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Certified Puerto Rican Birth Certificate Translation
Get your puerto rican birth certificate 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.
Every certificate issued before July 2010 was voided
This is the single most important thing about Puerto Rican birth certificates and it still catches people out. Under Law 191 of 2009, every birth certificate issued by Puerto Rico before 1 July 2010 was invalidated — a measure taken with the US federal government to stop fraudulent use of Puerto Rican certificates to obtain passports and benefits. An amendment extended the old certificates' validity to 30 September 2010, and after that they ceased to be valid for any purpose.
If your certificate predates that, it is not a question of translation. You need a new certified copy from the Puerto Rico Department of Health's Vital Statistics office before anything else, and we would rather tell you now than translate a document that cannot be used.
Spanish records inside the United States
Puerto Rico is a US territory and its civil records are issued in Spanish, so people are routinely asked for a translation of a document that was issued under the US flag. That is normal, and it is the same certified translation as for any other Spanish-language record.
Current certificates are issued on security paper with anti-fraud features by the Demographic Registry. Names follow the Spanish convention of two surnames, both of which are translated in the order the document gives them — see our Spanish page for why dropping the second one causes problems.
What USCIS requires
The requirement is the same for every country: under 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3), a foreign-language document must be accompanied by a complete English translation and the translator's certification that it is accurate. Every seal, stamp and marginal note on your birth certificate is part of the document, so every one is translated.
State agencies set their own rules and are not bound by that one — see government agencies. What our certification states is set out on this page.
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 the same $24.95 per page of up to 250 words.
Frequently asked questions
My certificate is from the 1990s. Can you translate it?
We can, but you probably should not spend the money. Certificates issued before 1 July 2010 were invalidated by Law 191 of 2009. Order a new certified copy from the Vital Statistics office first.
Why does a US territory need a translation?
Because the record is issued in Spanish. It is a US document in a foreign language, and offices that require English translations apply the same rule to it.
Do you translate the security features and seals?
Yes. Seals, stamps and the issuing office details are all carried into the translation.
Ready to get started?
Upload your documents and receive your certified translation, typically within 24 hours.