Twenty-two answers.
Everything we get asked, in one place. If your question is not here, ask us directly via WhatsApp or email — we usually reply within an hour.
PricingHow much does certified translation cost in Cairo?+
Indicative pricing starts at approximately $0.12/word for certified general translation, $0.16/word for specialist (legal, medical, financial), and $0.22/word for transcreation. Use our instant estimator for a ballpark, or send us your document for a firm written quote within two business hours.
PricingDo you publish a fixed price list?+
No — and we never will. The price of a translation depends on the document, language pair, subject complexity, certification level and turnaround. What we do publish is an indicative estimator and three clear service tiers (Certified, Specialist, Creative) so you know roughly where your document will land.
PricingIs there a discount for large projects?+
Yes. Projects over 50,000 words receive a volume discount, and ongoing client retainers (e.g. monthly translation budgets) earn preferred rates. Speak to your project lead.
TurnaroundHow long does a translation take?+
Standard turnaround is 72 hours for documents up to 30 pages. Rush turnaround (24 hours) is available with a senior surcharge. Larger projects (100+ pages) are quoted by week. We agree a delivery date in writing before starting work.
TurnaroundDo you offer same-day translation?+
For documents under 5 pages received before 11 AM EET, yes — for an additional surcharge. Subject to availability of a specialist translator in the relevant language pair.
CertificationWhat does a certified translation include?+
A certified translation from Top Notch includes the translated text, a certification statement, our signature and our office stamp on every page. The document leaves the office ready to submit.
CertificationWhat documents do you translate?+
Legal, medical, financial, technical, academic and personal documents — contracts, judgments, clinical reports, annual reports, certificates, transcripts and statements. If you can scan it, we can translate it.
CertificationWhat’s the difference between certified and notarized translation?+
Certified: the translation carries a signed attestation of accuracy from the translator and our office stamp. Notarized: certified, then signed in front of a public notary. Tell us where the document is going and we will confirm which you need.
QualityWhat is the “four-eyes principle”?+
It is the ISO 17100 requirement that every translation be independently reviewed by a second senior linguist before delivery. We apply it to every project — no exceptions, no rush jobs that skip the review.
QualityDo you use machine translation or AI?+
Every word in a delivered Top Notch document has been read by a qualified human translator and reviewed by a senior editor. AI assists with terminology lookups and consistency checks, but never decides — that is why we never quote auto-translate prices.
QualityWhat if I am not happy with the translation?+
We revise free of charge until you are. If a translation falls short of the brief, send us your feedback — a senior editor will rework it, no additional charge. We have done it once or twice in 22 years; it is the cost of doing the work properly.
ProcessHow do I send you a document?+
WhatsApp (+20 102 774 4377), email (info@topnotchegypt.com), the online quote form, or in person at our Cairo HQ (33 El Nasr Street, 4th Floor, Flat 8, New Maadi). For sensitive documents we can arrange courier pickup.
ProcessWhat are your six steps?+
Receiving Files → Resources (assigning the right specialists) → Translation → Editing → Quality Check → Delivery. Every project moves through all six. See the Process page for detail.
ProcessWill I have one point of contact?+
Yes. Every project is assigned a senior Project Lead who manages communication, deadlines and quality from intake to delivery. For long-running engagements we appoint a permanent account lead.
ConfidentialityIs my document confidential?+
Yes. Every staff translator signs an NDA. Documents are transmitted over encrypted transport and stored encrypted at rest. We are happy to sign a custom NDA against your standard template before receiving any material.
ConfidentialityWhat happens to my document after delivery?+
It is retained on encrypted storage for 24 months in case you need re-issue, then permanently deleted. If you need it deleted immediately on delivery, we can do that.
LanguagesWhat languages do you translate?+
Arabic ↔ English is our primary pair. We also work Arabic ↔ French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Chinese, Portuguese, Turkish, plus 10+ additional pairs. If your pair is not listed, ask — we have translators in 19+ languages.
LanguagesDo you handle Arabic dialects?+
Yes. Our primary working register is Modern Standard Arabic (الفصحى) for legal, financial and official documents. Egyptian, Gulf and Levantine variants are available for advertising, broadcast and creative work.
PaymentsWhat payment methods do you accept?+
Cash (any branch), bank card, bank transfer, Vodafone Cash, Instapay, Wise, and international bank wire. Corporate clients are invoiced on standard terms.
PaymentsDo I need to pay upfront?+
For new clients, a 50% deposit confirms the order; the remainder is due on delivery. Corporate clients with established credit are invoiced on net-30 terms.
CompanyHow long have you been operating?+
Top Notch was founded in 2003 in Cairo by senior translators. Twenty-two years and 22+ ongoing client relationships later, we are still doing the same work — better.
CompanyWhere are your offices?+
Cairo HQ: 33 El Nasr Street, 4th Floor, Flat 8, New Maadi. We also operate a UAE branch (address to be confirmed). For walk-in service, Cairo is open Sun – Thu, 9 AM – 6 PM EET.
Have a document that can't be wrong?
Send us the source and a brief. We'll respond within two business hours with scope, pricing, and a firm delivery date.