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Certified Customs Document Translation
Get your customs document translated into English by a professional human translator, with a signed certification accepted by USCIS, courts and universities. Flat $24.95 per page and a 100% USCIS acceptance guarantee.
$24.95/page
Flat rate per page, up to 250 words. No hidden fees.
100% USCIS acceptance
Every certified translation is guaranteed to be accepted by USCIS.
24-hour delivery
Most 1-3 page documents are delivered within 24 hours. Same-day available.
English at the border is a regulation, not a preference
Under 19 CFR 141.86(d), an invoice presented to US Customs and all of its attachments must be in English, or must have attached an accurate English translation containing adequate information for examination of the merchandise and determination of duties. That is the rule as written, and a shipment held up over it is held up until someone fixes it.
A shipment sitting at a port while paperwork is sorted out costs more per day than the translation does.
What usually needs translating
Rarely just the invoice:
- The commercial invoice and packing list
- Certificates of origin and free-trade-agreement certifications
- The bill of lading or air waybill
- Manufacturer's affidavits and mill or analysis certificates
- Phytosanitary, veterinary and health certificates
- Licences, permits and the seller's correspondence when valuation is questioned
Descriptions, units and codes stay exactly as written
Quantities, units of measure, Incoterms, tariff classifications and values are reproduced precisely, in the units and the currency the original uses. Nothing is converted, because a converted figure is a figure the parties never agreed and an officer cannot reconcile against the entry.
Goods descriptions are the place where a well-meaning translator does the most damage. A description that gets improved in English is a description that no longer matches either the goods in the container or the classification declared for them. We render what the document says.
How it works
Upload a photo or a scan of your document, pick the language pair and check out online. You never have to mail originals: a legible copy is all we need.
A professional human translator, never machine translation, translates the document word for word and mirrors the layout of the original. Every certified translation ships with a signed Certificate of Translation Accuracy that meets the requirements of USCIS, courts and universities.
Your translation is delivered digitally, usually within 24 hours for documents of one to three pages, and same-day delivery is available. If anything needs adjusting, we revise it.
Certified vs. standard translation
A certified translation is a word-for-word translation accompanied by a signed statement attesting to its accuracy and completeness. It is what official bodies require: USCIS, courts, universities and government agencies. Certified translations are $24.95 per page, where a page is up to 250 words.
A standard translation is for business or personal use where certification is not needed, such as CVs, client intake forms or marketing material, and is billed at $0.10 per word.
Frequently asked questions
Does CBP require a certified translation?
The regulation requires an accurate English translation attached to the invoice. Whether your broker or the officer wants a signed certification of accuracy varies, and we provide one with every certified translation.
Do you convert kilograms or foreign currency?
No. Units and currencies are reproduced as the document states them, so the translation reconciles against the entry.
We have a container arriving on Friday.
Say so when you order. Typical delivery is within 24 hours and same-day is available.
Ready to get started?
Upload your documents and receive your certified translation, typically within 24 hours.