Kurdish Document Translation for UK Visa Applications
A guide for Kurdish speakers from Iraq, Turkey, Syria, and Iran: how to translate Kurdish documents for UK visa applications in 2026.
Do Kurdish Speakers Need Document Translation for UK Visas?
Yes. If your UK visa documents have Kurdish text on them — in Arabic script (Sorani) or Latin script (Kurmanji) — the UK Home Office needs certified English translations. This covers every document that is not in English. It applies to Kurdish applicants from Iraq, Turkey, Syria, and Iran alike.
Kurdish documents are tricky. They can come from four countries, in two main dialects, written in two very different scripts. So your first step is to work out which dialect and script your document uses. That is how you get an accurate translation that meets UKVI rules.
UKVI Requirement for Kurdish Documents
UK Visas and Immigration needs certified English translations for every document that is not in English or Welsh. This covers Kurdish documents in any dialect or script. Machine translations are not accepted. Your certified translation must come with a signed statement from the translator. The statement confirms they are qualified and that the translation is accurate.
Kurdish Translation Pricing
All Kurdish documents cost £17.99 per page for certified translation. That covers both Sorani (Arabic script) and Kurmanji (Latin script). Documents from the KRG region of Iraq often have both Arabic and Kurdish text, so they may need a specialist to check them. You get an instant quote before you pay.
Sorani vs Kurmanji: The Two Main Kurdish Dialects
Kurdish is not one single standard language. For UK visa translation, the two you need to know are Sorani and Kurmanji. They use different scripts and different words. They are also used in different countries.
Sorani Kurdish (کوردیی ناوەندی)
- Script: Arabic-based (right to left, 33-letter alphabet)
- Primary region: Iraqi Kurdistan (KRG) and parts of Iran
- Official status: Co-official language in Iraq alongside Arabic
- Document use: KRG government documents, civil registry, courts
- Challenge: there is no single spelling standard, so names are often spelled in different ways
- Price: £17.99 per page
Kurmanji Kurdish (Kurmancî)
- Script: Latin-based (since the 1930s)
- Primary region: Turkey, Syria, parts of Iraq and Iran
- Official status: No official status in Turkey; recognised in Syria
- Document use: rare in official Turkish documents, more common in unofficial ones
- Challenge: official Turkish documents are in Turkish, not Kurmanji. Kurdish is used informally
- Price: £17.99 per page (Latin script)
Common Kurdish Documents Requiring Translation
Your home country decides which documents you need. For a UK visa application, these are the most common:
Birth Certificates
These include KRG birth certificates in Sorani Kurdish (Arabic script), Iraqi Arabic birth certificates from civil registry offices, and the Turkish Nüfus Cüzdanı for Kurdish-Turkish nationals.
Marriage Certificates
These include KRG civil marriage certificates, Iraqi court marriage records, religious nikah documents in Arabic, and Syrian civil registry marriage certificates.
Bank Statements
These are statements from Iraqi banks, including banks in the KRG region. They may be in Arabic, in Sorani Kurdish, or in both languages.
Police Clearance Certificates
These are good conduct certificates from the Iraqi federal police, KRG security authorities, the Turkish National Police, and Syrian authorities where you can get them.
Divorce Decrees
These are divorce orders from Iraqi courts, federal or KRG. Some divorces are religious talaq records. You need them for a spouse visa if you have remarried.
Death Certificates
You need these for ancestry visa applications and to prove a death in the family. KRG and Iraqi federal death certificates come in Arabic, Sorani Kurdish, or both.
Country-Specific Document Considerations
Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in northern Iraq covers the Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, and Duhok governorates. It issues official documents in both Sorani Kurdish and Arabic. So your KRG document may be in two languages, with Kurdish text leading in some sections.
Iraqi documents are authenticated through Iraq's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Iraq has not signed the Hague Apostille Convention, so legalisation is more complex there. But for a UK visa, you usually only need a certified translation of the official document — not full legalisation. Check the rules for your own visa type.
Turkey: Official Documents Are in Turkish, Not Kurdish
Kurdish is not an official language in Turkey, and Turkish government documents do not use it. So if you are a Kurdish-Turkish national, your birth certificate (Doğum Belgesi), marriage certificate, and other civil registry papers will be in Turkish, not Kurmanji Kurdish. For a UK visa, you need a certified Turkish-to-English translation. See our Turkish birth certificate translation guide for more details.
Syria: Documents Vary by Era and Region
The Syrian civil registry issues official documents in Arabic. Syrian government documents do not use Kurdish, although unofficial community records may be in Kurdish. Documents issued since 2011 may also be incomplete, or hard to get, because of the conflict. If you have Syrian civil registry documents from before the conflict, they will be in Arabic and need a certified Arabic-to-English translation. For Kurdish-administered areas in north-east Syria (AANES), what you can get and how it looks both vary.
Iran: Kurdish Speakers with Persian Documents
In Iran, official documents come in Persian (Farsi), not Kurdish. That is true for Kurdish speakers from Kurdistan, Kermanshah, and the other provinces. Your Shenasnameh and other civil documents will be in Persian, whatever your mother tongue is. See our Persian/Farsi document translation guide for full details on Iranian documents.
Translation Challenges for Kurdish Documents
Lack of Spelling Standardisation
Kurdish has no spelling standard that everyone follows. The same name can be spelled differently on documents from different offices or different years. Expert translators handle these differences carefully.
Bilingual Iraqi Documents
KRG documents often have both Sorani Kurdish and Arabic text. The translator must put both sections into English accurately. They must also note which language each section was in.
Dialect-Specific Vocabulary
Official and legal words are very different in Sorani and Kurmanji. A translator who only knows one dialect cannot be trusted with the other.
Conflict-Era Documents
Documents from conflict areas in Iraq and Syria may be damaged or incomplete. Some were made in unusual conditions. Translators note any missing or unclear parts in the certification statement.
Step-by-Step Process for Kurdish Document Translation
Identify Your Document's Language and Origin
Before uploading, identify whether your document is:
- In Sorani Kurdish (Arabic script, right to left — typically from Iraq/KRG)
- In Arabic (from Iraqi federal authorities or Syrian civil registry)
- In Turkish (if you are a Turkish national of Kurdish origin)
- In Persian (if you are from Iranian Kurdistan)
- Bilingual (KRG documents often contain both Kurdish and Arabic)
Obtain Official Copies
For KRG documents, get certified copies from the KRG civil registry office or the Iraqi General Directorate for Civil Status. For other countries, follow that country's normal process. UKVI expects original official documents. Handwritten copies and unofficial copies are not accepted.
Scan All Pages at High Resolution
Sorani Kurdish in Arabic script needs very clear scans, at 300 DPI or better, because the letters join up. Make sure every stamp, seal, and handwritten note is easy to read. For two-language documents, scan every page — including blank pages that carry registration marks.
Upload and Receive Instant Quote
Upload your Kurdish document for an instant quote. Our system spots Sorani (Arabic script) and Kurmanji (Latin script). Both cost £17.99 per page. Two-language documents are also £17.99 per page.
Expert Translation and Certification
Your document is assigned to a specialist Kurdish-English translator who:
- Handles the specific dialect (Sorani or Kurmanji) accurately
- Translates all Arabic and Kurdish text in bilingual documents
- Notes any unclear sections or name spelling variations
- Gives you a signed certification statement that meets UKVI rules
Pricing for Kurdish Document Translation
| Document Type | Script / Origin | Cost per Page |
|---|---|---|
| KRG Birth Certificate | Sorani / Arabic script | £17.99 |
| Iraqi Civil Registry Documents | Arabic / Bilingual | £17.99 |
| KRG Marriage Certificate | Sorani / Arabic script | £17.99 |
| Turkish Civil Registry Documents | Turkish / Latin script | £17.99 |
| Kurmanji Kurdish Documents (Latin script) | Kurmanji / Latin | £17.99 |
| KRG Police Certificate | Sorani / Arabic script | £17.99 |
* All Kurdish documents are £17.99/page regardless of script (Sorani Arabic script or Kurmanji Latin script).
Frequently Asked Questions — Kurdish Translation
My document is from the KRG region and is partly in Kurdish and partly in Arabic — which price applies?
All Kurdish documents are £17.99 per page, whatever the script. KRG documents in two languages are common, and they need a translator who knows both. We translate the whole document, both language sections. The page count is simply the total number of pages.
I am from Turkey and Kurdish — will my official documents be in Kurdish?
No. Turkish government documents come in Turkish, not Kurdish. That includes birth certificates, marriage certificates, and ID documents. So you need Turkish-to-English translation, not Kurdish-to-English. Turkish state documents do not use Kurdish. But if you also have unofficial community records in Kurdish, such as a religious marriage certificate, those need translating too.
My Iraqi documents are in Arabic, not Kurdish — do you still handle them?
Yes. Many Kurds from Iraq hold documents in Arabic from the federal Iraqi authorities, not in KRG Kurdish. We translate these from Arabic to English at £17.99 per page. See our Arabic document translation guide for more on Iraqi Arabic documents.
Can you translate documents with inconsistent name spellings across Kurdish and Arabic sections?
Yes. This is a common problem with KRG documents in two languages. Our translators note where the name spellings differ between the sections. They also show which spelling appears in which part of the document. If you send us your passport, we check the name against that too.
Do I need apostille for my Iraqi/KRG documents?
Iraq is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. For a UK visa, UKVI does not usually ask for an apostille from Iraq. The original official document plus a certified translation is normally enough. But some visa types or sponsors may ask for extra authentication. Check the guidance for your visa on the UKVI website.
What if I cannot obtain documents from Syria due to the conflict?
UKVI has published guidance for people who cannot get documents from countries hit by conflict or unrest. If you cannot get them, you may be asked for a statutory declaration or other evidence instead. If you do have documents, even damaged or incomplete ones, we can translate them and note the gaps in the certification. Contact UKVI or an immigration adviser about your own situation.
Kurdish Document Translation Checklist
- Identify whether your document is in Sorani Kurdish, Arabic, Turkish, Persian, or bilingual
- Get official copies from the right civil registry (KRG, Iraqi federal, or another authority)
- Scan all pages at 300 DPI or better — Sorani Arabic script needs to be very clear
- Upload for instant quote: Sorani/Arabic script at £17.99/page, Latin script at £17.99/page
- Check that both language sections of two-language documents are translated
- Receive UKVI-certified translation via email within 24 hours
- Send the certified translation with the original document in your UK visa application
Ready to Translate Your Kurdish Documents?
Get expert UKVI-certified Kurdish translation in 24 hours. Upload your documents for instant pricing. We cover both Sorani and Kurmanji.
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