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Certified Translation for Government Agencies
State health departments, vital records offices, licensing boards and county clerks each set their own translation rules — there is no single national standard for them the way there is for USCIS. eVerbary provides certified translations with a signed Certificate of Translation Accuracy, and this page tells you what to ask your agency before you order.
$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.
State agencies do not follow the USCIS rule
Almost everything written about certified translation describes what USCIS wants, because 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) is a single federal rule that applies everywhere. State and local agencies are not covered by it. A state Department of Health, a county clerk and a licensing board can each require something different, and none of them is obliged to accept a translation because an immigration officer would have.
That is not a reason to worry, but it is a reason to ask first. Two minutes on the phone with the office that will receive your document saves the round trip of filing the wrong thing.
The four questions to ask before you order
Whoever you are filing with, these are the answers that determine what you need:
- Is a signed certificate of accuracy enough, or do you also require notarization of the translator's signature?
- Must the translator hold a particular credential — ATA certification, a state court roster, a specific registry — or is a professional translation service sufficient?
- Do you accept a digital PDF, or must an original with wet ink signatures be mailed?
- Do you need the original-language document submitted alongside the translation, and if so in what order?
Where certified translations go besides immigration
The agencies we see most often, and what the document is usually for:
- State departments of health and vital records offices — filing or amending a birth or death record, documenting a birth abroad, establishing parentage
- School districts — enrolment records and immunization history, covered on our school enrollment page
- County clerks and recorders — marriage licences, property records, probate filings
- State licensing boards — professional credentials and experience, covered under licensing and employment
- Departments of motor vehicles — foreign licences and driving records, covered on our DMV page
- Social services and benefits offices — proof of identity, relationship and income
- State and county courts — covered on our court page
What we deliver, so you can check it against their answer
Every certified translation comes back as a PDF on company letterhead with a signed Certificate of Translation Accuracy that states the translation is complete and accurate, that the translator is competent in the language pair, and that they have no relation to the owner of the document. The letterhead carries our ATA corporate member number, phone number and address, and every page is numbered.
If the agency requires notarization of the signature, that can be added. If they require an original with wet ink signatures, we can ship one. Tell us what they said when you order and it comes back in the form they asked for.
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
Will a state Department of Health accept your translation?
Most agencies ask for a complete English translation with a signed certificate of accuracy, which is what we provide. But state agencies set their own rules and are not bound by the federal one, so ask the specific office before ordering and tell us what they said.
Do I need a notarized translation for a state agency?
Sometimes. Notarization authenticates the signature on the certification, not the translation itself, and some state offices and county clerks ask for it. It is an option on every order.
Does the translator need to be ATA-certified?
Some agencies require it and most do not. We are an ATA corporate member and our member number appears on every certification; if the office requires an individually ATA-certified translator, ask them to confirm that in writing before you order anywhere.
Ready to get started?
Upload your documents and receive your certified translation, typically within 24 hours.