British Sign Language interpreters and translators for the NHS, social care, courts, police, employers and families, wherever they are needed in the UK. BSL is visual, so we interpret face-to-face and by video rather than by telephone; we also provide certified translation between BSL and written English, and bookings are taken 24 hours a day.
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British Sign Language interpreting services
Start by asking the Deaf person how they communicate. A BSL user needs a BSL interpreter; someone who lost their hearing as an adult and never learned to sign may be better served by a lipspeaker or a speech-to-text reporter, both registered with the NRCPD. Age matters as well as region: regional signs grew up in the residential deaf schools of the nineteenth century, and research on BSL has found younger signers using fewer local variants than their elders. BSL interpreting is simultaneous, the interpreter signing a moment behind the speaker, and it is tiring work; for anything over an hour, or a dense technical session, book two interpreters to take turns. Video suits short one-to-one conversations better than big meetings.
Face-to-face interpreting
The interpreter comes to you: a hospital ward, a courtroom, a council office, a home visit or a business meeting. It is the best choice when people need to read expressions as well as words, or when the conversation is long or sensitive.
Telephone interpreting
The quickest option to set up. It works well for short calls, triage, appointment reminders and quick checks with a client.
Video interpreting
A British Sign Language interpreter joins by video for remote hearings, consultations and meetings, which helps when there is no interpreter near you.
We also provide medical interpreting and conference interpreting.
Certified British Sign Language translation
Translation between BSL and English runs through video. English documents, from patient leaflets to council notices and web pages, are made into recorded BSL by sign language translators, who have a register of their own at the NRCPD. Translators work only into their native language, and for BSL that means English into BSL is done by Deaf translators whose first language is BSL, while BSL footage into written English, such as a recorded account that has to become a witness statement, goes to native English speakers. A certified translation then states that the English is a true rendering of the signed video. A Deaf person's name sign identifies them in the Deaf community but is not a translation of their name, so the written English always uses the legal spelling.
- Certified translation of birth, marriage and death certificates, passports, driving licences, degree certificates and bank statements, for the Home Office, courts, universities and employers.
- Legal translation: witness statements, court bundles, contracts and immigration papers.
- Document translation of medical reports, letters, leaflets and patient information.
- Urgent translation when a deadline is close.
- Transcription of British Sign Language audio and video recordings, with an English translation if you need one.
English to British Sign Language translation
Captions are not a translation. Many Deaf adults read English as a second language, so anything that matters, such as a consent form, a tenancy notice or a public health message, should be signed. For a national audience, use signs recognised across the UK rather than one region's, and film in short sections that a viewer can pause and replay. In Scotland, the BSL (Scotland) Act 2015 requires listed public bodies to publish BSL plans, and those plans must themselves be available in BSL as well as in English.
British Sign Language court and police interpreters
The Diploma in Public Service Interpreting and the NRPSI register are built around spoken languages, so neither applies to BSL; the NRCPD register does that job. For legal work we look for Registered Sign Language Interpreters with legal experience or training. Under PACE Code C a deaf detainee must have an interpreter for an interview, and police guidance suggests a visual recording where the suspect signs, so that the signing itself is on record. Trials and long conferences with counsel need interpreters working in pairs.
How to book a British Sign Language interpreter
- Tell us about the assignment: the date, time and address, or that you need telephone or video; how long it should last; and what it is for, such as a hospital appointment, a hearing or a business meeting.
- Tell us about the speaker: their country or region and, if you know it, their dialect. Mention any preference for a male or female interpreter.
- Get your quote. We email you a quote, with no obligation to book.
Call 0800 2425 125, email info@uklinguisticservices.co.uk or request a quote online.
About British Sign Language
British Sign Language (BSL) is the sign language of Deaf people in the United Kingdom, with its own grammar and vocabulary. The British Sign Language Act 2022 recognised it in law as a language of England, Wales and Scotland.
BSL has no everyday written form: it is a visual language of handshapes, movement and facial expression, and it is not signed English. Varieties include regional signs, which vary from one part of the UK to another.
At the 2021 Census, 21,635 usual residents of England and Wales aged three or over gave British Sign Language as their main language. The local authorities with the most were Birmingham (691 people), Derby (447) and Leeds (383). Source: Office for National Statistics.
Before you book: BSL is not the same as American Sign Language or Irish Sign Language. For medical, legal and social care appointments, ask for an interpreter registered with the NRCPD, the UK register for BSL/English interpreters.
| Language family | Sign language, used by Deaf people in the UK |
|---|---|
| Writing system | No written form |
| Language code | bfi |
| Main language in England and Wales (Census 2021) | 21,635 people |
Related languages
British Sign Language interpreters near you
We send British Sign Language interpreters to appointments across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and telephone and video interpreting work wherever you are. Choose a town for its local page.
British Sign Language interpreter and translator FAQs
How quickly can I book a British Sign Language interpreter?
We take bookings 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Telephone and video interpreting are usually the quickest to arrange. For a face-to-face appointment, give us as much notice as you can: same-day cover is often possible, but it depends on where you are and how many British Sign Language interpreters work nearby.
How much does a British Sign Language interpreter cost?
The price depends on the type of interpreting (face-to-face, telephone or video), how long the appointment lasts, where it is and how much notice you give. We quote before anything is booked, and quotes are free: call 0800 2425 125 or use our online quote form.
Does the British Sign Language dialect matter when booking an interpreter?
It can. British Sign Language varieties include regional signs, which vary from one part of the UK to another. Tell us where the speaker is from, or the dialect they use, so the interpreter is a good match for them.
Can you certify British Sign Language translations for a UK visa or immigration application?
Yes. We translate and certify documents such as birth and marriage certificates, passports and police certificates for visa, settlement and citizenship applications. UK Visas and Immigration asks for each translation to confirm that it is accurate and to show the date and the translator's full name, signature and contact details, so tell us when you order that the document is for an immigration application.
Do you provide British Sign Language interpreters for courts, tribunals and police interviews?
Yes. Tell us the setting when you book, for example a Crown Court trial, an immigration tribunal hearing or a police interview under caution, so we can match a British Sign Language interpreter with the right legal experience and qualifications.
How many people speak British Sign Language in the UK?
At the 2021 Census, 21,635 usual residents of England and Wales aged three or over gave British Sign Language as their main language. The local authorities with the most were Birmingham (691 people), Derby (447) and Leeds (383). The census asked for each person's main language, so people who speak British Sign Language at home but gave English as their main language are not in that figure. Scotland and Northern Ireland count languages in their own censuses.
