Translation Knowledge Center

What Is Certified Translation?

A certified translation is a complete document translation with a signed accuracy statement. Based on 240,000+ translations since 2014.

comparison

Certified vs Notarized Translation

Certified translation proves accuracy; notarization verifies the signer. Based on 240,000+ translation workflows since 2014.

Certificate of Accuracy

A certificate of accuracy is the signed statement that confirms a translation is complete and accurate. Based on current ATA and USCIS guidance reviewed in 2026.

Self-Translation Risks

You may be able to translate your own documents, but self-translation creates real acceptance and credibility risks. Reviewed against current USCIS, eCFR, and ATA guidance in 2026.

comparison

Machine vs Human Translation

Machine translation is fine for getting the gist, but official documents usually need human translation and certification. Reviewed against current USCIS and ATA guidance.

Name Mismatch Guide

A name mismatch on documents can come from transliteration, name order, or legal name changes. Here is how translators and USCIS handle it in 2026.

Translation Cost Guide

Certified translation cost runs $20-$60 per page in 2026. See what drives the price, hidden fees to watch, and why our flat per-page rate has no 250-word cap.

How to Translate Documents

To translate documents for official use, identify the required pages, use a qualified translator, and submit a complete certified package. Based on current USCIS and ATA guidance.

checklist

Document Translation Checklist

Use this document translation checklist to see which records usually need translation for green cards, citizenship, family petitions, fiance visas, and student visa cases.

Apostille Explained

An apostille is a Hague Convention certificate that authenticates the origin of a public document. Reviewed against current HCCH and U.S. State sources in 2026.

Immigration & USCIS

Requirements for green cards, visas, citizenship, and USCIS filings.

11 guides

USCIS Translation Requirements

USCIS requires a full English translation and signed translator certification for foreign-language documents. Based on 240,000+ translations since 2014.

Mexican Birth Certificate Translation for USCIS

What USCIS requires from a Mexican birth certificate: formato único vs old copies, I-130/I-485/N-400 rules, RFE triggers, and certified translation in 24 hours.

Acta de Nacimiento Translation Guide

See a Mexican acta de nacimiento in English: real sample, every field explained (CURP, registro civil), and how to get a USCIS-accepted certified translation — $24.95/page, 24h.

What Is a CURP and Do You Need It Translated?

CURP meaning in English: how Mexico's 18-character ID code is built, where it appears, and when USCIS needs it translated — certified translation in 24h.

Mexico Apostille and Translation Guide

How to apostille a Mexican marriage or birth certificate through the SRE — costs, timelines, when USCIS actually needs one, and certified English translation in 24h.

Ukraine Apostille & Translation: Hague Convention, MFA Process & Wartime Access

How Ukraine's apostille works under Hague Convention. Covers MFA and DRACS apostille authority, which documents qualify, wartime access challenges, whether USCIS requires apostille, and how apostille interacts with certified translation.

France Apostille and Translation: When You Need Both and How They Work Together

How to get a French apostille and when you need certified translation alongside it. Covers the cour d'appel process, which documents qualify, apostille vs legalization, and USCIS requirements.

Haitian Document Translation: Bilingual French/Creole Records, Archival Extracts & Legalization

How to translate Haitian documents for USCIS. Covers bilingual French/Creole records, extrait des archives, tribunal civil formats, legalization (no apostille), and TPS/asylum filing requirements.

Soviet-Era Document Translation: Pre-1991 Records, ЗАГС, and Bilingual Formats

How to translate Soviet-era documents from Ukraine and other former USSR republics. Covers ЗАГС civil registry, bilingual Russian/Ukrainian records, mixed-language handling, renamed cities, legal validity, archival challenges, and USCIS acceptance.

problem-solving

Spanish Name Discrepancies: Paterno, Materno & USCIS

What apellido paterno and materno mean, which one goes in the US 'Last Name' field, and how to keep Spanish names consistent across USCIS documents to avoid RFEs.

problem-solving

Ukrainian Patronymic Translation: По Батькові, Name Order & USCIS

Do Ukrainians have middle names? How patronymics (po batkovi) work, name order, married surnames, and how to transliterate them consistently for USCIS documents.

Academic & WES

Transcripts, diplomas, and credential evaluation for WES, ECE, and universities.

7 guides

Translation for Universities

Translation for university admissions often means transcript, diploma, and evaluator-specific rules. Here is how WES, ECE, and NACES fit together in 2026.

Transcript Translation for WES: Step-by-Step Requirements & Process

What WES requires from translated transcripts: course-by-course format, grading scales, common rejection reasons — and a certified translation WES accepts, in 24h.

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Transcript vs Diploma Translation: Which Do You Need, When You Need Both, and Why It Matters

Transcript translation vs diploma translation: when you need one, when you need both, and what WES, ECE, USCIS, and universities actually require. Clear comparison guide with examples.

Spanish Transcript Translation: Country-by-Country Guide for WES, ECE & University Admissions

Complete guide to translating Spanish-language academic transcripts from Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Spain & more. Country-specific grading systems, WES requirements, and common pitfalls.

Chinese Transcript Translation: 成绩单 Field Guide, Grading Systems & WES Requirements

Complete guide to translating Chinese academic transcripts (成绩单) for WES, ECE, and university admissions. Covers field-by-field breakdown, grading systems, CDGDC verification, and common pitfalls.

Ukrainian Diploma Translation for WES & Credential Evaluation

How to translate a Ukrainian diploma (диплом) and supplement (додаток) for WES, ECE, and NACES credential evaluations. Covers degree types, grading scale, Soviet-era terminology, and what evaluators actually check.

French Diploma Translation for WES: LMD System, Relevé de Notes & Credential Evaluation

How WES evaluates French diplomas: LMD degrees, grandes écoles, the 0–20 grading scale, ECTS credits — and certified translations WES accepts, delivered in 24h.

By Language & Country

Country-specific document formats, naming systems, and translation quirks.

2 guides

French Birth Certificate Translation: Acte de Naissance Field Guide for USCIS

See a French acte de naissance in English: copie intégrale vs extrait, marginal mentions, France vs Quebec formats — certified USCIS-accepted translation in 24h.

Ukrainian Birth Certificate Translation: Field-by-Field Guide

How to translate a Ukrainian birth certificate (свідоцтво про народження) for USCIS, courts, or universities. Covers every field, patronymic handling, Soviet-era vs modern format, and transliteration.

More Guides

Additional resources and reference guides.

Aadhaar Card Translation: India's National ID (UIDAI) for USCIS

How translators handle India's UIDAI Aadhaar card for USCIS: bilingual fields, masked digits, year-of-birth cards, and why Aadhaar is secondary ID evidence

Hukou Translation (户口簿): China's Household Register for USCIS

What a Chinese hukou household register shows in English: the relationship-to-head field, PSB seals, which pages to translate for USCIS — certified, 24h.

Juminhyo Translation (住民票): Japan's Residence Record for USCIS

What a Japanese juminhyo (住民票) proves, how it differs from the koseki, and how to translate it correctly for USCIS as proof of address and cohabitation.

Koseki Translation (戸籍謄本): Japan's Family Register for USCIS

What a Japanese koseki (戸籍謄本) family register records and how it is translated for USCIS — honseki vs address, era dates, seals, and family-petition use

RFC Translation: Mexico's Tax ID (Registro Federal de Contribuyentes) for USCIS

What the Mexican RFC (Registro Federal de Contribuyentes) is, how it is structured, and how a certified translator handles it on tax documents filed with USCIS.

problem-solving

Russian Patronymic Translation: Отчество, Name Order & USCIS

How the Russian patronymic (otchestvo) works: suffixes, why passports omit it, ICAO transliteration, and keeping names consistent across USCIS documents.