Proof of cohabitation (outland), translation necessary?

[WallyR]

Hi everyone,

I would like to sponsor my wife. We both live in Germany.

According to the document checklist I need to provide two sets of documents to prove we are currently living together. I have government-issued id cards as well as letters from the German revenue agency and bank statements.

Do I need to have these translated?

I picked the following sets:

• copies of government issued documents for the principal applicant and sponsor showing the same address (e.g.: driver’s licenses)
• other documents issued to the principal applicant and sponsor showing the same address, whether the accounts are held jointly or not (e.g. cell phone bills, pay stubs, tax forms, bank or credit card statements, insurance policies)​

From what I understand they just want to see whether the addresses match. Can anyone tell me if I'm right or wrong?

 

[k.h.p.]

Translation is always necessary if the document is not in English or French and if your checklist does not say it can be submitted in its original language:

You must submit the following for any document that is not in English or French, unless otherwise stated on your document checklist:

• the English or French translation; and
• an affidavit from the person who completed the translation (see below for details); and
• a certified copy of the original document.

 

[WallyR]

Thank you for your quick response!

It just seems like such a waste of money to have a tax form or electricity bill translated because it includes a lot of information that is not vital to the application process. I will try to find out if I can get a multilingual document, that shows that we are currently living together, from our registry office.

Another question: We have a multilingual marriage certificate and a multilingual police certificate. The marriage certificate is truly multilingual, but on the police certificate only the important parts are in English and French (name, birth date, address, nationality and so on). Will this be an issue?

Ours looks exactly like this one:

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Thank you for your quick response!

It just seems like such a waste of money to have a tax form or electricity bill translated because it includes a lot of information that is not vital to the application process. I will try to find out if I can get a multilingual document, that shows that we are currently living together, from our registry office.

Another question: We have a multilingual marriage certificate and a multilingual police certificate. The marriage certificate is truly multilingual, but on the police certificate only the important parts are in English and French (name, birth date, address, nationality and so on). Will this be an issue?

Ours looks exactly like this one:

You can translate the informal proofs such as bills yourself. Just translate the main page. Be sure to include a copy of the original as well.

As every field is not in English, the PCC needs to be formally translated.

 

[k.h.p.]

Are you sure informal proofs can be personally translated? The guide doesn't suggest that at all.

 

[WallyR]

Nooooo! We paid extra for a multilingual police certificate! And now it needs to be translated?!

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Are you sure informal proofs can be personally translated? The guide doesn't suggest that at all.

Yes, it's always been like that.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Nooooo! We paid extra for a multilingual police certificate! And now it needs to be translated?!

Well, you could try submitting that one. Or maybe start a new thread asking anyone else about that specific PCC and if it has been accepted.

As far as I know, unless every field is in English (or French), it has to be translated.

 

[k.h.p.]

Yes, it's always been like that.

I pity everyone who has paid to have text messages translated.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

I pity everyone who has paid to have text messages translated.

Those do actually have to be formally translated now, as specified on the checklist, but that only changed recently, maybe last year if I recall correctly. Prior to that, informal translations were fine.

 

[WallyR]

I will try to submit it. Thank you for your help.

 

[Luthien]

Well, you could try submitting that one. Or maybe start a new thread asking anyone else about that specific PCC and if it has been accepted.

As far as I know, unless every field is in English (or French), it has to be translated.

I called IRCC when I received my police certificate in March (also German multilingual) and they advised me to have it translated anyways. I didn't even know I was getting a multilingual one and don't think I paid extra for it.

 

[Nadster85]

We got everything officially translated from Arabic to English- even our rental receipts as I believe this is required.

 

[WallyR]

I called IRCC when I received my police certificate in March (also German multilingual) and they advised me to have it translated anyways. I didn't even know I was getting a multilingual one and don't think I paid extra for it.

Did you pay to have it translated? How much did that cost you if you don't mind me asking?

The guy at city hall told us we would get a multilingual police certificate, but he said it would take a little longer to receive it. Now I have two pages:
Page 1: Partially translated police certificate
Page 2: Authentication of the certificate (completely in German)

On the website of the Bundesjustizamt I found this:

Overauthentication of a certificate of conduct and issuing an Apostille
Authorities of various foreign states sometimes require police certificates of good conduct to be overauthenticated by the Federal Office of Justice, and may also demand an Apostille to be issued by the Federal Office of Administration in Cologne. The overauthentication of the certificate of conduct is a precondition for issuing an Apostille.

I guess that is what I paid extra for. The authentication I do not need and the certificate will have to be translated anyway ... great

 

[Luthien]

Did you pay to have it translated? How much did that cost you if you don't mind me asking?

The guy at city hall told us we would get a multilingual police certificate, but he said it would take a little longer to receive it. Now I have two pages:
Page 1: Partially translated police certificate
Page 2: Authentication of the certificate (completely in German)

On the website of the Bundesjustizamt I found this:

Overauthentication of a certificate of conduct and issuing an Apostille
Authorities of various foreign states sometimes require police certificates of good conduct to be overauthenticated by the Federal Office of Justice, and may also demand an Apostille to be issued by the Federal Office of Administration in Cologne. The overauthentication of the certificate of conduct is a precondition for issuing an Apostille.

I guess that is what I paid extra for. The authentication I do not need and the certificate will have to be translated anyway ... great

I think it was 30 Euros. And we didn't get the authentication because it wasn't asked for on the IRCC website.