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Bumping up this question as I would really like to know the answer to this too

LOL... so take the documents.. and translate them.
Set up -- slam dunk.
Next question.

I'm actually still in the UK just starting to research into this. At this point just a heads up to know if it's even possible to do so (and an idea of how straightforward/challenging it is in terms of red tape/restrictions) and any tips or nods in the right direction would be greatly appreciated

There are quite a few bilingual people here. Translating is a specific skill. It's not just about being bilingual. The first thing to do if you're considering a business is determining if there is a market for it.

I have seen no evidence of a market for a self-employed translator. Quite the opposite as anyone who speaks a bit of English here takes pride in making their own signs and whatnot. If not then they probably know or can connect with an EFL teacher who'd help them for free.

VietCanada wrote:

There are quite a few bilingual people here. Translating is a specific skill. It's not just about being bilingual. The first thing to do if you're considering a business is determining if there is a market for it.

Ditto. My niece is a certified medical interpreter (English-German-Vietnamese) although she doesn't work as such since she's busy enough running her German partner's medical practice. The certification is mostly being used when they have foreign visiting physicians.

@ Asjl and Mango: There are so many translation services already existed in Vietnam as well as plenty of multilingual speakers among both native and expats. You may find an odd job translating here and there, but to rely on that skill for a living wouldn't be a very wise decision. A few months ago, I was strongly recommended to take the exam to be a certified general translator (English-French-Italian-Vietnamese) but declined.

As for the procedures, my niece took both oral interview and written exam in front of a panel of medical personnel who judged her level of competence. The panel then submitted their verdict to governmental agency for her certification, and she paid a fee to receive it.