Translation for International Arbitration
Translation of exhibits, witness statements, awards and arbitration agreements for ICC, ICDR and ad hoc arbitrations and for enforcing awards in US courts.
Reviewed by Murat Saymaz, Global Certified Translations · Facts checked 4 November 2026
The short answer
Arbitration tribunals set the language of the proceedings and can order documentary evidence translated into it (UNCITRAL Model Law, Article 22; ICC Rules, Article 20). To enforce a foreign award, the party supplies the award and the arbitration agreement, translated into the enforcing country's language and certified (New York Convention, Article IV). US courts enforce Convention awards under 9 U.S.C. 207.
Rules that apply
Each rule links to its source. Checked 4 November 2026. Rules change, so confirm with the office that will receive your documents.
| Rule | Source |
|---|---|
| A party seeking enforcement must supply the award and the arbitration agreement; if they are not in the enforcing country's official language, a certified translation is required. | New York Convention (1958), Article IV |
| US courts confirm Convention awards unless a ground for refusal in the Convention applies. | 9 U.S.C. 207 |
| Parties may agree on the language of the arbitration; failing agreement, the tribunal decides, and may order documents translated into it. | UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration, Article 22 |
| Absent agreement, the ICC tribunal determines the language of the arbitration, having regard to the language of the contract. | ICC Arbitration Rules (2021), Article 20 |
| A court asked to recognise an award may request a translation of the award into its official language. | UNCITRAL Model Law, Article 35(2) |
Language is decided early
The arbitration clause often names the language. If it does not, the tribunal decides at the start, usually in favour of the contract's language. Everything after that turns on the decision: documents in other languages are translated into the language of the arbitration, sometimes in full and sometimes only the parts relied on, as the procedural order says. Read procedural order no. 1 before commissioning translations; it often sets the rules on partial translations, certification and challenges to translations.
Exhibits and witness statements
- Exhibits are translated with their exhibit numbers, and where the procedural order allows partial translations, the translated passages are marked and the rest noted as [not translated].
- Witness statements are usually written in the witness's own language and translated, with both versions filed. The translation must keep the witness's words, not polish them.
- Legal authorities (statutes and cases from the governing law) are translated in full where relied on.
Opposing counsel may challenge a translation. A consistent term list for the case, shared across all translations, makes that much less likely to succeed.
Enforcing the award
An award is only as good as its enforcement. Under the New York Convention, the party seeking enforcement supplies the authenticated award (or a certified copy) and the original arbitration agreement, with certified translations if they are not in the enforcing country's language. Article IV says the translation must be certified by an official or sworn translator or by a diplomatic or consular agent. In US courts, a certified translation with a translator's declaration is the usual practice; abroad, a local sworn translator may be required.
Confidentiality
Arbitration files are confidential by agreement or rules. Translators on a matter are limited to the team assigned, and we sign the confidentiality undertakings your procedural order requires.
Hearing bundles
Before a hearing, parties prepare bundles of exhibits, witness statements and authorities, often with translations interleaved. Late translations disrupt bundle pagination, so agree a cut-off date with your team and send all remaining documents together. We deliver translations with exhibit numbers and page references matching the bundle index.
What we don't do
We translate; we do not act as counsel, arbitrators or hearing interpreters, and we are not sworn translators in foreign jurisdictions.
Documents we translate for this
Contract translation
Certified translation of contracts and leases: supply, distribution, employment, rental and sale agreements, for signing, courts, lenders and USCIS.
Legal Document translation
Certified translation of court judgments, contracts, powers of attorney, affidavits and evidence for US and foreign courts.
Email translation
Certified translation of emails and email chains as evidence for courts, USCIS and investigations, with headers, dates and thread order kept.
Price
$39 for the first page (up to 250 words) into English, $49 into any other language, then $0.116 per additional word. Each file is priced on its own. The signed certificate of accuracy is included.
Full pricingTurnaround
24 hours standard for most documents. Expedited service is +50% for 6–8 hours and +100% for 1–3 hours. Large files are quoted with a delivery date before you pay.
Questions
Do arbitration translations need to be notarized?
Rarely for the proceedings themselves; the procedural order decides. For enforcement abroad, a local court may require a sworn or officially certified translation.
Can you sign a confidentiality undertaking for an arbitration?
Yes. Translators on the matter sign the undertaking your procedural order or rules require.
Can the other side challenge a translation?
Yes. Tribunals often set a procedure for challenges. A consistent term list and full certificates make translations harder to challenge.
Do you translate procedural orders and awards?
Yes, in full, with paragraph numbering kept for citation.
Do all exhibits need full translations in arbitration?
It depends on the procedural order. Many tribunals allow partial translations of the passages relied on, with the rest available on request.
What translation does the New York Convention require for enforcement?
A translation certified by an official or sworn translator or a diplomatic or consular agent, for an award or agreement not in the enforcing country's language (Article IV).
Can you translate witness statements?
Yes, keeping the witness's own wording, with a certificate of accuracy.
Related
Prepared by Global Certified Translations, Edgewater, NJ. Translations are signed by a State Court Certified Translator. This page explains translation requirements; it is not legal advice.
Ready to send your documents?
Upload them for an instant word count and price.
Get an Instant Quote