Egyptian Document Translation for UK Visa: Complete Guide
A full guide for Egyptian applicants. It covers civil registry documents, national IDs, marriage contracts, and education certificates for UK Skilled Worker, Spouse, Student, and Standard Visitor visa applications.
More than 100,000 Egyptians live in the UK. Thousands more arrive each year on Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, Student, Global Talent, and Spouse visa routes. Egyptian official documents are issued in Arabic. They mix printed text, handwritten entries, and official stamps. UKVI needs a certified English translation of every Arabic part of the document. That includes the margins, the handwritten notes, and the stamps.
Egyptian Documentation Conventions
Egyptian documents often use Arabic-Indic numerals (٠١٢٣٤٥٦٧٨٩) as well as Western-Arabic numerals. Dates may appear in the Hijri (Islamic) calendar next to the Gregorian calendar, especially on older documents. A certified UKVI-compliant translation must convert both number systems and both calendar dates. It must show them in English so a UKVI caseworker can check them against your other documents, such as your passport biographic page, which uses Gregorian dates.
Common Egyptian Documents for UK Applications
| Arabic Name | English Equivalent | Issuing Authority |
|---|---|---|
| شهادة ميلاد (Shahadat Milad) | Birth Certificate | Civil Status Department |
| عقد زواج (Aqd Zawaj) | Marriage Contract | Ma'zoon / Civil Status |
| إشهاد طلاق (Ish'had Talaq) | Divorce Certificate | Religious/Civil Court |
| بطاقة الرقم القومي (Bitaqat al-Raqm al-Qawmi) | National ID Card | Civil Status Department |
| بطاقة العائلة (Bitaqat al-'A'ila) | Family Card | Civil Status Department |
| جواز سفر (Jawaz Safar) | Passport | Ministry of Interior |
| شهادة الثانوية العامة (Shahadat al-Thanawiya) | General Secondary Certificate | Ministry of Education |
| شهادة جامعية (Shahada Jami'iya) | University Degree | Egyptian universities |
| فيش وتشبيه (Fish wa Tashbeeh) | Criminal Record Certificate | Ministry of Interior |
| نموذج ٦ جند (Namoozag Sitta Gond) | Military Service Status | Military Recruitment |
Computerised Egyptian Birth Certificate (Mumaykana)
Egypt moved to a central computerised civil registry in the mid-2000s. There are now two main birth certificate formats:
Computerised (مميكن)
- Printed from national database
- Standardised layout
- Barcode for verification
- Preferred by UKVI
Handwritten Pre-2006
- Handwritten in Arabic
- Variable layout by district
- Still accepted by UKVI
- Request modern reissue if possible
UKVI accepts either format. But ask for a modern computerised copy if you can. It is simpler to translate, and the caseworker can check it faster.
Egyptian Marriage Contract (Aqd Zawaj)
For Spouse and Fiancé visas, the Egyptian marriage contract is the main document. Egyptian marriages are usually:
- Conducted by a ma'zoon (authorised marriage official) and registered with the Civil Status Department.
- Accompanied by a Ma'zoun's contract certificate that sets out the dowry, the witnesses, and the terms.
- Required to be registered before the UK will accept them. A religious-only marriage with no civil registration may not meet UKVI spouse visa rules.
What a Complete Marriage Contract Translation Includes
- Names of both spouses (matching passport transliteration)
- Dowry (mahr) amount, both prompt (mu'ajjal) and deferred (mu'akhkhar)
- Witnesses and their capacities
- Any special conditions or stipulations
- Ma'zoon registration number and district
- All stamps and signatures described
Egyptian Apostille and Legalisation
Egypt is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention. If a document must be legalised for use in the UK, you follow three steps:
Authentication by Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
In Cairo, at the Dokki office, or at regional MoFA offices.
Legalisation by the British Embassy in Cairo
Or by the FCDO in the UK if doing remote legalisation.
Certified translation into English
Do this after authentication, so the translator can include every authentication stamp.
For most UK visa applications you do not need full legalisation. A certified translation on its own is enough. You mainly need legalisation for UK marriage registration, court cases, and some professional registrations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Egyptian national ID card enough, or do I need my passport?
UKVI needs a valid passport for every visa application. The national ID card is extra support. It helps confirm your identity, but it cannot replace the passport.
How are Arabic names transliterated to English?
The spelling in Latin script must match your Egyptian passport's biographic page. If the passport and the translation spell your name differently, UKVI caseworkers often raise a query.
Do I need to translate stamps and seals on my documents?
Yes. The translator must write out or describe every Arabic part of the document. That includes round stamps, signatures, and raised seals. UKVI caseworkers look for these.
My document was issued in Alexandria but I live in Cairo. Which authority do I use for translation?
The issuing city does not matter for translation. UK-based certified translators can handle Egyptian documents from anywhere in Egypt. The translation must always keep the issuing city and district.
How much does Egyptian translation cost?
Usually £17.99–£23.99 per page. A shahadat milad and a national ID are 1 page each. Marriage contracts are 1–2 pages. Full academic records can be 4–10 pages.
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