Apostille vs. Certified Translation: What's the Difference?
Apostille or certified translation, which do you need? Learn what each one does, when they are required, and whether USCIS asks for an apostille.
When you are preparing official documents for immigration, study, or international use, you may be told you need an apostille, a certified translation, or both. These are very different things, and confusing them can cost you time and money. This guide explains what an apostille is, what a certified translation is, when each is required, and whether USCIS asks for an apostille.
What Is an Apostille?
An apostille is a certificate that authenticates the origin of a public document, such as the signature and seal of the official who issued it. It is issued by a designated authority in the country where the document originated, and it is used so that the document is recognized in other countries that are part of the Hague Apostille Convention. Importantly, an apostille does not translate your document or say anything about the content. It only confirms that the original document and the official who signed it are genuine.
What Is a Certified Translation?
A certified translation is accompanied by a signed Certificate of Translation Accuracy confirming that the translation is complete and accurate and that the required language competence is certified. The certificate is dated and signed. Certification requirements vary by recipient and should be confirmed before ordering.
Key Differences
- ●What it does: An apostille authenticates the original document. A certified translation makes the content readable and accurate in another language.
- ●Issuing process: An apostille is issued by the appropriate government authority. A certified translation is accompanied by a signed accuracy statement.
- ●Purpose: An apostille is for international recognition between Hague Convention countries. A certified translation is for understanding the document in a new language.
- ●They are not interchangeable: An apostille is not a translation, and a translation is not an apostille. Sometimes you need both.
Does USCIS Require an Apostille?
For documents filed with USCIS inside the United States, you generally do not need an apostille. What USCIS requires is a certified English translation of any foreign-language document. Apostilles usually come into play when you are sending U.S. documents abroad, or when a foreign government or institution specifically asks for one. Always check the exact requirement of the agency that will receive your document, because needing an apostille and needing a certified translation are separate questions.
When You Might Need Both
In some situations you need both an apostille and a certified translation. For example, if you are using a document issued in one country for an official process in another, that country may require the original document to be apostilled and then accompanied by a certified translation. In these cases, the usual order is to obtain the apostille on the original first, and then have both the document and the apostille translated. Confirm the sequence with the receiving institution to avoid having to redo a step.
Why Choose Sure Translation
Sure Translation provides certified translations accepted by USCIS, universities, and courts, each with a stamped Certificate of Translation Accuracy, three rounds of revisions, and a 24-hour turnaround at just $18 per page. As an ATA Corporate Member, we make sure your translation is accurate and properly formatted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an apostille the same as a certified translation?
No. An apostille authenticates the original document and the official who issued it. A certified translation is an accurate translation of the content with a signed certification. They serve completely different purposes.
Does USCIS require an apostille?
Generally no. USCIS requires a certified English translation of foreign-language documents, not an apostille. Apostilles are usually for documents used between different countries.
Do I need to translate the apostille too?
If the apostille is in a foreign language and the receiving institution requires the full document in English, the apostille should be translated along with the document.
Which comes first, the apostille or the translation?
Usually the apostille is placed on the original document first, and then the document and apostille are translated. Always confirm with the receiving institution.
How much does a certified translation cost?
Sure Translation offers certified translations at a flat $18 per page, with certification included.