ATIM or Regular Certified Translation: Which One Do You Need?
Most documents in Manitoba are accepted with a regular certified translation at $59. ATIM certification starts at $99 and is worth ordering only when the receiving body asks for a translator certified by the association.
What it costs
Ordering association certification when you do not need it costs more per page and adds days. Ordering regular when the body wanted ATIM means doing the job twice. This is the whole decision.
Regular certified translation
- Accepted by immigration, schools and colleges, employers, insurers and licensing offices
- Our certificate of accuracy, translator's signature, copy of the original attached
- Most orders in 1-2 business days
- The default for birth, marriage and police certificates and driver licences
ATIM certified translation
- Seal, signature and number of a certified member of the association
- Asked for by MPNP, Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba, CPSM, CPA Manitoba, NDEB and PEBC
- Takes 2-4 days longer than a regular certified order
Notarized translation
- Sworn declaration before a commissioner attached to the translation
- For consulates and institutions outside Canada
- Takes 2-4 days longer than a regular certified order
Prices do not include tax (5%). Passport stamp $7 each. Hard copy and certified PDF together $15. Xpresspost $30. The exact price is confirmed after we see your files, and you pay only after you approve it.
What an ATIM certified translation contains
The difference is who signs it and what they attach. Everything below is in the association package.
- Full translation of the document, including stamps, seals and handwritten notes
- The seal of a translator certified by the Association of Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters of Manitoba
- The translator's signature and certification number
- A copy of the original attached to the translation
- Accepted without a separate notarization by most federal and provincial bodies
- Certified PDF by email and a hard copy by Canada Post
How to order
Find the instruction
Look at the letter or web page from the institution. If the words "ATIM" or "certified translator" appear, that is the association route.
Upload the documents
Use the order form and attach the instruction if you have it.
We confirm the type and price
If association certification is not needed, we say so and quote the cheaper regular route.
Get the translation
Certified PDF when ready, hard copy by Canada Post, Xpresspost when the date is tight.
Who usually asks for ATIM
This list comes from the requests we see. It is not a rule: always follow the instruction you were given.
| Service | First page | Extra page |
|---|---|---|
| Regular certified | $59 | $30 (two pages $99) |
| ATIM certified | $99 | $69 |
| Notarized | $99 | $69 |
| Passport stamp | $7 each | |
| Xpresspost delivery | $30 |
Prices do not include tax. The exact total is confirmed after we see your files.
Where people overpay or lose time
Four patterns we see every month.
- Ordering association certification just in caseIt costs more and takes 2-4 days longer. If nobody asked for it in writing, regular certified is normally what gets accepted.
- Reading "certified translation" as "ATIM"Most instructions that say certified mean a signed certified translation, which is our regular service.
- Confusing certification with notarizationThey are different routes. An association translation usually does not need a notary on top; a notarized translation is for institutions outside Canada.
- Sending the file after the deadline is setAssociation orders take longer. If you have a date, tell us in the form and we will say honestly whether it fits.
Questions we get
What is ATIM?
The Association of Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters of Manitoba. Members who have passed its certification process may use the association's seal and call themselves certified translators.
Do I need it for immigration documents?
Normally no. Immigration paperwork is usually accepted with a regular certified translation, which is $59 for a one-page document.
How much does it cost?
From $99 for the first page and $69 for each additional page, before tax. The exact price is confirmed before you pay.
How long does it take?
Plan for 2-4 business days longer than a regular certified translation, because it depends on the availability of a certified member for your language pair.
Does it need to be notarized as well?
Usually not. A translation carrying a certified translator's seal is accepted by most federal and provincial bodies without a separate notarization.
What if I order the wrong type?
You will not order blind: we review your files and the instruction first, and we tell you which certification your case actually needs before any payment.
Send your documents and get a price
Upload the document and the instruction you were given. We name the certification, the price and the turnaround before you pay anything.