FAQ | Document Translation Services

Do you provide document translation services?

Yes. Please email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with your contact information and requirements so that we can issue you a quote for our translation services. Please include your full name, company name, phone number, mailing address, the language pair(s), purpose of the translation, and deadline. Please attach ALL source document(s) to your email.

We will review your documents and email you a quote within 1 business day with our estimated cost and turnaround time, as well as payment details. If you would like to proceed with our translation services, a signed quote and/or payment is required in order to confirm the project.

If you require a rush project and a rush quote, please indicate that in your request and we’ll email you our quote within a few hours.

In what format do you prefer to receive the source documents?

We prefer to work with documents in MS Word but we can also handle PDF documents, Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations, HTML files, website links, audio files in MP3 and WAV formats, videos in MP4 format, and images in JPG format, etc. Please do not hesitate to contact us before you send your files if you have concerns about format.

What are your turnaround times for document translation?

This depends on the specific requirements of your project however our standard turnaround time for document translation is 3 to 5 business days.

Our rush turnaround time for document translation is 1 to 3 business days.

Turnaround times are longer for multilingual translation projects and for documents that exceed 1500 words. Please contact us with your specific requirements for a quote.

How much does it cost to get my document(s) translated? Can you give me a ballpark figure for translation services?

The total price is calculated according to the word count, number of documents, language pair, technical difficulty and turnaround time required. Discounts are often offered for large volume word counts, regular clients and for your first project with LingoStar.

We have a very tight budget for this project. Are your rates negotiable?

Sometimes there may be room for negotiation. Contact us with your specific requirements and we’ll see what we can do.

We received a more competitive quote from another language services provider. Will you match their rate?

If this is the case, please contact us. We may be able to negotiate the rate to meet your requirements.

Do you provide discounts for regular clients?

Yes, you are welcome to contact us to discuss pricing.

I have received a LingoStar quote and would like to proceed with the document translation project. What do I do?

To proceed with our document translation services please email or fax us the quote, signed and dated for project confirmation. Please include a billing address and advise how you would like to proceed with payment. Payment is also due upon project confirmation. Please contact us for details.

When is payment due?

Payment is due upon project confirmation. We understand that payment processing may take longer than the time allowed to meet your deadline and/or an invoice may be required to begin the process. Please contact us to discuss payment terms and deadlines if this is an issue.

How do I make a payment for translation services?

Payment can be made online with a credit card or PayPal account, by corporate cheque or by bank transfer (contact us for bank details).

For ONLINE PAYMENT:

1) Go to www.lingo-star.com and click on the 'Paypal' button on the left-hand side of the home page.
2) Under 'Your Order Summary', enter amount to pay in 'Item Price' and click 'Update'.

***Please note that an online fee of 3.3% may apply.
***Please check your quote for the total amount due

3) You will be given the option to log in to your Paypal Account, or if you don't have one, you can choose 'Pay with a debit or credit card'.
4) Enter your credit card information in the appropriate fields and click 'Review Order and Continue'.
5) Kindly advise us via email once payment is made to ensure that your payment is received.

For CHEQUE PAYMENT:

Please make cheque payable to LingoStar Language Services Inc. and mail to:

LingoStar Language Services Inc.
4950 Keith Rd,
West Vancouver, BC
V7W 2N1 Canada

Please note that we cannot initiate your translation project until the signed quote or payment is received. For this reason, many choose to pay online so that their payment can be processed instantly.

Will you accept payment by bank/wire transfer?

Yes, we accept bank/wire transfers. Please contact us for details.

How do you select your translators? Do you work with specialized translators?

Our translators are selected based on their experience, education and professionalism. They also undergo translation tests in their area of expertise.

Our database includes translators in all fields of expertise, including but not limited to the following:

Advertising/Marketing, Art/Literature, Automotive, Business/Commerce, Computer – Software/Hardware, Computer –Systems/Networks, Engineering – Industrial Engineering – Mechanical, Environment/Ecology, Farming/Fisheries, Film/Cinema, Finance/Accounting, Food Production/Packaging, Forestry, Government Publications, Information Technology (IT), Insurance, Legal/Law/Contracts, Manufacturing, Media/Multimedia, Medical/Pharmaceutical, Mining/Geology, Research/Education, Technical/Manuals, Travel/Tourism

I don’t have a document available. Can I still get a quote?

We can issue you a quote if you provide enough information about the document(s) (ie. word count, languages, format, etc.) but it may need to be revised upon receipt of your source documents and final requirements.

Can you provide the translation with the same formatting as the original?

We try our best to stick with the original formatting as much as possible. Where there may be problems with this, we will consult you on how to proceed. For example, if there are many images with text in them, or tables that require extensive formatting.

In what format can I expect my translation to be delivered?

Unless otherwise specified, we deliver all translations in MS Word. If you would like your translation delivered in an alternate format, please advise prior to project confirmation.

How do I know that you have provided a high-quality translation?

Every document we receive is translated by a professional translator, and then revised by another qualified translator, both of whom are native speakers of the target language. The revised text is finalized by the first translator and submitted to us as a final copy. This copy is then spot-checked thoroughly by LingoStar for typos, inconsistencies, and formatting issues.

The document that requires translation is highly confidential. What kind of assurances can you provide that it will remain confidential once we submit it to you?

We are happy to sign a non-disclosure agreement prior to project confirmation. Our translators also sign a Terms & Conditions agreement that specifies that all documents that they receive from LingoStar are to be held in the strictest confidence.

Yes. Please specify your target audience in your request and we will do our best to match your requirements with the appropriate qualified translator(s).

I am in contact with a native speaker of the language that will be proofreading the translation for accuracy. Can I provide you with suggestions or edits and have them incorporated into the translation?

Yes. We would be happy to receive any feedback, edits or suggestions and will consult with the translator(s) in order to finalize your document to your specifications.

Once I receive the translated documents I will be inserting the text into a graphic format. Can your translator(s) review the finished product to make sure the translation has been inserted accurately?

Yes. We call this Post-Insertion Review. Please advise in your request if you will be requiring this service as additional fees may apply.

Can you translate my brochure/poster and deliver it in ready-to-print format?

Yes, we can provide translation and typesetting (desktop publishing) services. However, we cannot design a new document for you, so please provide the template that the translated text can be inserted into. We usually work with Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Quark and InDesign formats. We can also provide vector outlines and eps files. Contact us if you require a particular graphic format not listed here.

Do you provide business card translation services?

Yes. Please advise who your target market is and the source text, and we will provide the translation in MS Word format. If you require a ready-to-print format, please provide the template into which we can insert the translation.

Do you provide website translation services?

Yes. Generally we prefer that the source text be provided in MS Word format, without any HTML code, images, etc. However, if this is not possible, please advise which web pages you require to be translated. Additional time is necessary to create an MS Word document with all the source text ready for translation and additional administrative fees may apply.

There are many repetitive words/phrases in my document. Will I be charged for these?

Yes. We charge for every word unless an entire paragraph or page is repeated EXACTLY in multiple documents. If this is the case, please make a note of this in the source document and we will confirm the final word count prior to project confirmation.

Do you provide translations using CAT Tools?

Yes, please contact us if you require Trados or other CAT Tools for your project.

My company is located in another province. Do we have to pay BC taxes?

No. Your quote will be adjusted to reflect the taxes applicable to your province.

My company is located outside of Canada. Do we have to pay Canadian taxes?

No. No tax applies to clients outside of Canada.

What currency can I expect to pay for your services?

All of our pricing is in Canadian dollars. Please advise if you require your quote or invoice to be provided in alternate currencies.