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Montana Department of Justice, Motor Vehicle Division: Translation Requirements for Documents in Another Language
Yes: Montana MVD accepts a translator individually certified by ATA, and eVerbary assigns one on request.
Who may translate: ATA-certified, consulate, federal, attorney, MVD
- ATA-certified translator from $34.95 per page
- Ordered through a free quote
- Price and translator confirmed before you pay
ATA prices and how to order · policy checked on October 29, 2026
The Montana Motor Vehicle Division requires every document an applicant submits to be in English or translated into English, presented with the original, with a signed declaration typed on the same page as the translation.
Its rule lists who may translate, starting with a translator certified by the American Translators Association; the Montana MVD accepts a translator individually certified by ATA, and eVerbary assigns one on request.
The other listed routes (embassy or consulate approval, a federal agency, a U.S. attorney or MVD approval) are not ones we provide.
Montana MVD at a glance
Does it accept eVerbary? Yes
Montana's rule ARM 23.3.176 lists a translator certified by the American Translators Association first among those who may translate (ARM 23.3.176 Translator requirements), so a translation by an ATA-certified translator, which eVerbary assigns on request, meets it when it carries the declaration of ARM 23.3.175. Policy checked on October 29, 2026.
- Translation
- Required, declaration on the same page
- Who may translate
- ATA-certified, consulate, federal, attorney, MVD
- Foreign license
- No relatives; original presented with it
- Price
- $24.95 per pageUp to 250 words, certification included
- Delivery
- 24 hoursStandard for one to three pages
- Certificate
- SignedCertificate of translation accuracy, PDF
Checked on October 29, 2026. Sources are listed at the end of this page. Policies change: confirm on Montana MVD's own page before you submit.
Worth knowing about Montana MVD
ATA-certified qualifies
First of five translator types in ARM 23.3.176.
Declaration on the page
Not on a separate sheet, or it is refused.
No relatives
A translator related to you needs MVD authorization.
Montana MVD requirements in detail
Translation
All documents submitted to the department must be in English or translated into English (ARM 23.3.175).
Who may translate
A translator certified by the American Translators Association; one approved by a U.S. embassy or consulate or by a foreign diplomatic or consular official accredited to the U.S.; one affiliated with or approved by DHS or another U.S. agency; an attorney licensed in the U.S.; or someone approved by the department at regional manager level or above (ARM 23.3.176).
Relatives
The translator may not be related to the applicant by blood or marriage unless the department authorizes it (ARM 23.3.176 Translator requirements).
Declaration
A signed declaration under penalty of perjury that the translation is complete and accurate and the translator is competent in both languages, with the translator's driver's license, permit or ID number and issuing state, signature and date (ARM 23.3.175 Source document translation process).
Format
The declaration must be typed or printed on the same page as the translation, not on a separate piece of paper (ARM 23.3.175 Source document translation process).
Original or copy
The original and the translation must be presented together when you apply; the translation is kept in your driver record (ARM 23.3.175 Source document translation process).
Cost
Applicants pay all translation costs (ARM 23.3.175 Source document translation process).
The declaration has to be on the translation page
ARM 23.3.175 gives the wording of the declaration, or wording substantially similar: the translator's printed name, a statement under penalty of perjury that the translation from the named language into English is complete and accurate, and a statement that the translator is fully competent in both languages.
It adds the number and issuing state of the translator's unexpired driver's license, instruction permit or ID card, the signature and the date (ARM 23.3.175 Source document translation process).
The rule says the declaration must be typed or electronically printed on the same page as the translation, and that a declaration on a separate piece of paper means the translation will not be accepted.
A standard certificate of accuracy on its own page does not meet that. When you order for the Montana MVD, say so in the order notes, so the declaration and the translator's ID details are printed on the translation page.
Five kinds of translator, and who cannot translate
ARM 23.3.176 does not accept any bilingual person.
It lists five categories: ATA certification, approval by a U.S. embassy or consulate (or by a foreign diplomatic or consular official accredited to the U.S.), affiliation with or approval by DHS or another federal agency, a U.S.-licensed attorney, or a person the MVD approves at regional manager level or above (ARM 23.3.176 Translator requirements).
A relative by blood or marriage is excluded unless the department authorizes it.
ATA certification is an exam-based credential held by an individual translator, not a company membership. We assign a translator individually certified by ATA for the language pairs ATA certifies. Both rules took effect on October 6, 2018, with Montana's REAL ID rules.
Need a certified translation for Montana MVD?
$24.95 per page of up to 250 words, certification included, usually within 24 hours for one to three pages. See the price before you pay.
Documents people usually translate
- Foreign birth certificates presented as identity
- Foreign marriage certificates and divorce decrees for a name change
- Foreign driver's licenses
- Foreign passports and national ID cards
- Court orders for a name change issued abroad
What an eVerbary translation includes
- A complete English translation of every page, stamps, seals and handwritten notes included, laid out like the original so each line can be matched.
- A signed certificate of translation accuracy on letterhead, with our contact details, delivered as a PDF you can upload or print.
- $24.95 per page of up to 250 words, certification included; 24 hours for one to three pages as standard. Regular clients who need it can get delivery in as little as 30 minutes, on request.
- Notarization added at checkout ($34.90 per order) when the office asks for a notarized translation.
Submitting the translation to Montana MVD
Bring the original document and the translation together to the driver license station when you apply; the MVD keeps the translation in your driver record (ARM 23.3.175 Source document translation process).
If you need a translator certified by ATA
Some offices accept only a translator who is personally certified by the American Translators Association (ATA). eVerbary assigns one on request, for the languages ATA certifies into English:
$34.95 per page
Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Italian, Chinese, Arabic, Russian and Ukrainian
$44.95 per page
Japanese, Korean, Polish, Dutch, Swedish, Croatian, Danish and Persian
To order it, ask for a free quote and write in the notes that the translation is for Montana MVD, what it is for, and that you need a translator individually certified by ATA, plus anything else the office asks for (notarization, delivery by email to the office).
We confirm the price and the translator before you pay. ATA does not certify other languages into English, so no translator anywhere holds ATA certification for them.
For those languages we provide a notarized certified translation instead, at $44.95 per page plus notarization ($34.90 per order); ask the office to confirm it accepts that, and write its answer in the quote notes.
What we do not do
eVerbary translates documents; it is not the DMV and does not issue licenses, International Driving Permits or REAL ID decisions.
For the Montana MVD that means we translate your documents; we do not provide embassy, consulate or MVD approval of a translator, and we do not decide whether your documents prove identity or residency.
How to order
- Scan or photograph every page of the document, front and back, including any stamps on the reverse.
- Upload it, choose the language and "certified", and see the price before paying.
- Receive the PDF, usually within 24 hours for one to three pages, and submit it with the copy of the original wherever the office asks for it.
Frequently asked questions
Who can translate documents for the Montana MVD?
A translator certified by ATA, one approved by an embassy or consulate, one affiliated with DHS or another federal agency, a U.S.-licensed attorney, or a person the MVD approves (ARM 23.3.176).
Can a family member translate my documents?
Not without MVD authorization: the translator may not be related to you by blood or marriage (ARM 23.3.176 Translator requirements).
Can the translator's statement be on a separate page?
No. The declaration must be typed or printed on the same page as the translation, or the translation will not be accepted (ARM 23.3.175 Source document translation process).
Do I need to bring the original document?
Yes. The original and the translation must be presented together at the time of application (ARM 23.3.175 Source document translation process).
Does the translation need to be notarized?
The rules ask for a declaration under penalty of perjury, not notarization (ARM 23.3.175 Source document translation process).
Sources
Montana Department of Justice, Motor Vehicle Division's own pages, read on October 29, 2026.
Translating documents for Montana MVD?
Upload a scan of your license or certificate and see the price and delivery time before you pay.