What is a certified translation?

A certified translation is a complete translation with a signed statement from the translator or translation company confirming that it is complete, accurate and made by a competent translator.

What a certified translation includes

A certified translation has two parts: the complete translation of your document and a signed certificate of accuracy. The certificate confirms that the translation is complete and correct and that the translator is competent in both languages.

Offices such as USCIS, courts, universities and banks ask for it because they rely on the translation without reading the original. For the full explanation, read our guide What is a certified translation and where do I get one?.

How to get a certified translation

Check what the receiving office asks for: certified, notarized, or both.
Scan every page of the document, front and back.
Upload it; the certified translation costs $20 per page and most documents are ready within 24 hours.

Good to know about certified translations

Every translation is checked by a second linguist before delivery.
A certified translation is not the same as a notarized one: the notary only confirms who signed.
In the US there are no sworn or government-approved translators.

Example of a certificate of accuracy

The certificate is a short statement at the end of the translation. For example:

I certify that I am competent to translate from Spanish into English and that the attached translation of the birth certificate is complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and ability.

It is followed by the translator’s name, signature and the date.

Who asks for a certified translation

USCIS, for every foreign-language document in an immigration case (8 CFR 103.2(b)(3)).
New York courts, which ask for an affidavit of the translator (CPLR 2101(b)).
Universities and credential evaluators, for diplomas and transcripts.
Banks, employers and the DMV; their rules differ per office, so check with them first.

What a certified translation is not

It is not a notarized translation: a notary only confirms who signed the certificate.
It is not a sworn translation as in many European and Latin American countries.
It does not need an “approved” translator: USCIS does not approve or license translators.