Submitting a foreign-language document in the United States, or sending a U.S. document abroad? Start with the direction: the translation, certification, and apostille rules are not the same.
Requirements reviewed by Natalia Vega
Senior Certified Translation Reviewer · Last verified June 2026
Reviewed June 2026 · Natalia Vega
The United States follows a certified-translation standard: any document not in English needs a complete English translation with a signed Certificate of Accuracy from a competent translator. USCIS, universities, and courts accept this — no sworn translator and no notarization is required by USCIS. The U.S. has been in the Hague Apostille Convention since 1981, so a U.S. document used abroad is apostilled by the issuing state or the Department of State; foreign documents submitted in the U.S. need a certified translation, not an apostille.
Confirm final requirements with the authority receiving the document.
Need a certified English translation?
From $24.95/page · signed certification included
Quick reference
Confirm final requirements with the authority receiving the document.
| Translation standard | Certified translation |
|---|---|
| Who can translate | Any competent translator providing a signed certification of accuracy |
| Apostille | When the receiving authority requires authentication; separate from translation |
| Apostille authority | For U.S. documents used abroad: the Secretary of State of the issuing state for state documents (such as a birth certificate), and the U.S. Department of State for federal documents. |
| Accepted languages | English (for federal authorities such as USCIS) |
| Responsible authority | U.S. Department of State (for apostilles issued in the U.S.) |
Official-use requirements
The local certification system, who may translate, and what gives the finished document legal effect.
Cross-border authentication
United States is part of the Hague Apostille Convention (since 1981), so public documents are authenticated with a single apostille — no consular legalization.
From United States
For U.S. documents used abroad: the Secretary of State of the issuing state for state documents (such as a birth certificate), and the U.S. Department of State for federal documents.The United States has been a party to the Convention since 1981.
Toward United States
Foreign documents submitted to USCIS, a university, or a court do not need an apostille — they need a certified English translation with a signed Certificate of Accuracy. An apostille authenticates an original for a foreign government, not for U.S. use.
When the receiving authority requires an apostille on the original, obtain it before translation so the apostille certificate can be translated too. See how apostilles work, or order a certified translation.
Submission checklist
USCIS requires the complete document — including stamps, seals, and marginal notes — rendered into English, not summarized.
It carries the translator's statement of competence, full name, signature, and date — the element that makes the translation "certified".
File them together with USCIS, the university, or the court. No notarization or apostille is required for USCIS.
Ready to get your documents translated?
Certified for USCIS, universities, and credential evaluators — from $24.95/page.
Two directions, two rulebooks
Choose the destination first. It determines the language, certification, and whether an apostille belongs in the packet.
Authorities in the United States accept certified English translations with a signed Certificate of Accuracy. We translate from 65+ languages with 24-hour delivery.
Foreign documents submitted to USCIS, a university, or a court do not need an apostille — they need a certified English translation with a signed Certificate of Accuracy. An apostille authenticates an original for a foreign government, not for U.S. use.
Common document types
The document types we certify most often — each with its own pricing and requirements page.
Avoid preventable delays
The mistakes we see most often on U.S. documents — and what a correct certified translation does instead.
USCIS requires the entire document in English; a translation that renders the text but skips the stamps, seals, or marginal notes is treated as incomplete.
See how we handled itThe certification must state that the translation is accurate and that the translator is competent, with the full name, signature, and date; without it, the translation is not certified.
A summary or "gist" is not a certified translation; USCIS requires a faithful, full rendering of every line.
Clear per-page pricing
A one-page certificate is priced as a single page; multi-page transcripts and court records are priced by their page count. Standard translation delivery is 24 hours for most 1–3 page orders. Notarization, hard-copy mailing, and apostille service are priced separately because their timelines differ.
Certified translation from
One physical source page, any length.
Start my translation See all pricing and add-onsQuestions people ask before submitting
Yes. Under 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3), any foreign-language document filed with USCIS must include a full English translation that the translator certifies as complete and accurate, with a statement of competence.
USCIS translation requirementsNo. USCIS requires a signed Certificate of Accuracy, not notarization. Some other bodies — certain DMVs or courts — may ask for a notarized translation, which we offer as an add-on.
certified vs notarizedNo. An apostille authenticates an original document for a foreign government; USCIS generally does not require one for supporting documents. What USCIS needs is a certified English translation.
how apostilles workIt is the signed statement attached to the translation in which the translator certifies that the translation is complete and accurate and that they are competent to translate. It is what makes a translation "certified" for USCIS.
Certificate of Accuracy explainedNo. USCIS rejects self-translation because of the conflict of interest. The translation must be completed and certified by an independent, competent translator.
what a certified translation isWe translate certified documents from 60+ languages into English, including Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Arabic, Portuguese, and many more, each with a signed Certificate of Accuracy.
languages we translateThe certified-translation requirement is the same across forms, but the documents you must include differ by form (I-130, I-485, N-400, and others). Our form guides map the translation needs for each.
translation rules by USCIS formPricing is per page. A one-page birth certificate is a single page; multi-page records are priced by page count. Notarization and apostille are optional add-ons.
see live pricingInformation verified against official sources. Last verified June 2026.
