Birth Certificate Translation Requirements for USCIS, Passports and Schools

6 MIN READ

Updated October 12, 2026

Almost every authority that accepts a foreign birth certificate asks for a certified translation. That means a complete, word-for-word translation with a signed statement from the translator that it is accurate and that they are competent to translate. The details differ: USCIS needs no notary, a US passport application asks for a notarized letter from the translator, and some countries only accept sworn translators.

This guide sets out the requirements for USCIS, US passports, immigrant visas, schools and the main countries outside the US. If you already know what you need, our birth certificate translation services include a signed certificate of accuracy and 24-hour delivery.

What Every Certified Birth Certificate Translation Must Include

• A complete translation of everything on the certificate: names, dates, places, parents’ details, registration numbers, stamps, seals, signatures, handwritten notes and the apostille, if it isn’t in English.
• The same layout as the original, so the reader can match each entry.
• Names spelled the same way as in your passport.
• A signed statement from the translator that the translation is complete and accurate, and that they are competent to translate from the original language into English.
• The translator’s name, signature, date and contact details.
• A copy of the original birth certificate, submitted together with the translation.

USCIS Requirements

USCIS requires a full English translation of any foreign-language document you submit. The translator must certify that the translation is complete and accurate and that they are competent to translate from the foreign language into English. This is the rule in 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3).

• No notarization is needed for USCIS.
• Submit a copy of your birth certificate together with the certified translation.
• For family petitions such as Form I-130, the birth certificate should show both parents’ names. If your country issues a long-form certificate, use that one.
• The US State Department’s Reciprocity Schedule lists which birth records each country issues and which one to submit.
• USCIS doesn’t say who may translate. Most applicants use a professional translator, so the certification can’t be questioned.

US Passport Requirements

If you use a foreign birth certificate to apply for a US passport, for example because you became a US citizen through a US citizen parent, the State Department asks for more than a standard certified translation:

• Foreign-language documents must include a professional English translation.
• The translator must also provide a notarized letter about the accuracy of the translation and their ability to translate the document.
• The State Department returns your documents by mail, separately from your new passport.

This is one of the few US cases where a notary is involved, so mention “US passport” when you order.

Immigrant Visa Requirements (NVC and US Embassies)

For an immigrant visa, you and every family member immigrating with you need an original birth certificate or a certified copy. Any document that isn’t in English, or in the official language of the country where you apply, must come with a certified translation. The translator’s signed statement must say that the translation is accurate and that the translator is competent to translate.

US Schools and Universities

Public schools usually ask for a birth certificate to confirm a child’s age. Under federal guidance issued in May 2014 by the US Departments of Education and Justice, a school district may not bar a student from enrolling because he or she lacks a birth certificate or has a foreign birth certificate. Many districts accept a foreign birth certificate with an English translation, so ask yours whether it needs a certified one.

Universities rarely ask for a birth certificate. They usually check your identity with your passport. When they do ask, for example for in-state tuition or a scholarship, a certified translation is the safe choice

Requirements Outside the US

• United Kingdom (Home Office): the translation must include the translator’s confirmation that it is accurate, the date, the translator’s full name and signature, and their contact details.
• Canada (IRCC): the translation must be done by a certified translator who is a member of a provincial or territorial translators’ association. If it isn’t, it must come with an affidavit from the person who translated it.
• Australia (Home Affairs): translations made in Australia must be done by a NAATI-certified translator. Translations made outside Australia must show the translator’s full name, address, phone number, and qualifications and experience.
• European Union: many countries, including Spain, France, Germany and Italy, accept only sworn translators registered with a court or ministry. Between EU countries, you can often avoid a translation altogether by asking the issuing office for a multilingual standard form to attach to your birth certificate (EU Regulation 2016/1191).
• Citizenship by descent: if you’re applying for Italian or another citizenship through your ancestors, US birth certificates usually need an apostille and a translation into that country’s language.

Certified, Notarized or Sworn Translation: Which Do You Need?

When in doubt, ask the office that will receive your documents before you order.

Read also: How to get a certified translation in 2026

How Much a Certified Birth Certificate Translation Costs

Birth certificates are usually priced per page. At TheWordPoint, a certified translation of a one-page birth certificate from Spanish to English costs $24.75. The price per page drops to $22.87 in a 2-page document and $20.21 in a 3-page document. Other language pairs cost more, depending on the language and how complex the document is. Standard delivery is 24 hours, and rush delivery is available.

See all prices, or get a free quote in minutes.

Mistakes That Get Birth Certificate Translations Rejected

• Translating only the main text and leaving out stamps, seals, handwritten notes or the back of the certificate.
• Spelling names differently from your passport or other documents in the same application.
• Using the short-form certificate when the authority needs parents’ names.
• Leaving the translator’s statement unsigned or undated.
• Using machine translation, or translating your own certificate where the authority doesn’t accept it.
• Forgetting the notarized translator’s letter for a US passport application, or the apostille when one is required abroad.

Birth Certificate Translation: Frequently Asked Questions

Does USCIS require a notarized birth certificate translation?
No. USCIS needs a certified translation with the translator’s signed statement of accuracy and competence. A US passport application is different: it asks for a notarized letter from the translator.

Can I translate my own birth certificate?
USCIS doesn’t say who may translate, but most applicants use a professional translator so the certification can’t be questioned. For a US passport, the State Department asks for a professional English translation.

Do stamps, seals and the apostille need to be translated?
Yes. A certified translation must cover everything on the document, including stamps, seals, handwritten notes and the apostille, if it isn’t in English.

Do I need the long-form birth certificate?
For family petitions such as Form I-130, USCIS expects a birth certificate that shows both parents’ names. Check the State Department’s Reciprocity Schedule to see which version your country issues.

How long does a birth certificate translation take?
At TheWordPoint, the standard turnaround is 24 hours, and rush delivery is available.