US Apostilled Translation Services

Apostilled translation for use abroad, citizenship and permanent residency. Official Secretary of State apostille combined with certified translation — valid in 125+ Hague Convention countries.

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All 50 US States

Hague Convention

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125+ Countries

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Apostilled Translation Service

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Apostille + Certified Translation

$199.95

per document

✓Certified translation by a professional translator
✓Notarization included — required for the apostille process
✓Official Secretary of State apostille included
✓Apostille attached to the certified translation
✓Delivered by tracked mail + digital PDF copy
✓Accepted in all 125+ Hague Convention countries
✓Valid for foreign residency, citizenship & overseas use

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Price is per single standard-page document. Multi-page documents quoted individually. FBI background check apostille involves additional processing — contact us for a quote.

The Process

How US Apostilled Translation Works

We handle the entire apostille process from start to finish. You upload your document — we translate, certify, and obtain the official Secretary of State apostille.

Upload Document

Upload your original document securely online. We accept scanned copies, photos, and PDFs in any format.

Translate & Certify

A professional translator produces a certified translation, which is then notarized by a licensed notary public. Notarization is required before the Secretary of State will issue an apostille.

Secretary of State Apostille

We obtain the official Secretary of State apostille and attach it to the certified translation. The completed document is valid in all 125+ Hague Convention countries.

Delivery

We return your apostilled document by tracked mail, with a digital PDF copy included. Your document arrives ready for submission to any Hague Convention country authority.

What Is an Apostille?

US Apostille Explained

An apostille is an official certificate that authenticates a public document, making it legally recognised in countries that are members of the 1961 Hague Convention. The United States joined the Hague Convention in 1981, and US-issued apostilles are accepted in all 125+ member countries worldwide.

In the United States, apostilles are issued by the Secretary of State of each individual state — there is no single federal apostille authority for state-issued documents. If your document was issued in California, the California Secretary of State issues the apostille. If it was issued in New York, the New York Secretary of State issues it. The one exception is federal documents such as FBI background checks, which are apostilled by the US Department of State in Washington, DC.

Any US-issued apostille has the same international standing — it will be accepted at any government authority in any Hague Convention member country. We handle the apostille process for you and return the completed document ready for submission abroad.

An apostille is completely different from a certified translation. A certified translation converts a document from one language to another and is required when submitting foreign-language documents to US institutions like USCIS. An apostille authenticates an existing document for use abroad — it does not involve translation. Many customers need both: for example, a US birth certificate going to a foreign country that does not use English. Learn when you need an apostille, a translation, or both.

It is important to note that USCIS does not require apostilles on documents submitted for immigration applications. If you are submitting foreign-language documents to USCIS, a standard certified translation is what you need — not an apostille.

When You Need It

Common Uses for Apostilled Translation

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Use Abroad

US documents submitted to a foreign government authority in a Hague Convention country require an apostille. This applies to birth certificates, marriage certificates, academic transcripts, and more.

125+ Countries

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Foreign Residency

Applying for residency in Spain, Italy, Portugal, Mexico, or any Hague Convention country? US documents such as birth certificates and police clearance letters will require an apostille.

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Citizenship Applications

Ancestry citizenship applications, dual nationality applications, and naturalisation processes in Hague Convention countries typically require apostilled US documents as part of the application.

Which Service Do You Need?

Certified Translation vs Apostilled Translation

Your Requirement	Certified Translation	Notarized Translation	Apostille + Translation
USCIS Immigration Application	✓ Sufficient	Not required	Not required for USCIS
US Court Proceedings	✓ Sufficient	Rarely required	Not required for US courts
US Universities & WES Evaluation	✓ Sufficient	Not required	Not required for US institutions
DMV License Exchange	✓ Sufficient	Not required	Not required by DMV
US Bank or Private Institution	May not be accepted	✓ Often required	Not required
Foreign Government / Embassy (Hague country)	Often not accepted alone	Not sufficient	✓ Required
Foreign Citizenship or Residency Application	Usually not sufficient	Not sufficient	✓ Required
US Document Being Used Abroad	Not accepted in most countries	Not accepted abroad	✓ Required
Property Purchase Abroad	Depends on country	Not sufficient	✓ Usually required
Overseas University Admissions	Depends on country	Not sufficient	✓ Usually required

Not sure which service you need? If your document is being submitted to a US institution, choose certified translation. If it is going to a foreign authority in a Hague Convention country, you need the apostille service. Contact us and we will advise you.

Common Documents

Documents Commonly Requiring Apostille

📄Birth Certificate 💍Marriage Certificate 📋Academic Transcript 🎓Diploma & Degree 📑Death Certificate 📄Divorce Decree ✍️Power of Attorney 🔍FBI Background Check

Where It Is Accepted

Hague Convention Countries

The 1961 Hague Apostille Convention has been ratified by 125+ countries. A US apostille on your certified translation means it will be recognised as authentic by authorities in all member countries. Popular destinations where US apostilled translations are commonly required include:

Spain Italy France Germany Portugal Netherlands Poland Romania Mexico Brazil Argentina Colombia Costa Rica Australia India South Korea Japan South Africa Greece Turkey

Our apostille service covers all Hague Convention member countries. If you are unsure whether your destination country is a member, contact us before placing your order. For countries that are not Hague Convention members, document authentication involves a different process — contact us to discuss your specific requirements.

Special Case

FBI Background Check Apostille

The FBI Identity History Summary (FBI background check) requires a different apostille process to other US documents. It is apostilled by the US Department of State in Washington, DC — not by a state Secretary of State — because it is a federal document.

The critical rule with FBI background checks: always apostille before translating. The US Department of State apostille is issued in English only. If you apostille after translation, you will have created a different document from what the apostille certifies — which foreign authorities may not accept. The correct sequence is: FBI PDF → apostille → certified translation.

We manage the full FBI apostille and translation sequence. You provide us your FBI PDF (no mailing of originals required). We arrange the apostille through the US Department of State (approximately 3–4 weeks, subject to change), then produce the certified translation of the apostilled document and deliver the complete package to you. Contact us to discuss FBI background check apostille requirements.

Common Questions

Apostilled Translation FAQ

My document was issued in one state — can it be translated and notarized in a different state?−

Yes, absolutely. The state where your document was issued has nothing to do with where the translation and notarization takes place. These are two completely separate steps. For example, if your birth certificate was issued in Texas but you now live in California, we can translate and notarize it from any state. The apostille, however, must be issued by the Secretary of State of the state that issued the original document — so for that Texas birth certificate, the apostille comes from the Texas Secretary of State, regardless of where you are located. We handle the apostille submission to the correct state office as part of our service.

An important point that many customers ask about: although each US state has its own Secretary of State, all 50 states are part of one country — the United States of America. A US apostille from any state carries the same international authority. Foreign authorities in Hague Convention countries recognise all US state apostilles as equally valid US government certifications. There is no hierarchy between states — a California apostille carries the same weight abroad as a New York, Texas, or Florida apostille.

Does my translation need to be notarized to get an apostille?+

Yes. Most Secretary of State offices require notarization of the translation before they will issue an apostille. A notary public witnesses the translator's signature and verifies their identity — this is what the Secretary of State apostille then authenticates. Without notarization, the apostille process cannot proceed. Notarization is included in our apostille + translation service. Note that for standard certified translation used within the US (for example, for USCIS), notarization is not required — it is only needed when the apostille step is involved.

My document is in English — do I still need a translation for an apostille abroad?+

It depends on the destination country. Some countries accept English-language US documents with just the apostille attached — the apostille itself is in English and is recognised by the receiving authority. Other countries, particularly non-English-speaking ones, will require a certified translation into their official language in addition to the apostille. For example, submitting a US birth certificate to Spanish authorities for citizenship purposes will typically require a Spanish translation with an apostille. We recommend confirming the exact requirements with the receiving institution before ordering. If you are unsure, contact us with your document and destination country and we will advise you.

Do I need an apostille if my translation is only being used in the US?+

No. Apostilles are only required when a US document is being submitted to a foreign government authority in a Hague Convention country. If your translation will be used within the US — for example, for USCIS, a US court, a university, or the DMV — a standard certified translation is all that is needed. Apostilles serve no purpose for US domestic submissions and are not accepted by USCIS as a substitute for a certified translation.

Can I use the same apostilled translation document in multiple countries?+

Yes. A US apostille is recognised in all 125+ Hague Convention member countries. There is no country-specific restriction on a US apostille — once issued, the apostilled document can be presented to any Hague Convention authority worldwide. However, if the destination country requires a translation in its official language, you would need separate translated versions for each language. For example, if you are submitting to both Spanish and Italian authorities, you would need a Spanish translation and an Italian translation, each with its own apostille.

What is the difference between an apostille and embassy legalisation?+

An apostille is a simplified form of authentication used exclusively between countries that have signed the 1961 Hague Convention. If both the issuing country and the receiving country are Hague Convention members, an apostille is sufficient — no embassy involvement is required. Embassy legalisation (also called consular legalisation or chain legalisation) is used for countries that are not Hague Convention members. It is a more complex process involving multiple authentications. We provide apostille services only. If your destination country is not a Hague Convention member, please contact us to discuss your options.

About Our US Apostille Service

Official Translations provides professional apostilled translation services for individuals and businesses throughout the United States. Our end-to-end service covers the complete process: certified translation by a qualified professional translator, followed by obtaining the official Secretary of State apostille.

Our US apostilled translation service is most commonly used by Americans moving abroad, expats applying for foreign residency or citizenship, individuals completing property transactions in Hague Convention countries, students enrolling at overseas universities, and businesses operating internationally. Common documents include birth certificate translations, marriage certificate translations, academic transcript translations, diploma certifications, and death certificates.

It is important to understand that an apostille and a certified translation serve completely different purposes. A certified translation is required when submitting a foreign-language document to a US institution — USCIS, a US court, a US university, or the DMV. An apostille is required when using a US-issued document in a foreign country that is a member of the 1961 Hague Convention. USCIS specifically does not require apostilles — if you are preparing an immigration application, you need certified translation, not apostille. For a detailed breakdown of which service applies to your situation, contact us before placing your order.

We translate documents from and into over 100 languages. Whether you need a Spanish document apostilled, a Portuguese birth certificate translated and apostilled, or an Arabic document prepared for submission to a Hague Convention authority, our professional translators deliver accurate, certified translations ready for the apostille process. For state-specific guidance, contact us with your document details.

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Get your US documents apostilled for citizenship applications, permanent residency, and official use abroad. Valid in 125+ Hague Convention countries.

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