Certified Gambian Document Translation Service

We translate all types of Gambian official documents including birth certificates from the General Register Office, marriage certificates (civil and Islamic Nikah formats), death certificates, WAEC/WASSCE certificates, university transcripts and degree certificates from the University of The Gambia, police clearance certificates from the Gambia Police Force, Gambian National Identity Cards, Gambia Revenue Authority tax clearance certificates, affidavits and sworn declarations, company registration certificates from the Registrar General's Office, Gambia Immigration Department travel documents and residency permits, and court documents including Cadi Court records.

Yes. Every DoVisa translation includes a signed certification statement attesting to the accuracy and completeness of the translation. Our certified translations of Gambian documents are accepted by USCIS (United States), UK Visas and Immigration, IRCC (Canada), the Australian Department of Home Affairs, and credential evaluation agencies such as WES and ECE. Foreign embassies in Banjul — including the US Embassy, British High Commission, and European Union Delegation — also accept our certified translations. The Gambia does not have a statutory sworn translator system, so our certified translation standard meets international requirements.

Standard delivery is 4-6 business days for most Gambian document types. Single-page vital records such as birth certificates often complete in 3-4 business days. Express 2-3 day service and rush 24-hour service are available for select document types. Less common language pairs may require additional time. If you also need notarization and authentication through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the consular legalization chain, add 10-20 business days for the complete process. We recommend starting at least four weeks before any visa or immigration deadline.

We translate Gambian documents into over 100 languages. The most commonly requested are translations from English into French (for Senegal and Francophone Africa or Europe), German, Arabic (for Gulf state applications), Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese. We also translate foreign-language documents into English for use in The Gambia. For documents involving Gambian community languages — including Mandinka, Wolof, and Fula, sometimes found in Cadi Court records, community agreements, or religious certificates — we maintain qualified linguists.

Yes. Our certified translations are accepted by all major foreign embassies and high commissions in Banjul, including the US Embassy, British High Commission, Senegalese Embassy, and European Union Delegation. For documents submitted as part of visa applications, our translations meet the formatting and certification standards required by each embassy. Note that not all destination countries maintain embassies in Banjul — for those countries, legalization may need to be completed at the relevant embassy in Senegal or another neighboring country. DoVisa can advise on the correct embassy for your destination.

It depends on the purpose and destination. A certified translation alone is sufficient for most immigration applications to the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. However, if your translated document will be used in a country that requires the consular legalization chain, notarization by a Gambian Notary Public or Commissioner for Oaths is the first step before authentication at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. DoVisa advises on whether notarization is needed based on your specific destination and purpose, and coordinates the process when required.

No. The Gambia is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so Gambian documents cannot receive an apostille. Instead, documents intended for international use must undergo full consular legalization: (1) notarization by a Gambian Notary Public or Commissioner for Oaths, (2) authentication at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad in Banjul, and (3) legalization at the destination country's embassy or consulate. DoVisa manages the entire chain on your behalf. This process typically takes 10-20 business days depending on the destination embassy's processing speed.

DoVisa's Gambia translation pricing follows a per-page structure with volume discounts that apply automatically for larger orders. Pricing varies based on language pair, document complexity, and processing speed. Express and rush service options are available at additional cost for time-sensitive projects. Notarization and Ministry of Foreign Affairs authentication for the consular legalization chain are quoted separately based on the number of documents and destination requirements. Upload your documents on our order page to receive an instant detailed quote with no hidden fees.

Yes. Some Gambian documents — particularly older birth certificates, Cadi Court records, community land documents, and customary agreements — contain handwritten entries. Our translators are experienced with Gambian handwriting conventions and administrative form formats. If any section of a document is illegible, we clearly mark it as [illegible] in the translation and note it in the translator's certification. If a scan is too unclear to translate reliably, we contact you within 2 hours to request a clearer image or discuss alternatives.

All translations are delivered as high-resolution digitally signed PDFs via email. The PDF includes the complete certified translation with the translator's signed certification statement. For documents requiring physical copies — particularly for the consular legalization chain or court submissions — we dispatch hard copies with original ink signatures via tracked international courier to your location in The Gambia or abroad. Editable formats are available upon request for specific document types.

Islamic marriage certificates (Nikah) in The Gambia are issued by Cadi Courts and Islamic institutions and may include Arabic phrases, Quranic references, and Islamic legal terminology such as mahr (dowry) and wali (guardian). Our translators are experienced with both the civil registration aspects and the Islamic legal elements of Gambian Nikah certificates. We translate all elements accurately, including Arabic text components, and provide contextual notes where Islamic terminology may be unfamiliar to receiving authorities. The certified translations are accepted by immigration authorities in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia for spousal visa and family-based immigration applications.

The West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), administered by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), is the standard secondary school leaving qualification in The Gambia, shared with Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. The certificate uses a grading scale from A1 (highest) through F9 (fail) and lists all subjects taken with grades obtained. Our translators accurately render the WAEC grading scale in the target language with explanatory context so that foreign universities and credential evaluation agencies can properly assess academic equivalency. We also handle WAEC result slips and school testimonials that accompany the certificate.

Yes. DoVisa manages the complete consular legalization process for Gambian documents. This includes arranging notarization through our network of Gambian legal professionals, submitting documents to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad in Banjul for authentication, and liaising with the destination country's embassy for final legalization. Because not all destination countries maintain embassies in Banjul, we also coordinate with embassies in neighboring countries such as Senegal when required. The complete legalization chain typically takes 10-20 business days, and we provide status updates at each stage throughout the process.