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Does My Certified Translation Need an Apostille?

📅 Updated March 2026 🕑 6 min read 🇺🇸 USCIS & International
No — for USCIS submissions, your certified translation does not need an apostille. An apostille and a certified translation are two completely different things that serve different purposes. Confusing them is extremely common and leads to unnecessary expense and delays.
Direct Answer

For USCIS: a certified translation with a Certificate of Accuracy is all you need. No apostille is required on translations submitted to USCIS. Apostilles are used to authenticate original documents for use in foreign countries — they have nothing to do with the translation itself.

What Is an Apostille?

An apostille is an official authentication certificate issued by a government authority under the Hague Convention of 1961. It verifies the authenticity of an original document — specifically, it authenticates the signature, seal, or stamp of a public official on the document — so that document can be legally recognized in another Hague Convention member country.

The United States is a Hague Convention member. In the US, apostilles are issued by each state's Secretary of State (for state documents such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, and court orders) and by certain federal authorities (for federally issued documents).

Key fact: There are 125 Hague Convention member countries. When a US document needs to be used in any of those countries — such as for a foreign visa application, foreign property purchase, or overseas legal proceeding — an apostille may be required to authenticate the original US document. This is entirely separate from translation requirements.

Apostille vs Certified Translation: What Each Does

Feature Apostille Certified Translation
What it authenticates The original document's official signature, seal, or stamp The accuracy of the English translation of a foreign document
Issued by Government authority (Secretary of State for US docs) Translator or translation company
Attached to The original document The translated document
Required by USCIS No Yes
Required for using US docs abroad Often yes Depends on destination country
Purpose International document recognition Language accessibility for a reviewing authority

USCIS and Apostilles: The Clear Rule

USCIS does not require apostilles. When you submit a foreign-language document (such as a birth certificate or marriage certificate from another country) to USCIS, you need:

  1. The original foreign document (or a certified copy)
  2. A full certified English translation with a compliant Certificate of Accuracy

You do not need an apostille on the original foreign document. You do not need an apostille on the translation. USCIS has its own adjudication processes for verifying foreign documents and does not rely on the apostille system for this purpose.

Common misconception: Some customers believe that getting an apostille on a foreign birth certificate makes it more acceptable to USCIS. This is incorrect. USCIS does not require apostilles and attaching one neither helps nor hurts your submission. It is simply unnecessary for USCIS purposes.

When You DO Need an Apostille

Apostilles are required in a specific and well-defined set of circumstances: when an official document issued in one Hague Convention country must be used in another Hague Convention country, and the receiving country requires apostille authentication.

Common situations where you may need an apostille:

  • US citizens applying for residency or citizenship abroad — many countries require apostilled US birth certificates, FBI background checks, or marriage certificates
  • Getting married in a foreign country — many countries require apostilled civil status documents
  • Foreign property transactions — purchasing property in Spain, Italy, Portugal, or other countries often requires apostilled documents
  • Foreign court proceedings — presenting US legal documents in foreign courts may require apostilles
  • Foreign professional licences — some countries require apostilled educational credentials or professional certifications
  • Some foreign visa applications — certain countries require apostilled supporting documents

When You Need Both an Apostille AND a Translation

These two requirements can occur together when a document needs to be both authenticated and translated for a foreign authority. The typical scenario:

  • You have a US document (e.g., an FBI background check) that needs to be used in a non-English-speaking country
  • That country requires the document to be apostilled (authentication) AND translated into their language

In this case, the standard process is: apostille the original US document first, then have the apostilled document (including the apostille certificate itself) translated into the target language with a certified translation.

Decision Tree: Do You Need an Apostille, Translation, or Both?

Find Your Situation

USCIS petition (US) Certified translation only. No apostille needed on foreign documents submitted to USCIS. No apostille needed on the translation.
US document going abroad Apostille the US document (if the destination country is a Hague member and requires it). If the destination country does not speak English, you will also need a certified translation of the document.
Foreign document coming to USCIS Certified translation only. The original foreign document does not need an apostille for USCIS. Provide original + certified English translation.
Foreign document going to another foreign country Depends on the destination country's requirements. May require both apostille and translation. Check with the receiving authority.
US document for immigration abroad (e.g., Portugal D7 visa) Usually both. Apostille the US document, then have the apostilled document translated into the destination country's language with a certified translation.

How to Get an Apostille in the United States

In the US, apostilles are issued by state authorities — not by USCIS or any federal immigration agency. For most vital records documents:

  • Birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates: Contact the Secretary of State's office in the state where the document was issued
  • FBI background checks: The US Department of State issues apostilles on FBI documents
  • Notarized documents: The Secretary of State in the state where the notarization occurred issues the apostille
  • Federal court documents: The US Department of State handles apostilles for federal documents

Processing times vary by state from 1 day to several weeks. Many states offer expedited processing for an additional fee. We obtain the official apostille on your behalf for US documents as part of our apostille service — see our full apostille guide for details.

Need a Certified Translation or Apostille Service?

Certified translations for USCIS from $24.95. Apostille procurement available for US documents going abroad.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does USCIS require an apostille on foreign birth certificates?
No. USCIS does not require apostilles on any foreign documents submitted with immigration petitions. You need the original foreign document (or certified copy) and a certified English translation with a Certificate of Accuracy. No apostille is required.
Should I get an apostille on my certified translation?
For USCIS, no. Apostilles are placed on original documents, not on translations. An apostille on a translation document is not standard practice in the US and would serve no recognized purpose for USCIS or most other US authorities.
I need to use my US birth certificate in Spain. Do I need an apostille and a translation?
Most likely yes to both. Spain is a Hague Convention country and typically requires US documents to be apostilled before they are recognized. Since Spain is a Spanish-speaking country, you will also need a certified translation of the document into Spanish (and the apostille itself may need to be translated as well). The standard order is: obtain the apostille first, then have the full apostilled document translated.
What is the difference between an apostille and notarization?
Notarization is a domestic authentication by a licensed notary public who witnesses a signature. An apostille is an international government-issued authentication that makes a document legally recognized in another Hague Convention country. A notarization is often a prerequisite step before obtaining an apostille — many documents must first be notarized before the Secretary of State will attach an apostille.
My country is not part of the Hague Convention. What do I do instead of an apostille?
For countries not in the Hague Convention, the equivalent process is called "legalization" or "authentication" (sometimes via the foreign country's consulate in the US, or via the US Embassy in that country). This is a more complex process than apostille. Contact the embassy or consulate of the destination country in the US for specific requirements.
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