ISO 17100 for translation services

The ISO 17100 standard sets specific requirements for professional translation services. Its purpose is to define how a translation project should be organised so that the result meets clear specifications: selection of qualified translators, revision by a second person, documented project management, secure handling of information and final verification before delivery.

It is not a general quality standard for any language service. It is designed for written translations and for companies, in-house departments or professionals that provide translation services in a structured way.

For a certified translation agency, ISO 17100 helps answer a basic question: what should happen between receipt of the source document and delivery of the final translation for the process to be reliable?

What ISO 17100 regulates

The standard does not merely state that a translation must be correct. It defines a process. That process begins before translation starts and continues after the work has been delivered to the client.

During pre-production, the documents, source language, target language, intended use of the translation, deadline, format and required resources are analysed. This stage matters because many quality problems appear when the project has not been defined properly from the beginning.

The translation process then follows. It includes translation by a qualified professional, the translator’s own check, independent revision by a different person and final verification. Independent revision is one of the most important points in the standard.

The standard also covers translation project management, traceability of the assignment, communication with the client, allocation of resources and project closure. In complex projects, this management is as relevant as the translation itself.

Translation and revision are not the same thing

One of the central aspects of ISO 17100 is the difference between translating and revising.

The translator renders the source language content into target language content. The translator then checks his or her own work. But that check does not replace independent revision.

Revision, in the terminology used by the standard, means comparing the translation with the source text to check that the target language content is suitable for the agreed purpose. It must be carried out by a person other than the translator and with the appropriate competences.

That is why a translation conforming to ISO 17100 is not just a well-produced translation. It is a translation delivered within a process that requires professional intervention, revision and control.

Professional translators under ISO 17100

The standard pays close attention to the profile of professional translators. Knowing two languages is not enough. The translator must have translation competence, linguistic and textual competence, research ability, cultural knowledge, technical competence and competence in the specialist domain of the text.

In addition, the translation company must retain documented evidence of the qualifications or experience of the professionals involved in the project.

This is especially relevant in sectors where errors can have serious consequences, such as medical and pharmaceutical translations, legal translations or technical documentation translation.

What happens before translation starts

Quality does not begin when the translator opens the document. It begins earlier.

In a translation service conforming to ISO 17100, the agency has to assess project feasibility, prepare the quotation, agree the conditions with the client and define the project specifications. These specifications can include language combinations, deadline, delivery format, purpose of the text, target audience, terminology, style guide, reference material and confidentiality requirements.

In multilingual projects, this preliminary stage may include translation memories, terminology databases, style instructions, file preparation and format checks.

Pre-production is not a formality. It is the part of the process that allows translation to be carried out with less improvisation.

Post-production and client feedback

ISO 17100 also covers what happens after delivery. Post-production includes handling client feedback, making possible corrections, assessing satisfaction and completing the project records.

This matters because a professional translation does not always end when the files are sent. There may be clarifications, changes in the source text, client observations or adjustments linked to the final use of the document.

A certified agency should have a procedure for managing those situations in an orderly way.

Translation technologies

The standard recognises the role of translation technologies. CAT tools, translation memories, terminology databases, project management systems and quality assurance tools help maintain consistency and traceability.

These technologies do not replace the professional translator or revision. Their function is to support the process, improve consistency and make it easier to control projects with many files, several languages or specialised terminology.

When the project involves post-editing of machine translation, it should be distinguished from ISO 17100. Post-editing has its own normative framework in ISO 18587, and evaluation of the translated product is also related to other standards, such as ISO 5060.

Value-added services

ISO 17100 also mentions value-added services that can accompany a translation. These include localisation, terminology management, transcription, subtitling, revision of third-party translations, back-translation, desktop publishing and cultural adaptation.

These services are not always part of the standard assignment. They should be agreed with the client when the project requires them.

For example, website translation may require localisation, SEO adaptation, menu review, link checking and control of elements visible on screen. An automotive translation may require specific metrics such as SAE J2450. A software localisation project may use evaluation models such as the LISA QA Model.

What falls outside ISO 17100

ISO 17100 does not apply to interpreting services or to the output of machine translation combined with post-editing under the current edition.

It should also be distinguished from sworn translation in Spain. A sworn translation is produced, signed and certified directly by a sworn translator appointed by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It does not follow the usual agency, translator, reviser and project manager workflow defined by ISO 17100.

Certain certified translations for international procedures are a different matter, for example some translations for USCIS. In those cases, a translation company may certify the accuracy of the translation and, if the process followed meets the applicable requirements, manage it in accordance with ISO 17100.

Why request translations conforming to ISO 17100

Requesting a translation conforming to ISO 17100 makes sense when the client needs more than a fast translation. The standard provides control over the process, definition of responsibilities, selection of professionals, independent revision and traceability.

This is especially useful for medical, pharmaceutical, legal, technical, contractual, corporate or multilingual documentation.

It also helps when comparing quotations. Two translation rates may look equivalent, but they do not always include the same process. A translation with independent revision, terminology management and final verification should not be compared directly with a translation without external revision.

LinguaVox and translation quality

LinguaVox provides professional translation services with processes certified under ISO 17100. The company works with qualified translators and revisers, specialised project managers, computer-aided translation tools and internal control procedures.

You can request a quote for technical, legal, medical, pharmaceutical, commercial, website or corporate translations in different language combinations.

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Frequently asked questions about ISO 17100

What is ISO 17100?

ISO 17100 is an international standard that sets requirements for professional translation services. It defines resources, competences, process stages, independent revision, project management and closing procedures.

Does an ISO 17100 translation include revision?

Yes. A translation conforming to ISO 17100 must include revision by a person other than the translator. The translator’s own check does not replace that independent revision.

Does ISO 17100 apply to sworn translation?

Not in the case of Spanish sworn translation. The sworn translator translates, signs, stamps and certifies the document directly. That service does not follow the agency process certified under ISO 17100.

Does ISO 17100 apply to post-editing of machine translation?

The current edition of ISO 17100 excludes raw machine translation output combined with post-editing. A specific standard, ISO 18587, exists for post-editing of machine translation.

What is the difference between ISO 17100 and ISO 5060?

ISO 17100 focuses on the process for providing the translation service. ISO 5060 is related to the evaluation of the quality of the translated product, including human translation, post-edited machine translation and unedited machine translation.

What should a certified translation agency have?

It should have documented processes, qualified translators and revisers, project management, suitable technical resources, control of specifications, independent revision and procedures for managing comments or corrections after delivery.

Is it worth paying more for a translation conforming to ISO 17100?

It depends on the use of the document. In medical, legal, technical, corporate or published texts, independent revision and traceability reduce risks. For low-impact texts, the client may not need the same level of control.