What Is a Certified Translation? A Plain-English Guide
In the United States, "certified" describes the translation, not a government licence: a complete translation plus a signed statement from the translator that it is accurate. Here is what that means in practice.
By Global Certified Translations · · 4 min read
A certified translation is a complete translation of a document that comes with a signed statement, usually called a certificate of translation accuracy, in which the translator (or the translation company) confirms that the translation is complete and accurate and that the translator is competent in both languages.
That is the whole definition in the United States. There is no federal agency that licenses translators and no national register of "certified translators." When a US agency, court or university asks for a certified translation, it is asking for the translation and that signed statement, together.
What a certified translation contains
A certified translation package normally has three parts:
- A copy of the original document in the source language, so the reader can compare the two.
- The English translation, which covers everything on the page: printed text, stamps, seals, handwritten notes, and marginal annotations. Nothing is summarised or left out.
- The certificate of accuracy, signed and dated by the translator, stating that the translation is complete and accurate and that the translator is competent to translate between the two languages.
We cover the wording of the certificate, with a sample, in what a certificate of translation accuracy must say.
Where the rule comes from for immigration
For immigration filings, the requirement is written into federal regulation. 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) says:
"Any document containing foreign language submitted to USCIS shall be accompanied by a full English language translation which the translator has certified as complete and accurate, and by the translator's certification that he or she is competent to translate from the foreign language into English."
Two points in that sentence matter most. The translation must be full, not a summary or an extract. And the certification has two parts: one about the accuracy of the translation and one about the translator's competence. A statement that only covers one of them is incomplete.
Certified is not the same as notarized
People often use the two words interchangeably, but they mean different things:
- A certified translation is about the content: the translator vouches that the translation is accurate.
- A notarized translation is about the signature: a notary public confirms the identity of the person who signed the certificate. The notary does not check the translation.
USCIS does not require notarization. Some courts, schools, and foreign authorities do. See certified vs. notarized translation for how to tell which one you need.
When you need a certified translation
Common situations in the US include:
- Immigration filings with USCIS: birth, marriage, divorce and police records for green card, citizenship and visa petitions. See our USCIS translation service.
- Courts and legal proceedings: foreign judgments, contracts, powers of attorney and evidence. See legal document translation.
- Education and professional licensing: diplomas and transcripts sent to a university or credential evaluator. See transcript translation.
- Government records and benefits: vital records used for name changes, estates, or insurance claims.
Each receiving institution sets its own rules. Some accept any certified translation, some require notarization, and a few (for example, some credential evaluators) will not accept translations made by the applicant. Always check the requirements of the office that will receive the document.
Who can certify a translation?
Under the USCIS rule, any person who is competent in both languages can translate and certify, as long as they sign the required statement. In practice, most applicants use a professional translator or translation company, for two reasons. The translator's name, signature and contact details go on the record. And an independent translator is much harder to question than a relative or the applicant themselves. We explain the self-translation question in detail in can you translate your own documents for USCIS?
What makes a certified translation acceptable
Most rejections and requests for evidence (RFEs) involving translations come from a small number of avoidable problems:
- a partial translation (for example, only the "important" fields of a birth certificate);
- untranslated stamps, seals or handwritten notes;
- a certificate that omits the competence statement, the signature, or the date;
- names spelled differently from the passport or other documents in the file.
Our guide to translation mistakes that cause USCIS delays goes through each one.
How we handle certified translations
At Global Certified Translations, every translation is signed by a State Court Certified Translator and comes with a certificate of accuracy at no extra charge. Pricing starts at $49 for the first page (up to 250 words), with a standard turnaround of 24 hours. You can upload your document for an instant quote or read more about our certified translation service.