Persian/Farsi Document Translation for UK Visa Applications
Essential guide for Iranian, Afghan, and Tajik citizens: How to translate Persian and Dari documents for UK visa applications in 2026.
Do Persian/Farsi Speakers Need Document Translation for UK Visas?
Yes. The UK Home Office requires certified English translations of every document that is not in English. That covers documents written in Persian (فارسی), Dari (دری) or Tajik. It applies to citizens of Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan, and to Persian-speaking communities in other countries.
Persian and Dari use the same right-to-left script (Perso-Arabic). But their vocabulary, grammar and document wording differ. UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) caseworkers are unlikely to tell them apart. So you need an accurate translation from a qualified specialist to avoid rejection.
UKVI Requirement for Persian Documents
UK Visas and Immigration requires every document that is not in English or Welsh to come with a certified translation. Your Persian translation must carry official certification from a qualified translator. That certification confirms the work is accurate and complete. Machine translations (Google Translate, DeepL) and uncertified translations are NOT accepted, and your application will be rejected.
Persian Translation Pricing
Persian and Dari certified translation is £17.99 per page. Expert Persian-English translators handle the Perso-Arabic script and the right-to-left text direction. They also know the specialist terms used in Iranian and Afghan official documents, and how both civil registry systems work.
Farsi vs Dari: Understanding the Distinction for UK Visa Purposes
Persian is known as Farsi (فارسی) in Iran, Dari (دری) in Afghanistan, and Tajik (written in Cyrillic in Tajikistan) in Central Asia. For UK visa purposes, the key differences are:
Iranian Farsi
- Right-to-left Perso-Arabic script
- Solar Hijri (Shamsi) calendar dates
- Unique document formats issued by Iran's Civil Registration Organisation
- Documents may require apostille from Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Afghan Dari
- Same Perso-Arabic script as Farsi
- Afghan Solar or Lunar Hijri dates depending on era of issuance
- Documents from Afghan Civil Registration Authority (ACRA)
- Documents issued before 2001 and after 2001 look very different
Tajik Persian
- Written in Cyrillic script (not Perso-Arabic)
- Gregorian calendar dates standard
- Soviet-era documents and post-independence documents use different formats
- Apostille available through Tajikistan's Ministry of Justice
Common Persian Documents Requiring Translation
Iranian, Afghan, and Tajik citizens typically need these documents translated for UK visa applications:
Birth Certificate / Shenasnameh (شناسنامه)
The Shenasnameh is Iran's own identity booklet. It is a multi-page family register, so it must be translated page by page. You need it for every UK visa type.
Marriage Certificate (سند ازدواج)
Iranian marriage deeds (aqd-nameh) and Afghan nikah certificates. Required for spouse and family visas. Often include religious and civil registration components.
Bank Statements (صورتحساب بانکی)
Financial statements from Iranian and Afghan banks. Solar Hijri dates must be converted to Gregorian calendar for UK visa officers.
Divorce Certificate (گواهی طلاق)
Iranian court divorce orders and Afghan talaq documents. Required when applying for a spouse visa after remarriage.
Police Clearance Certificate (گواهی عدم سوء پیشینه)
Good conduct certificates from Iranian and Afghan police authorities. Required for settlement (ILR) applications.
Death Certificate (گواهی فوت)
Required for ancestry visa applications, bereavement leave, and estate matters for Iranian and Afghan nationals in the UK.
The Iranian Shenasnameh: A Special Case
The Shenasnameh (شناسنامه) is Iran's national identity document. It is not a single-page birth certificate. It is a small booklet that records the whole family unit. The Civil Registration Organisation of Iran (سازمان ثبت احوال کشور) issues it. It contains:
- Personal details: Full name, father's name, mother's name, date and place of birth (in Solar Hijri calendar)
- Marriage record: Spouse's details entered upon marriage (page 2 or 3)
- Children's records: Names and birthdates of children recorded within the booklet
- Official stamps and seals: Civil registry office stamps that must all be translated and described
UKVI may ask for every relevant page of the Shenasnameh to be translated. So upload all the pages clearly when you order your translation.
Country-Specific Document Considerations
Iran: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Apostille
Iran is not a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention. Instead, Iranian documents must be authenticated through Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (وزارت امور خارجه). They may then need to go through the UK embassy or consulate. For a UK visa you usually need the officially issued document (not a photocopy) plus a certified translation. The UK Home Office does not always require an apostille, but some visa categories may ask for legalisation — check your own visa guidance.
Afghanistan: Documents in Conflict-Affected Areas
Afghan documents are often hard to work with. Record-keeping has varied a lot between provinces and between political periods. Documents issued before 2001, between 2001 and 2021, and after 2021 may look very different. The Afghan Civil Registration Authority (ACRA) issues birth certificates. But many Afghans rely on the tazkera (تذکره), a national identity card, as their main identity document. Our translators know all Afghan document formats, including the Pashto sections that may appear alongside Dari.
Tajikistan: Cyrillic Persian Documents
Tajik is a variety of Persian, but it is written in a Cyrillic-based script. Documents issued since independence in 1991 use Cyrillic. Older Soviet-era documents may be in Russian. Tajikistan joined the Hague Convention in 2015, so the Ministry of Justice can apostille documents. Our translators handle both Cyrillic Tajik and Perso-Arabic Farsi/Dari.
Translation Challenges for Persian Documents
Solar Hijri Date Conversion
Iranian documents use the Solar Hijri (Shamsi) calendar. For example, 1370/5/15 in Shamsi corresponds to 6 August 1991 in Gregorian. All dates must be accurately converted in the certified translation.
Right-to-Left Script Accuracy
Perso-Arabic script runs right to left, and the letters join up. Similar letters (such as ر/ز or و/ر) are easy to misread. That leads to wrong names and dates, which UKVI caseworkers will flag.
Transliteration Consistency
Persian names can be transliterated in multiple ways (e.g., Mohammad / Muhammad / Mohammed). Our translators match the spelling on your passport to maintain consistency across all documents.
Official Stamps and Seals
Iranian and Afghan official documents carry detailed stamps from civil registries, ministries and courts. Each stamp must be translated and described in full. UKVI wants every element on the page translated.
Step-by-Step Process for Persian Document Translation
Gather Your Persian Documents
Collect the required documents from Iranian, Afghan, or Tajik authorities:
- Shenasnameh (all relevant pages) for Iranian nationals
- Tazkera or birth certificate for Afghan nationals
- Marriage deed (aqd-nameh or nikah certificate)
- Bank statements and financial documents
- Court orders, police clearances, and official correspondence
Scan All Document Pages Clearly
Persian script needs a high-resolution scan to stay readable. Scan at 300 DPI or more. Include every page, especially for the Shenasnameh booklet. Make sure stamps and handwritten entries are clearly visible. Upload as a PDF for the best results.
Upload for Instant Pricing
Upload your documents to our translation service. We detect Persian/Dari automatically and price it at £17.99 per page. You get an instant quote before you pay.
Expert Translation with Solar Hijri Conversion
Your documents are handled by specialist Persian-English translators who:
- Convert all Solar Hijri dates to Gregorian calendar equivalents
- Accurately transliterate names using passport-consistent spelling
- Translate all official stamps, seals, and marginalia
- Note untranslatable elements with clear descriptions
Receive UKVI-Certified Translation
Your certified translation arrives by email as a UKVI-compliant PDF within 24 hours. The certification statement confirms the translator's qualifications and the accuracy of the translation. It also confirms they have no personal interest in the outcome. That meets every UKVI requirement.
Pricing for Persian Document Translation
| Document Type | Typical Pages | Premium Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Shenasnameh / Birth Certificate (شناسنامه) | 2-6 pages | £35.98–£107.94 |
| Marriage Certificate (سند ازدواج) | 1-3 pages | £17.99–£53.97 |
| Bank Statement (صورتحساب بانکی) | 3-6 pages | £53.97–£107.94 |
| Police Certificate (گواهی عدم سوء پیشینه) | 1-2 pages | £17.99–£35.98 |
| Divorce Certificate (گواهی طلاق) | 1-3 pages | £17.99–£53.97 |
| Tazkera / Afghan ID Document (تذکره) | 1-2 pages | £17.99–£35.98 |
* The premium price covers the specialist skills needed: Perso-Arabic script, Solar Hijri date conversion, and knowledge of Iranian and Afghan civil registry documents.
Frequently Asked Questions — Persian Translation
What is the difference between Farsi and Dari for translation purposes?
Farsi and Dari use the same script and have similar grammar. But their vocabulary and pronunciation differ. The wording on official documents differs too. Our translators are trained on both. They know the official language used by Iran's Civil Registration Organisation and by Afghanistan's civil registration authorities.
Do I need to apostille my Iranian documents before translation?
Iran is not part of the Hague Apostille Convention. For most UK visa applications, UKVI does not require an apostille or legalisation. You simply need the original official document plus a certified translation. Some visa categories or sponsors do ask for legalised documents, so check your application checklist carefully. We can translate your documents whether or not they have been through the MFA process.
I only have a photocopy of my Shenasnameh — can you still translate it?
Yes, we can translate from a photocopy. But UKVI may question a translation certified from a photocopy rather than an original. If you can, get a fresh certified copy from Iran's Civil Registration Organisation before you apply. If the original is impossible to get — for example, for displaced Afghans — we will note this in the certification statement.
My Afghan documents are partly in Pashto — can you translate those too?
Yes. Many Afghan official documents have sections in both Dari and Pashto. Our service covers Pashto too. Just tell us when you upload that your document has Pashto sections. We will then assign a translator who works in both languages.
How are Solar Hijri dates handled in the translation?
We convert every Solar Hijri date in the document to its Gregorian equivalent and show it clearly (e.g., "12 Mordad 1370 [Solar Hijri] = 3 August 1991 [Gregorian]"). This is standard practice for Iranian documents sent to UKVI, and it stops caseworkers getting confused.
How quickly can I get a Persian document translated?
Standard turnaround is within 24 hours of payment. For urgent applications, contact us directly. Persian documents are complex and the dates must be converted, but our specialist translators still work fast to keep your visa application on schedule.
Persian Document Translation Checklist
- Obtain official copies of all required documents from Iranian or Afghan civil registries
- For Shenasnameh: scan all pages including covers and any stamped entries
- Ensure scans are at 300 DPI minimum — Persian script requires high clarity
- Upload to translation service — Persian/Dari automatically detected at £17.99/page
- Confirm that Solar Hijri dates are correctly converted in the completed translation
- Receive UKVI-certified translation via email within 24 hours
- Print translation and submit alongside original document with UK visa application
Ready to Translate Your Persian Documents?
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