Quick Certified Translation Guide for Malaysia <> United States (2025)
1. Procedure
1.1 All documents not in English must be translated into English.
1.2 A U.S. private or government agency may accept certified or notarized translation.
1.3 For certified translation, a certification statement should include the following information at a minimum:
(i) a statement of the translator's qualifications;
(ii) a statement affirming the completeness and accuracy of the document;
(iii) identification of the translated document and language; and
(iv) the translator's name, signature, and date [1].
1.4 Sometimes, the requesting organization may also request for an American Translators Association (ATA)-certified translation. ATA-certified translation comes with a seal, which allows users to quickly recognize the credentials in certification statements. The seal includes:
(i) ATA-certified translator’s name;
(ii) ATA-certified translator’s language combination;
(iii) a certification reference number; and
(iv) link to verify the certification status online [2].
1.5 For notarized translation, besides the certification statement as described in Section 1.3, a notary public’s stamp, seal and/or signature are required to legally acknowledge the identity of the individual signing the certification statement [3].
1.6 MYLegalTrans’ team is ATA-certified and has Notary offices based in Malaysia and the United States.
2. FAQs
2.1 What does Certified Translation mean? How is it different from non-certified translation?
The United States does not have a governmental translation certification agency. However, the receiving organization often requests certified or notarized translation for official use or submission.
Depending on the receiving organization’s requirements, the following may be accepted:
(i) Malaysia-certified translation with U.S.-compliant certification statement;
(ii) notarized translation; and
(iii) ATA-certified translation.
A translation is considered certified when it is registered with a Malaysian certification organization, Notary Public or ATA. In the United States, a certified translation is authoritative in a court of law [4].
2.2 Why does Certified Translation take so long even for documents with just a few words?
For the U.S., before certification, the translation goes through the following processes:
(i) Text extraction
The translation process begins with text extraction and formatting by a DTP specialist, with inquiries about untranslatable or unclear text.
(ii) Translation
Translations are handled by native translators who are subject matter specialists with at least three years of experience.
(iii) First Review
The first review is conducted by nationally certified translators.
(iv) DTP & Formatting
DTP and formatting ensures the translated document mirrors the original.
(v) Final Review & Certificate of Translation
A final review is done by certified translators, with an ITBM/DBP/MTA stamp applied. The translation is then recorded by the stamping organization.
2.3 Can I submit a softcopy or photocopy of the Certified Translation to the US?
Most likely no. While universities and private organizations accepts softcopy certified or notarized translation, most government agencies accept certified or notarized translation with the original stamps, seals and signatures.
Resources:
[1]-[2] American Translators Association. (n.d.). What is a certified translation? Available at: https://www.atanet.org/client-assistance/what-is-a-certified-translation/.
[3] Transistent. (n.d.). What is the difference between notarized and certified translation? Available at: https://www.transistent.com/what-is-the-difference-between-notarized-and-certified-translation/.
[4] For more details, read UNITED STATES SOO BAHK DO MOO DUK KWAN FEDERATION, INC., Plaintiff, v. TANG SOO KARATE SCHOOL, INC., et al., Defendants (3:12-CV-00669): https://casetext.com/case/us-soo-bahk-do-moo-duk-kwan-fedn-inc-v-tang-soo-karate-sch-inc.