Marriage Certificate Translation for USCIS: Requirements and What to Submit

Q: Do I need to submit the original marriage certificate or a copy?

USCIS accepts certified copies issued by the civil registry. Keep your original and submit the certified copy alongside the translation.

Q: We married in a religious ceremony abroad. Is the religious marriage certificate acceptable?

USCIS generally requires a civil marriage certificate. Religious ceremony certificates may be accepted as supplementary evidence but usually cannot replace civil registration.

📅 Updated March 2026 🕑 7 min read 🇺🇸 USCIS & Immigration

A foreign marriage certificate must be accompanied by a certified English translation before USCIS will accept it. This applies to all immigration petitions that involve proving marital status — from the I-130 family petition to the N-400 naturalization application. This guide explains exactly what USCIS requires, what your translation must include, and how marriage certificates differ by country.

Direct Answer

USCIS requires a certified translation of any foreign-language marriage certificate. The translation must include a signed Certificate of Accuracy from the translator. Notarization is not required for USCIS submissions. The original (or certified copy) and its translation must both be submitted together.

When You Need a Marriage Certificate Translation

USCIS requires a translated marriage certificate whenever a non-English marriage record is part of your immigration file. Common situations include:

Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) — to prove the petitioner and beneficiary are legally married
Form I-485 (Adjustment of Status) — marriage certificate of the applicant if applying through a spousal relationship
Form I-751 (Removal of Conditions on Residence) — to demonstrate the marriage was entered in good faith
Form N-400 (Naturalization) — if current or prior marriages are relevant to the application
Form DS-260 (Immigrant Visa at consulate) — marriage certificate for married applicants
Form I-129F (K-1 Fiancé(e) Visa) — if either party has been previously married, divorce decrees and prior marriage certificates may be needed

Even if your marriage certificate is partially in English — for instance, a bilingual certificate from a country that issues dual-language documents — USCIS generally requires a full certified translation of all non-English content.

What the Translation Must Include

Under 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3), a certified translation submitted to USCIS must:

Be a complete and accurate translation of all text in the original document, including official stamps, seals, marginalia, and footers
Include a Certificate of Accuracy — a signed, dated declaration from the translator stating they are competent in both languages and that the translation is complete and accurate
Include the translator's full name and contact information
Be produced by someone other than the applicant

The translation does not need to be notarized for USCIS purposes. Notarization adds cost with no additional benefit for federal immigration filings.

Translation Submission Checklist

Original marriage certificate (or certified copy issued by the civil registry)

Complete certified English translation of all pages

Certificate of Accuracy signed and dated by the translator

Translator's full name and contact details on the certificate

All marginal annotations (name changes, corrections, registrations) translated

Certified Copy vs Original: What to Submit

USCIS generally accepts certified copies of marriage certificates rather than originals. A certified copy is an official copy issued by the civil registry authority of the country of marriage — it typically carries an official seal or stamp confirming it is a true copy of the registered record.

You should:

Submit the certified copy (not a personal photocopy) alongside its translation
Keep your original document; do not send it unless specifically instructed by USCIS
If your country issues only originals (no certified copies), submit the original with a note explaining this practice

Apostille note: An apostille is a separate certification used for international document recognition between Hague Convention countries. USCIS does not require an apostille on marriage certificates — only a certified translation. Do not confuse apostille authentication with translation certification.

Marriage Certificate Formats by Country

Marriage certificate formats vary significantly between countries. Here is what translators and applicants commonly encounter:

Mexico

The Acta de Matrimonio is issued by the local civil registry (Registro Civil). It includes names of both spouses, date and place of marriage, names of parents and witnesses, and the civil registrar's signature and seal. Modern computerized actas (post-2014) are preferred, but older handwritten versions are fully acceptable with translation. All marginal notations must be translated.

Philippines

The PSA (Philippine Statistics Authority) issues the official marriage certificate on security paper. Most PSA certificates are bilingual (Filipino and English) — translate only the Filipino-language fields. Older NSO certificates remain valid. Late registered marriages should include a note in the translation.

India

India does not have a single national marriage certificate format. Certificates are issued by municipal authorities, gram panchayats, or religious bodies (church, temple, mosque registers). Hindu marriages may be registered under the Hindu Marriage Act; all others under the Special Marriage Act. State-specific formats vary widely. A professional translator familiar with the relevant script (Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, etc.) is essential for older or regional certificates.

China

The Jie Hun Zheng (结婚证) is the standard marriage certificate. It is typically a red booklet format. Translate all text including the official seal description. If the certificate is a notarized copy obtained through a Chinese notary office, translate the notarization cover page as well.

South Korea

South Korea uses family relationship certificates (Gajok Gwangyebu) rather than standalone marriage certificates. Request the certified copy specifically listing the marriage entry. Available through Korean consulates abroad. Translate all entries relevant to the marriage.

Dominican Republic

The Acta de Matrimonio is issued by the Junta Central Electoral (JCE). Recent digitized versions are preferred over older handwritten actas. As with birth certificates, the JCE apostille is available but not required for USCIS translation purposes.

Nigeria

Nigeria issues marriage certificates through the Registry of Marriages (court marriage) or through customary/religious ceremonies that may have separate documentation. Court marriage certificates are standard; customary marriage documentation varies by state and ethnic group. Include all pages and any attached affidavits.

Prior Marriages and Divorce Decrees

If either spouse has been previously married, USCIS requires evidence that all prior marriages were legally terminated. This means you must submit:

A certified copy of the divorce decree (or death certificate if the prior spouse is deceased)
A certified English translation of the divorce decree if it is in a foreign language

This applies to both the petitioner and the beneficiary. The USCIS officer must be able to confirm that both parties were legally free to marry at the time of the marriage being petitioned.

For a full guide on divorce decree translation requirements, see our article: Divorce Decree Translation for USCIS.

Common Issues That Cause RFEs

A Request for Evidence (RFE) related to a marriage certificate translation is most often caused by one of the following:

Incomplete translation — official seals, stamps, or annotations not translated
Missing Certificate of Accuracy — the translator's signed declaration was omitted
Applicant self-translated — USCIS will not accept translations done by the applicant
Short-form extract submitted — some countries issue short extracts that omit parents' names; USCIS may request the full version
Name discrepancy — if the name on the marriage certificate differs from other documents in the file, include a note or an affidavit explaining the discrepancy

How Official Translations Handles Marriage Certificates

Human-translated by a professional native speaker of the source language
All text translated including seals, stamps, and marginal annotations
Certificate of Accuracy signed and dated with every order
All international formats accepted: booklet, single-page, bilingual, handwritten
USCIS-accepted — delivered as PDF within 24–48 hours
Physical notarized copy available on request for court or state agency submissions

Translate Your Marriage Certificate

Certified, USCIS-accepted translation — starting at $29.95. Delivered in 24–48 hours.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does my marriage certificate translation need to be notarized for USCIS?

No. USCIS does not require notarized translations. A certified translation with a signed Certificate of Accuracy from a qualified translator is sufficient under 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3). Notarization may be required by certain US courts or state agencies, but not by USCIS.

Do I need to submit the original marriage certificate or a copy?

USCIS accepts certified copies issued by the civil registry authority of the country of marriage. You generally do not need to submit the original. Keep your original for your own records and submit the certified copy alongside the translation.

My marriage certificate is partially bilingual — do I still need a translation?

Yes. If any portion of your marriage certificate is in a language other than English, a certified translation of the non-English content is required. For documents that are already substantially in English (e.g., Philippine PSA certificates), only the non-English fields need to be translated, but the translation must be certified.

We married in a religious ceremony abroad. Is the religious marriage certificate acceptable?

USCIS generally requires a civil marriage certificate issued by the government authority of the country where you married. Religious ceremony certificates may be accepted as supplementary evidence but usually cannot replace the civil registration. If your country only recognizes religious marriages (e.g., certain Muslim-majority countries), include an explanation and any available supporting documentation.

How long does it take to translate a marriage certificate?

A standard marriage certificate translation (1–2 pages) takes 24–48 hours for digital delivery. If you need same-day service, contact us before ordering to confirm availability. Physical notarized copies require an additional 2–3 business days for mailing.

What if my name is spelled differently on my marriage certificate than on my passport?

Name discrepancies are common, especially with transliteration from non-Latin scripts (Arabic, Chinese, Cyrillic, etc.). Include a brief explanation or an affidavit noting the discrepancy. The translator should transliterate the name exactly as it appears in the original; do not ask the translator to match it to your passport spelling.

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