Translation agency Verkhovyna

How to photograph an old document

For the quote and the translation, a phone photo will do, as long as every word on it is legible. These tricks help with old pages:

• Shoot in daylight by a window, without a flash.
• Hold the phone straight above the page and keep every edge, stamp and signature inside the frame.
• Photograph each sheet and insert separately.
• The back with stamps or notes is needed too.
• Take an extra close-up of faded or small writing.
• In your message, name the country and the institution the translation is for.

Names from documents in Russian

In documents issued in Russian, the first name and surname appear in their Russian form, and in old certificates they are also handwritten. To make the translation match your current documents, send a photo of your international passport. We will spell the name exactly as it appears there, so one person is written the same way in every translation.

Other personal documents, from passports to driving licences, are covered on the Personal documents page.

Who reads the handwriting

First a translator works on the document, then an editor checks the translation against the original. In handwritten text the editor separately checks names, dates, figures and stamps, because this is where handwriting most often lets you down. We translate everything on the page: the text, seals, stamps and notes on the back. When needed, a native speaker also reads the translation.

Your order manager looks after the deadline, answers your questions and tells you when the translation is ready. The agency itself is certified to ISO 17100:2015 and ISO 9001:2015. Every translation of an old document, just like a new one, comes with a lifetime guarantee: we will always meet you halfway, whatever the situation.

Lost or unreadable documents

Sometimes a certificate has been lost, the ink has faded or the page is so damaged that the text can no longer be read. In that case it is better to get a new one instead: a duplicate from the civil registry office or an archival certificate.

Our document retrieval service helps with this. We order duplicate birth, marriage, divorce or death certificates from the civil registry office. No power of attorney is needed for an archival birth certificate or a copy of a civil registry record, and we obtain them from Ukrainian archives ourselves. Some institutions may ask for a fresh duplicate even instead of an intact old certificate, so it is best to check with them in advance.

Certification and apostille

Many institutions accept a translation of an old certificate with the agency stamp. If an institution wants a notarised translation, the translator signs it and a notary then vouches for that signature. When the country of submission, such as Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia or France, requires a sworn or accredited translator, we arrange that kind of translation too.

We arrange an apostille on the duplicates and archival certificates we obtain when the document is going to a Hague Convention country. It is issued by one of four ministries, depending on the type of document: Justice, Education and Science, Internal Affairs or Foreign Affairs. We submit the documents there ourselves, without you. Countries outside the convention require consular legalisation, which we also take on. The Apostille page explains how it all works.

Ordering from Verkhovyna without travelling

Document translation is done from photos, so there is no need to take the old original anywhere. If the original is needed for certification, it can be sent by Nova Poshta, and your manager will explain how.

Write to us on Viber, Telegram or WhatsApp, or send an email to info@admiral.com.ua. Your manager will send a payment link, and you can pay by card from any bank. The translation file comes back to the chat or inbox you wrote from. Paper documents with stamps, including duplicates we have obtained, travel by Nova Poshta, abroad as well.

The office next to Oranta and the nearest offices

The Verkhovyna office is next to the Oranta insurance company. You will find the opening hours and the Directions button for Google Maps in the office card. A neighbouring town may be easier to reach from Verkhovyna. The nearest other Admiral offices are in Kosiv, about 26 km away, and Vyzhnytsia, about 28 km away. There are also offices in Kolomyia and Rakhiv.

Prices and timing

A standard document costs from UAH 250 to translate. For an old or handwritten document, your manager also quotes the exact price from the photo, before you pay. You can estimate the amount on the Pricing page. For a certificate, passport or diploma, allow about 1 working day. When you need it faster, we work urgently, and depending on the language and volume this takes from a few hours to 1–2 working days. An apostille adds the time the ministry needs.