Certified Translation of a Statutory Declaration in Malaysia

Oct 28

Short answer: a Malaysian statutory declaration is made in Malay or English only. When it is used in a country that needs its own language, the declaration, the notarial certificate and the Wisma Putra stamp are translated together, after Wisma Putra attestation and before the embassy legalises it. For Wisma Putra, the translation is made by a translator the Ministry accepts. We draft the declaration, arrange the Notary Public and Wisma Putra, and certify the translation in one chain; our team is certified by ITBM and DBP and includes High Court interpreters.

Tell us the country and what you need to declare on WhatsApp and we will give you one fixed quotation for the whole chain.

Last reviewed: October 2026.

When a statutory declaration needs a certified translation

The destination needs its own language. China, for example, takes a statutory declaration only with a recognised Chinese translation, bound as one volume with the original. See legalisation for China.
An exhibit is in another language. A declaration refers to exhibits, such as a foreign birth certificate or a bank letter. An exhibit in a language other than Malay or English needs a certified Malay or English translation before a Malaysian office will use it.
The declaration was made in Malay and goes to an English-speaking office. The AM80 declaration behind the JPN marital status letter is one example: it is translated into English with the letter. See the single status certificate guide.
The declarant does not understand the language of the declaration. The declaration is then read over and explained before it is signed; an interpreter does this, and the declaration itself stays in Malay or English.

Who may translate it

Malaysia has no sworn-translator register. For Wisma Putra attestation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs accepts translations by a Malaysian court translator, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka or the Malaysian Translators Association, ITBM, or a translator appointed by a foreign embassy in Malaysia. A translation by anyone else can be refused at the counter. See who can certify a translation in Malaysia and the translation requirements for Wisma Putra attestation.

Our translations meet these rules: our team is certified by ITBM, DBP and the Malaysian Translators Association and includes Kuala Lumpur and Sarawak High Court interpreters. Each translation is complete, including stamps, seals and handwritten notes, and is signed and stamped by the translator with their name and credentials. If an authority rejects a certified translation we prepared within 30 days of delivery, we re-do it free (our guarantees). Your declaration stays confidential under our client NDA.

The right order

Draft the declaration in English (or Malay) in the statutory form, with exactly the facts the foreign office asked for, and list the exhibits.
Translate the exhibits that are in other languages into English or Malay, so the declaration and everything it refers to can be read in Malaysia.
Declare it before a Notary Public in person, with your MyKad or passport. The declaration, its exhibits and the notarial certificate are bound together. See our notarisation service.
Wisma Putra attests the notary's signature. Official fees are in our legalisation fees tracker.
Translate the whole set into the destination's language: the declaration, the notarial certificate and the Wisma Putra stamp.
The embassy legalises it in Kuala Lumpur, with the translation where the embassy asks for it.

Embassy rules that matter

China: the declaration must be the original. It is notarised, attested by Wisma Putra and bound as one volume with sealing wax, eyelets and a seal across the pages, with a recognised Chinese translation. See legalisation for China.
Germany: only a Notary Public's certification is accepted, and private documents are bound under one Notarial Certificate; from our own submissions, the German Embassy does not legalise each page separately. German regulations recognise no certified or sworn translators in Malaysia, so the German authority that receives the declaration decides which translation it accepts. See legalisation for Germany.
English-speaking destinations (for example the United Kingdom, Australia or Singapore): a declaration made in English needs no translation; Malay exhibits need a certified English translation.

What gets a translation refused

A translation made before Wisma Putra, so the notarial certificate and the attestation stamp are not translated.
A translation by a translator Wisma Putra does not accept, or by the declarant.
A partial translation: stamps, seals, handwritten notes or exhibits left out.
Loose pages: the translation not bound with the declaration where the embassy asks for one volume (China).
A declaration written in Chinese or another language instead of Malay or English: the Act allows only those two, so the declaration is made in English and translated.

Ringkasan dalam Bahasa Melayu

Akuan berkanun dibuat dalam bahasa Melayu atau Inggeris sahaja. Jika negara destinasi memerlukan bahasanya sendiri, akuan, sijil notari dan cop Wisma Putra diterjemahkan bersama selepas pengesahan Wisma Putra dan sebelum pengesahan kedutaan. Untuk Wisma Putra, terjemahan mesti dibuat oleh penterjemah yang diterima oleh Kementerian. Kami menyediakan draf, Notari Awam, urusan Wisma Putra dan terjemahan bertauliah dalam satu proses.

中文简介

马来西亚的法定声明（Statutory Declaration）只能以马来文或英文作出。若目的国要求使用本国语言，声明书、公证书及马来西亚外交部（Wisma Putra）认证印章须在外交部认证之后、使馆认证之前一并翻译。送往中国使用的法定声明须提交原件，并与中文翻译装订成册。我们一站式提供起草、公证、外交部认证及认证翻译服务。

Common questions

Can a statutory declaration be made in Chinese or another language?

No. The Statutory Declarations Act 1960 allows Malay or English only. Make the declaration in English (or Malay) and attach a certified translation into the language the destination needs.

Should the translation be done before or after Wisma Putra?

After, when the destination needs its own language. Translating the declaration together with the notarial certificate and the Wisma Putra stamp gives the receiving office one complete document; a translation done earlier leaves the stamps untranslated.

Who can translate a statutory declaration for Wisma Putra?

A Malaysian court translator, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka or the Malaysian Translators Association, ITBM, or a translator appointed by a foreign embassy in Malaysia. Our team is certified by ITBM and DBP and includes High Court interpreters, so our translations meet this rule.

Does the translation have to be notarised?

Only when the receiving authority asks for a notarised translation. In that case the translator signs before our Notary Public, and the notarised translation goes through Wisma Putra and the embassy with the declaration.

I do not read English. Can I still make a statutory declaration in English?

Yes. When the declarant does not understand the language of the declaration, it is read over and explained before it is signed. Our team includes High Court interpreters who can do this.

Related guides

Sources:

Zhihan Chew