ISO 17100:2015 is the international standard for translation services published by the International Organization for Standardization. It specifies requirements for translator qualifications, the translation and revision workflow, quality assurance, and project management. Agencies certified to this standard have been independently audited. It is the most reliable signal of process quality when choosing a translation provider.
When you search for a translation agency, most of them claim to deliver accurate, professional results. But claims are easy to make. ISO 17100:2015 is the closest thing the translation industry has to an independently verified, process-level quality guarantee. This article explains what the standard actually requires, how it differs from other certifications, and why it matters when you are choosing who to trust with an important document.
What ISO 17100:2015 Actually Specifies
ISO 17100:2015 is the second edition of the international translation services standard, replacing the earlier EN 15038 standard. It was published by ISO in May 2015 and sets out requirements for core processes, resources, and other aspects of a translation service provider's operation.
The standard covers six main areas:
1. Translator qualifications
ISO 17100:2015 specifies minimum qualification requirements for translators working on projects covered by the standard. A translator must have one of the following:
- A recognised translation qualification at degree level or above
- A recognised qualification in a specialist subject at degree level plus at least two years of full-time professional translation experience
- At least five years of full-time professional translation experience
This is significant. It means the standard does not permit an agency to use unqualified bilingual persons for certified work, regardless of their fluency. The translator must be able to demonstrate professional credentials.
2. Reviser qualifications
The standard requires that every translation be reviewed by a separate, qualified reviser who did not perform the original translation. The reviser must meet the same qualification criteria as the translator. This two-person process is mandatory, not optional.
This is the single most important operational requirement of ISO 17100:2015. It eliminates the common practice of a single translator reviewing their own work, which is known to miss errors that a fresh pair of eyes would catch.
3. The translation and revision workflow
The standard defines a complete workflow that includes pre-production activities (project analysis, resource selection, terminology management), production activities (translation, revision, proofreading where required), and post-production activities (final review, packaging, and delivery). Each step must be documented.
4. Project management
ISO 17100:2015 requires that each project be managed by a qualified project manager who oversees resource allocation, client communication, deadline management, and quality controls. Ad hoc assignment of work to available translators without proper oversight does not meet the standard.
5. Terminology and style management
For consistent translation, particularly across large projects or recurring document types, the standard requires the use of translation memories, glossaries, or style guides where appropriate. This ensures the same term is translated the same way throughout a document set.
6. Confidentiality
Translators and revisers working under ISO 17100:2015 must sign non-disclosure agreements for every project. The standard requires documented procedures for handling confidential information.
How ISO 17100:2015 Differs from ISO 9001:2015
Wordsmith Language Solutions holds both ISO 17100:2015 and ISO 9001:2015 certifications. These are complementary, not redundant.
| Standard | Scope | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| ISO 17100:2015 | Translation-specific | Translator qualifications, revision workflow, terminology management, confidentiality protocols |
| ISO 9001:2015 | General quality management | Organisational processes, customer satisfaction, document control, continuous improvement |
ISO 9001:2015 tells you the organisation is well-managed and has consistent processes across its operations. ISO 17100:2015 tells you specifically how the translation work itself is carried out. An agency holding only ISO 9001 has met a general quality benchmark but may not follow the translation-specific workflow the standard requires. An agency holding both has met both levels.
What ISO 17100:2015 Does Not Cover
The standard specifies process requirements, not outcome quality for individual translations. This is an important distinction. Certification confirms that a systematic process is in place. It does not guarantee that every translation produced by a certified agency will be error-free, because no standard can guarantee that.
What certification does guarantee is that if an error occurs, there is a defined process to catch it before delivery, and a documented system for addressing it if it is found afterwards.
ISO 17100:2015 also does not cover machine translation services in its original form. A separate specification, ISO 18587, addresses machine translation post-editing. When an agency mentions ISO 17100 certification, it specifically refers to human translation processes.
Why It Matters When You Are Choosing a Translation Provider
Most people choosing a translation agency have no way to evaluate translation quality directly. If you are not fluent in the target language, you cannot read the output and judge its accuracy. ISO 17100:2015 certification gives you a process-level assurance you can verify independently, without needing to evaluate the translation itself.
This matters most in high-stakes contexts:
- Embassy and visa submissions. A rejected translation means delays, additional costs, and potentially missed visa deadlines. The process discipline of an ISO 17100:2015 certified agency significantly reduces rejection risk.
- Court and legal submissions. Translations submitted to courts or arbitration bodies are scrutinised more carefully than most documents. Errors in certified legal translations can have serious consequences.
- Corporate and regulatory filings. Businesses filing translated documents with regulators in India or abroad need to be confident in the accuracy of technical and legal terminology.
- Technical documentation. For industries such as automotive, pharmaceutical, and manufacturing, terminology errors in translated manuals or SOPs can create safety and compliance risks.
In practice: ISO 17100:2015 certification means every translation delivered under the standard has been translated by a qualified professional and independently reviewed by a second qualified professional. This is a meaningful, verifiable assurance, not just a marketing claim.
How to Verify an Agency's ISO Certification
ISO certification is issued by accredited certification bodies, not by the agencies themselves. Any agency can claim to follow ISO processes. The claim is only verifiable if it comes with a certificate number from a named, accredited certification body.
When evaluating a translation provider:
- Ask for the ISO certificate and note the issuing body and certificate number
- Confirm that the certificate covers ISO 17100:2015 specifically, not just ISO 9001
- Check that the certificate is current and has not expired
- Verify with the issuing certification body if required
Our certified translation service operates under both ISO 17100:2015 and ISO 9001:2015. Certificate details are available on request.
ISO 17100:2015 and the Indian Translation Industry
India does not have a government-run translator accreditation system, unlike some countries where notaries or courts maintain lists of sworn or authorised translators. In this context, ISO 17100:2015 certification is the most widely accepted professional credential for translation agencies in India.
Embassies, multinational companies, and courts in India increasingly request translations from ISO 17100:2015 certified agencies because it gives them a process assurance that a simple claim of accuracy does not. Working with an agency that holds this certification is, in the Indian context, equivalent to working with a sworn translator in countries that have such a system.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ISO 17100:2015?
ISO 17100:2015 is the international standard published by the International Organization for Standardization that specifies requirements for translation service providers. It covers translator and reviser qualifications, the translation and revision workflow, tools, project management, and quality assurance practices. Agencies certified to this standard have been independently audited against these requirements.
What is the difference between ISO 17100 and ISO 9001 for translation?
ISO 9001:2015 is a general quality management standard applicable to any industry. It addresses how an organisation manages its processes, documentation, customer communication, and continuous improvement. ISO 17100:2015 is specific to translation services and goes deeper on the translation workflow, translator qualifications, revision requirements, and terminology management. An agency holding both certifications has met both a general quality management standard and the translation-specific standard.
Does ISO 17100 cover machine translation?
ISO 17100:2015 in its original form covers human translation services. The standard requires that a human translator perform the translation and that a separate human reviser review it. There is a related specification, ISO 18587, which addresses post-editing of machine translation output. These are distinct. When an agency claims ISO 17100 certification, it means human translation processes are in place.
How do I verify that a translation agency is ISO 17100 certified?
A legitimate ISO certification is issued by an accredited certification body, not by the agency itself. Ask the agency for the name of their certification body and the certificate number. You can then verify independently with the certification body. Wordsmith Language Solutions holds ISO 17100:2015 and ISO 9001:2015 certifications issued by an accredited body. Details are available on request.
Is ISO 17100 required for certified translation in India?
ISO 17100:2015 certification is not legally required for translation agencies in India. However, it is the most widely recognised signal of process quality and is often expected by embassies, multinational companies, regulatory bodies, and courts when evaluating a translation provider's credentials. In the absence of a government-run translator accreditation system in India, ISO certification is the closest equivalent marker of professional credibility.
Official sources and further reading