What Is a Certified Translation?
What is a certified translation? It is a complete translation of a document that comes with a signed statement saying the translation is accurate and the translator is competent in both languages. Immigration offices, courts and schools ask for one when your record is not in their language.
Written by 
What a certified translation includes
The translation and the certificate travel together as one document. A recipient will usually expect:
-
A translation of every page, including stamps, seals, handwritten notes and the back of the page.
-
A certificate naming the document and the two languages.
-
A statement that the translator is competent in both languages and that the translation is complete and accurate.
-
A signature, a printed name and a date.
Who asks for one
USCIS requires a full English translation and a translator's certification for any foreign-language document you file (8 CFR 103.2(b)(3)). Immigration courts ask for a certificate of translation with every non-English submission. Universities, credential evaluators, state agencies and employers often ask for the same thing.
Canada works a little differently. IRCC has its own rules about who can certify, which our IRCC translation requirements guide covers.
Certified, notarized and sworn translations
A notarized translation is a certified translation with one more step: a notary public confirms who signed the certificate. The notary does not check the translation. Our certified vs. notarized translation guide explains when you need the extra step.
Some countries, such as Spain and Germany, appoint sworn translators through a ministry or court. If a foreign authority asks for a sworn translation, a U.S. certified translation may not meet that request, so ask the authority before you order.
Can you certify your own translation?
The USCIS rule does not name who may translate. In practice, a translation by the applicant or a relative is easier for an officer to question, so most people use an independent translator. Our certificate states that the document was not translated for a family member, friend or business associate.
How we certify a translation
ImmiTranslate is a corporate member of the American Translators Association (member ID 268442). Every page of our certified translation service carries two signed statements: one from the company and one from the translator who did the work.
A certified translation costs $25 per page of up to 250 words. You review the draft as a PDF before it is final, and translations for USCIS are covered by our acceptance guarantee. Notarization is an optional $20 per order.
All Guides