Bank statement translation and notarization

The bank statement is the document by which a consulate or immigration service judges your financial means: whether you have enough funds for the trip, the studies or the stay, whether your income is regular and whether it matches the salary stated in the employment certificate. It is the one personal document that contains dozens or hundreds of figures, and for the foreign official each of them is an amount that has to match the other documents. One misplaced decimal, a wrongly copied currency code or a skipped line raises suspicion not about the translation but about your finances. Our bureau in Tbilisi, on Davit Aghmashenebeli Avenue, translates bank documents with financial translation specialists and a numerical check by the editor, and notarizes a short statement the same day.

Which bank documents are translated

• Account statement. The list of transactions for a period: income, expenditure, the balance after each transaction. The main document for a visa.
• Account balance certificate. A one-page certificate on the bank's letterhead with the current balance of all accounts and currencies; often requested together with the statement.
• Deposit agreement and certificate. For student and investor visas, where the funds have to be "frozen".
• Turnover certificate. For entrepreneurs and the self-employed to confirm the regularity of income.
• Loan certificate and certificate of no outstanding debt. In mortgage and residence cases, for the picture of financial obligations.
• A sponsor's statement. When the costs are covered by a parent, spouse or relative; translated together with the sponsor's letter and the birth or marriage certificate proving kinship.

What different consulates require

The requirements differ by country and type of visa, and that is exactly what has to be clarified before translating, so that you do not miss a necessary month. For a Schengen tourist visa a statement for the last 3-6 months and a balance certificate are usually needed, and the amount is calculated by the days of stay. The United Kingdom requires the necessary sum to have been in the account continuously for at least 28 days, and the statement to be no older than 31 days at the time of application. For a US visa the statement is a supporting document at the interview and requires an explanation of the origin of the funds. Student visas (Germany, France, Italy, Poland) require a sum proving a year's living costs, often in a blocked account or a deposit. Residence permits, especially investor and retiree visas (Portugal, Spain, Greece), require a 6-12 month statement and proof of passive income. We know which consulate needs which format and agree the period and composition of the statement in advance.

What we pay attention to when translating

Figures and currency

The Georgian format "1 250,50" becomes "1,250.50" in English and "1.250,50" in German; one wrong separator changes the amount a thousandfold. Currency codes (GEL, USD, EUR) stay unchanged and lari is not converted into euros or dollars in the translation: conversion is the consulate's job, and a rate added by the translator alters the document. The closing balance and the period totals of income and expenditure are compared with the original separately by the editor, and on a multi-page statement we also check the page totals so that the balance "carried forward" matches on every page.

Transaction descriptions

"Salary credit", "utility payment", "ATM withdrawal", "conversion", "fee" and the names of counterparties are translated so that the official sees the source of income and the nature of the expenses at a glance. Company names are transliterated, while the payment purpose text is translated; it is the match between the "salary" lines and the employment certificate that is the consulate's main check.

Format and details

The table keeps the structure of the original, with the column order unchanged; the bank's logo, letterhead, seal, signature and the QR code of the electronic certification are described. The account number (IBAN), the account holder's name according to the Latin entry of the passport, the bank's name and the SWIFT code are carried over unchanged. If the statement is printed from online banking without a seal, we warn you in advance that most consulates accept only a version certified by the bank.

Certification and apostille

For English-speaking consulates (the United Kingdom, the USA, Canada, Australia, Ireland) a translator-certified translation on the bureau's letterhead is usually enough; the English-language statements of Georgian banks are often accepted too, if certified with the bank's seal. For other languages and in residence cases notarization is needed: the notary certifies the translator's signature and binds the translation to a copy of the statement, stating the number of sheets. An apostille is not needed for a visa; for inheritance, investor residence, court and some banking KYC procedures sometimes yes. Since a statement is a private document, a notarized copy of it is prepared first, the Ministry of Justice places the apostille on that, and only then is the copy translated together with the apostille. The general rules are described on the personal documents page.

Typical packages

• Schengen tourist visa. A 3-6 month statement, a balance certificate, an employment certificate with the salary: one translator checks that the salary lines and the amount in the certificate match.
• Student visa for Germany or France. The parent's statement, the sponsor's letter, the birth certificate and the certificate of address with one transliteration.
• UK visa. A statement proving a continuous 28-day balance, in English, with a certified translation and an explanation of the origin of the funds.
• Investor or retirement residence. A 12-month statement, the deposit agreement, the Revenue Service certificate, notarized and, where needed, with an apostille.
• Inheritance. The statements of the deceased's accounts together with the death certificate for a foreign notary.

Mistakes that lead to a visa refusal

• A large deposit a few days before the application without an explanation. The translation cannot "hide" it; a document proving the source is needed.
• The salary in the statement and in the certificate do not match. We check both together and warn you about a discrepancy in advance.
• A statement without the bank's seal. A PDF printed from online banking is not accepted at many consulates.
• The wrong period. Two months where three are needed, or a statement that ends weeks before the application date.
• Currency conversion in the translation. "Converting" lari into euros makes the translation inaccurate and invalidates the document.
• A skipped page. The balance carried forward no longer matches and the official thinks of hidden transactions.

Turnaround

A balance certificate or a one-page statement with notarization is ready within one working day, delivered in the morning the same day; a multi-page statement usually within 1-2 days. A scanned version with the bureau's certification is faster than a notarized one. We prepare the visa package (the statement, the balance certificate, the employment certificate, the family members' certificates) in one visit. Delivery as a PDF, by email or at the office; collection at the office, by courier or electronically. All financial documents are handled confidentially and deleted on your instruction after the project is complete.

Frequently asked questions