These services help when you already have translated content and need an experienced linguist to check terminology, grammar, clarity, cultural fit, consistency, formatting and readability before you publish.
Can you review a translation created by another provider or by AI?
Yes. We review existing translations for accuracy, terminology, tone, formatting, cultural relevance and fluency. A professional review is especially valuable for materials that will be published, shared publicly, used in high stakes settings or relied on by audiences with limited English proficiency.
How long does document translation take?
Turnaround depends on the language pair, word count, complexity, file condition, subject matter, formatting, review needs and translator availability. Share your materials and deadline early so we can recommend a realistic timeline and let you know if expedited support is available.
Will my translation sound natural to native speakers?
Yes. That is the goal. Our human linguists are native speakers of the target language and focus on accurate, culturally sensitive communication. They consider the intended reader, context, terminology, voice and purpose of the original.
Can you preserve the formatting of my translated document?
We discuss formatting at the start of your project. Please send your documents in Word or PDF format whenever possible. For materials going to design or print, a final linguistic review after layout makes sure the translated text displays correctly and reads naturally.
Translation, localization and transcription explained
What is translation?
Translation is the process of transforming written content from one language to another while keeping the original meaning, style and context. Its purpose is to convey the written information accurately in a different language.
Translation vs localization
Translation moves text from the source language to the target language so readers can understand what the original said. Localization may involve translation, but it can also happen within one language for different regions, such as British English to American English.
Localization adapts cultural content so the text feels like it was written for readers in the target region. For readers in the United States, that can mean converting meters to feet, British pounds to U.S. dollars, swapping a reference to South Korea’s elite SKY universities for the Ivy League, or using “wow” instead of “crikey.”
Translation vs transcription
Transcription prepares audio content for translation. The linguist listens to the audio and writes out exactly what is said, word for word, to create the source text. Then the linguist translates the transcript into the target language.
How to choose a translator
For the highest quality, the translator should be a native speaker of the target language, and of the specific region when that matters. They also need a strong understanding of the source language and the subject, especially for technical, medical or legal documents. Formal documents call for strong grammar and formal writing skills, while cultural content such as media calls for a close connection to the audience’s culture. Medical, legal or official government documents may require special certification or sworn translators.
Valdes Language Services does the heavy lifting for you. We match your document with the best translator for it and provide competitive rates.
Get a translation quote
Share your files and deadline. We will recommend a realistic timeline and send an accurate quote.
Get a quote within one business day.
Not sure whether you need translation or interpretation? Read the difference between translation and interpretation.
Need spoken language support too? Explore simultaneous interpretation, interpretation equipment rental, our tourism and hospitality services and all our language services.
