How to Get a Certified Translation
How to get a certified translation: check what the recipient asks for, send a clear copy of every page, have an independent translator translate and certify it, then check the draft before you submit it. The whole process can be done online.
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Step by step
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Check what the recipient asks for
Read the instructions from the office, court or school that will receive the translation. Note whether it wants a certified translation, a notarized one or a mailed paper copy. USCIS asks for a certified translation only.
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Scan or photograph every page
Include the back of each page and anything stamped, sealed or handwritten. Keep the edges in the frame. A clear phone photo is enough; you do not need to mail the original.
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Use an independent translator
Choose a translator or company that can sign a certificate of accuracy. Avoid translating your own documents or asking a relative, which is easier for an officer to question.
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Check the draft
Compare names, dates and places with your passport and other forms. Ask for corrections before the translation is final.
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Download and submit
Submit the translation together with a copy of the original. Add notarization or a mailed copy only if the recipient asked for it.
What it costs and how long it takes
At ImmiTranslate a certified translation costs $25 per page of up to 250 words, so a typical birth or marriage certificate is one page. Standard turnaround starts at 24 hours, and faster options are offered at checkout. Notarization adds $20 per order, and a mailed wet-ink copy is available.
Getting a certified translation for USCIS
USCIS wants a full English translation with the translator's signed statement that it is complete and accurate and that they are competent in both languages. It does not require notarization and does not keep a list of approved translators. Our USCIS translation requirements guide has the checklist, and our USCIS translations come with an acceptance guarantee.
Mistakes that cause delays
- A summary or partial translation instead of the whole document.
- Names spelled differently from the passport or the application form.
- A missing back page, stamp or margin note.
- Machine translation submitted without a translator's review and signature.
Not sure what a finished one looks like? See our certificate of translation sample.
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