FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
Find clear answers to common questions about our professional translation services, pricing, timelines, and security compliance.
How much do translation services cost?
Professional translation services at GTS Translation Services generally cost between US$0.09 and $0.29 per word. The final rate depends primarily on your target language pair and the complexity of the subject matter.
What factors affect translation pricing?
Translation prices are determined by language pair demand, subject complexity, specialized formatting requirements, and urgent delivery deadlines. Language pairs with a limited supply of qualified native linguists naturally carry a higher rate per word.
Are there minimum charges for translation projects?
Yes, GTS Translation Services enforces a minimum order policy per language pair to offset essential project administrative costs. Because our workflows are custom-tailored to individual client specifications, micro-projects falling below this threshold may be better suited for high-volume automated platforms if budget is your primary constraint.
What is the difference between human and machine translation?
Human translation relies on professional linguists to manually convert text for cultural relevance and stylistic accuracy, whereas machine translation uses automated software and AI to generate instant text without human oversight.
How do translation agencies ensure quality control?
GTS Translation Services ensures quality by operating a workflow fully compliant with the rigorous ISO 17100:2015 quality standard. Every project undergoes a strict four-eyes principle review, meaning all text is thoroughly evaluated by native, in-country professional translators and secondary reviewers prior to final delivery.
How is translation quality objectively measured?
We measure translation quality using objective LQA metrics (MQM/DQF) alongside critical delivery and satisfaction KPIs. Our standard performance thresholds guarantee 0 critical errors, fewer than 0.5 major errors per 1,000 words, terminology accuracy scores of 99% or higher, and an on-time delivery rate exceeding 98%.
What is the difference between certified and notarized translation?
A certified translation includes a signed Certificate of Accuracy from the agency, while a notarized translation requires the translator to sign that document in front of a notary public who stamps it.
Will USCIS accept your certified translations?
Yes, all certified translations provided by GTS Translation Services meet 100% of USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) requirements. Each document includes the necessary signed Certificate of Accuracy; please note that USCIS does not require separate notarization for standard immigration submissions.
Will WES accept your certified translations?
Yes, all certified translations provided by GTS Translation Services meet 100% of WES (Wordl Education Services) requirements. Each document includes the necessary signed Certificate of Accuracy.
Can you convert and translate a scanned PDF document into an editable MS Word file?
Yes, if you order translation of a PDF file on our website, we convert the PDF file to MS Word format and translate that file.
How long does a translation project typically take?
Short immigration and legal documents are typically delivered within 24 hours or less. For larger enterprise documents, GTS Translation Services can scale operations to deliver up to 5,000 words per day per language pair.
Do you offer specialized translation services for my industry?
Yes, GTS Translation Services supports nearly every major industry, including medical, legal, technical, and corporate sectors. Please explore our dedicated industry pages on our website to see our specific domain expertise.
How are data confidentiality and security handled?
We secure all client data using encrypted servers for file transfers, non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) for all linguists, and full compliance with ISO 17100:2015 data protection guidelines. We are happy to evaluate and sign client-specific confidentiality agreements upon request to fulfill corporate compliance needs.
Why should I choose GTS over other translation companies?
GTS Translation is consistently recognized as one of the highest-rated translation companies due to our competitive rates, strict deadline adherence, and exceptional accuracy. We invite you to read our verified client testimonials to see why thousands of global companies trust us.
How can I get an urgent price quote for translating my documents?
You can generate an instant translation price quote online directly through our platform. Select your target languages and upload your files to receive an exact, transparent price calculation within seconds.
Do you provide translation quotes over the phone?
No, we do not provide pricing estimates by phone. To guarantee accuracy and account for specific text nuances, all documents must be evaluated digitally through our secure automated quoting system.
Can I upload draft or incomplete documents to get a price estimate?
Yes, you can upload draft or placeholder files to our system to generate a preliminary price estimate. Alternatively, you can use our online translation cost calculator to estimate costs instantly based on your approximate word count.
Will you provide a free sample translation to verify your quality?
No, we do not offer free translation samples under any circumstances. However, we are fully prepared to deliver paid evaluation samples; you can easily order an evaluation sample online directly through our quote page.
Can I call or email your team to receive general, ballpark pricing?
No, we do not distribute general pricing ranges via phone or email queries. You can easily access comprehensive transparency metrics on our dedicated Translation prices per word page and our Document translation price guideline chart.
How do you maintain confidentiality when uploading files to your quote tool?
Files uploaded to our automated tool are processed safely by software and are hidden from human view until an order is finalized. Your documents are strictly restricted to authorized GTS staff; if your corporate policy requires a signed NDA prior to file upload, please contact [email protected].
Do you offer a discount for translating near-identical documents?
Yes, we offer competitive discounts for highly repetitive or closely matching texts. Please upload your matching documents here so our team can run a text-density analysis and apply a custom discount code to your order.
Can I get a discount if I am updating a manual previously translated by GTS?
Yes, registered clients can easily secure discounts on revisions by clicking the Update Translation feature directly within their secure client dashboard.
Can we obtain a certified certificate of translation for our files?
Yes, GTS Translation Services issues translation Statement of Accuracy certificates completely free of charge. Your finalized certificate is made available for immediate download inside your secure View Order terminal upon project completion.
Can corporate or institutional clients pay via Purchase Order (PO) or check?
Yes, we accept corporate Purchase Orders for accounts that successfully pass our standard credit evaluation, provided the total project budget exceeds $5,000. To initiate a credit application, please contact our financial department at [email protected].
Is your online payment gateway secure?
Yes, all transactions are processed securely through Stripe, a certified Level 1 PCI-DSS Service Provider. This guarantees the highest level of payment data protection available in the industry, keeping your corporate credit card information completely safe.
What online payment methods do you accept?
We accept all major corporate and personal credit cards, as well as digital wallets and payment platforms including Cash App, Google Pay, Afterpay, and Klarna.
Can you convert a PDF into a Word document while keeping the original layout?
Yes, when you submit a PDF, we use advanced OCR software to extract text into editable MS Word formatting. While clean digital source files retain their visual layouts to a very high degree of accuracy, low-resolution scans or complex multi-column layouts will receive our design team’s best possible structural match.
How can I translate an Adobe InDesign (.indd) file without losing the original layout?
GTS translates your INDD files directly, thus maintaining the original format. This allows us to return a localized, layout-ready asset that matches your source design perfectly.
Do you translate handwritten notes or historical texts?
No, GTS Translation Services focuses exclusively on digital, typed, and printed document styles. We are currently unable to accept handwritten submissions due to accuracy and processing constraints.
Are there hidden taxes or processing fees added during checkout?
No, our online checkout process is entirely transparent, and you will never be charged more than the initial automated rate presented on your online quote screen.
Why did my cart total change from a low initial estimate to a higher price during checkout?
This adjustment occurs when an individual document’s total word count falls below our baseline minimum order threshold. The checkout cart automatically updates to reflect our standard minimum processing fee for that specific language pair.
How can I get an accurate quote for photos taken on my smartphone?
To quote mobile images, simply consolidate your JPG, GIF, or PNG snapshots into an MS Word document or export them as a clear PDF file. Once consolidated, upload that single PDF directly to our online quote platform for processing.
Can you review or audit translation adjustments made by our internal team?
Yes, our linguists can audit your internal edits to verify accuracy, which you can submit directly through your Project Details interface. Please note that while native employees are helpful, formal translation requires certified linguistic training, and our standard workflows are designed to deliver print-ready quality without external reviews.
Can I drop off physical paper documents at one of your regional offices?
No, our physical offices do not accept walk-in document drop-offs. To get an estimate, please convert your physical documents into digital PDF scans and submit them securely through our web portal.