How to Translate Birth Certificate A Complete Guide

By: Admin Posted on Mon, 24-05-2021

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Are you planning to move to another country for higher education or to get a better job? For this, you need to provide some documents to the legal authorities. Do you know what is the important document to provide in the process of immigration? It is the birth certificate. A birth certificate is a legal document and people mainly use it when traveling. It shows your age and nationality. Also, it depicts your identity in a foreign land. This legal document is issued by the government of the country in which you are born. Foreign countries require it in their native language. Therefore, if you wish to go abroad, you need to translate birth certificates. Apart from identification, many countries also used it for census and tax purposes. Foreign government authorities use this document. Therefore, it is very important to translate birth certificates accurately for different purposes.  

Birth Certification Required for Other Purposes

Usually, the birth certificate is required in immigration documentation. For instance, if you want to get a visa or want citizenship of a foreign country, you must provide a copy of your birth certificate in the translated version to the government authorities of that country. Apart from the immigration process, if you want to attend a wedding or any training in a foreign land then you need to provide a translated birth certificate to the local authorities.

Let’s have a look at different cases in which you require birth certification:

  • Custody
  • Parent’s recognition
  • Emigration
  • Formation of civil partnerships.
  • Deaths
  • Buying a property in a foreign land.
  • Change of name
  • Neutralization
  • Baptisms
  • Naturalization
  • Marriages

What to do for Birth Certificate Translation

Do you want to apply for US citizenship? For this, you need to provide a birth certificate to the legal authority that is US citizen and immigration service USCIS. You can hire a professional translation service. Not anyone can translate the birth certificate who is proficient in source and target language.
Professional translation service providers are third parties. Their stance over your documents is neutral. Therefore, they provide you with accurate translation services. Even if anyone is proficient in English and other languages, it is recommended to hire a professional translation company to translate a birth certificate for USCIS. They have a team of certified translators who know the USCIS guidelines and produce a birth certificate translation accordingly. Moreover, government authorities accept these translations. 

The important thing to note is that not all the translations need to be certified. However, if you are applying for citizenship or residency, then the formality level of the legal documents needs to be high. Moreover, these documents are required on time so that the process of immigration is not delayed. In this case, you need the services of a translation agency that specializes in certified translations. The translation companies handle such types of translation projects and are aware of all the legal requirements. Thus, the government and legal bodies of foreign countries accept the birth certification translations. 

What Does Certified Translation Mean?

Certified translation is a translation that contains a signed letter by the translation company. It shows that the qualified translator has done the translation and the translation is accurate as per the original document. You can differentiate the certified translation from the other translation in the way that it cannot be performed by your family member, yourself, and by google translate. USCIS only approves certified translations. 

How to Notarize a Translated Birth Certificate

The translator of the company that is providing a certified translation needs to sign a certification letter. This shows the accuracy of the translation. After that, the notary public needs to sign and stamp a document as a witness. It is called notarized translation. The notarization process shows that your birth certificate is accurate. Moreover, it depicts the awareness and willingness of the document signer.

If you want to translate a birth certificate for the United States then your document translation needs to be certified but not notarized. The important thing to understand here is that notarization documents are sent from abroad. Whereas, if you have a supporting document for immigration then it is not compulsory.
Translation of a Birth Certificate for Immigration Purposes USCIS

If you want to apply for permanent residency in the United States, then you have to provide several documents. No doubt it is a long and rigorous process to show your eligibility. Apart from different other documents, you need to submit one of the most important foreign birth certificates. Without this vital document, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services USCIS cannot identify your nationality. Moreover, they are not able to decide what to charge for visa applications. Consequently, they reject your application.

What are the Requirements for USCIS?

USCIS requires immigrants that are applying for visa and residency needs to provide a birth certificate in the English version. In addition to the English version, the birth certificate formatting should match the original one. Moreover, any seal on the original document should remain in the translated version and should be in the same place in both documents. The certified translator translates each birth certificate. The certified translation is printed on the letterhead of the translation agency. Moreover, it needs to have a certification letter with signatures attached to it.

The personal information that the USCIS requires in the Birth certificate include:

  • Full name
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Mother and Father full names
  • A seal depicting that the document is for official use.

Process of Birth Certificate Translation

Let’s have a look at the process of birth certificate translation

  • You need to submit the electronic copy of the birth certificate to a certified translation service. It should include your name, email address, phone number, the original document, and the source, and the target language.

  • The project manager gets the translation done in time.
  • The turnaround time will depend upon the formatting, length, subject matter, and language pair.
  • After the translation of the birth certificate, it is proofread for accuracy.
  • All translations need to be certified and notarized.
  • After the translation completion, you will get an electronic copy and 4 hard copies of the translated birth certificate for your record. Thus, you can mail hard copies to your preferred address.
  • Finally, the birth certificate is stored on the server so that it remains confidential.

Price Quote to Translate Birth Certificate

Many translation companies are working around the globe. Each company provides translation services according to the rules and regulations of their country. But when it comes to price quotes, they charge according to the language pairs. If you want a translation of a birth certificate for USCIS, they consider length, format seals, language pair, and many other factors while providing price quotes to their clients. Therefore, some companies charge minimal rates while others charge high prices.
Prices also vary because of the region, the complexity of the document, and the translation service provider itself. The government agencies require both long and short formats of birth certificates. USCIS requires a birth certificate that contains maximum information. Therefore, the length of the birth certificate influences the price. 

Wrapping Up:

Collecting all the documents for immigration is a time taking task. You cannot afford the rejection of your immigration application because of the inaccurate translation of birth certificates. Thus, if you want to translate birth certificates, you need to look for a professional translation company that provides certified translation.