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Translation Requirements of US Government Agencies
What 10 US government agencies ask for when a birth certificate, marriage certificate or other document is not in English: whether a certified translation is enough, who may make it, and whether the original must go with it.
Every rule is taken from the agency's own website, linked, and dated. For immigration filings see USCIS certified translation.
10 agencies
Passports, Social Security, taxes, licenses and more.
Sources linked
Each rule links to the agency's own page, checked in October 2026.
$24.95/page
Certified translation with a signed certificate, usually within 24 hours.
Agency by agency
Every agency below accepts a translation eVerbary can provide: directly, from a translator individually certified by ATA on request, or through the credential evaluation agency it requires, which in turn accepts professional translations.
Checked in October 2026; rules change, and each page links to the agency's own source.
Passports, travel and immigration (1)Benefits, taxes and records (2)Business and regulatory filings (7)
Passports, travel and immigration (1)
| Agency | Translation | Who may translate | Original or copy |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. passport (State Department) | Professional English translation | Professional translator, with a notarized letter | Original or certified copy, plus a photocopy |
Benefits, taxes and records (2)
| Agency | Translation | Who may translate | Original or copy |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRS ITIN (Form W-7) | Certified, when the IRS asks for it | Certified translator; signed, attached to the ID | Original or issuing-agency certified copy, translation attached |
| OPM: foreign education for federal jobs | Through the credential evaluation (WES, ECE…) | Set by the evaluation service | Set by the evaluation service you choose |
Business and regulatory filings (7)
| Agency | Translation | Who may translate | Original or copy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal courts (C.D. Cal.) | English translation filed with the document | Not restricted by the local rule | Foreign document filed with translation |
| U.S. Copyright Office | Required to record non-English documents | Not restricted; signed by the translator | Original document recorded with translation |
| Department of Labor (PERM) | Required for non-English experience statements | Not restricted; translator certifies accuracy, competency | Original kept with translation for audit |
| FDA (drug and device submissions) | Accurate and complete English translation | Not restricted; petitions name the translator | Copy of original literature with translation |
| SEC (filings) | Fair and accurate English translation, or summary | Not restricted | Original optional; on request from staff |
| USPTO (patents) | English translation plus statement of accuracy | Not restricted | Translation of the certified copy as filed |
| USPTO (trademarks) | Required for non-English foreign registrations | Not restricted; translator signs, need not swear | Copy from foreign office plus translation |
Need a certified translation for a government agency?
$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.
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.
What we do not do
eVerbary translates documents; it is not a government agency or a filing service. We do not complete or file applications, and we do not issue or certify the original document.
Frequently asked questions
Do government agencies accept certified translations from a translation company?
Every agency on this page does: its published rule accepts a translation by a professional translator or a certified translation without restricting who makes it. Each page links the rule and gives the date we read it.
Do I need to notarize the translation?
Usually not, unless the agency says so; each page notes it. Notarization can be added at checkout for $34.90 per order.
Can I translate my own birth certificate?
Most agencies that say anything bar it or ask for a translator who certifies competence. Check the page for your agency.
How much does it cost?
$24.95 per page of up to 250 words at eVerbary, certification included, usually delivered within 24 hours for one to three pages.
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