For U.S. citizens born in the U.S., navigating foreign residency, citizenship, or marriage
If you’re a U.S. citizen born in the United States and planning to live, work, marry, or apply for dual citizenship abroad, your birth certificate is one of the most important documents you’ll need. But there’s one detail that often gets overlooked until the last minute: translation.
Many government agencies in other countries require your birth certificate to be translated into their official language—and not just by anyone. In many cases, the translation must be certified, notarized, or even apostilled to be valid.
So, does your birth certificate need to be translated? If so, when—and how—do you do it properly? This article walks you through the essential answers, especially if you’re applying for citizenship or permanent residency abroad, planning to get married in another country, or seeking to enroll in foreign schools or access government services overseas.
Let’s break it down.
When Do You Need to Translate Your U.S. Birth Certificate?
As a U.S. citizen born in the United States, your birth certificate is an essential document for establishing your identity, age, nationality, and parentage. However, outside the U.S., English isn’t always accepted as it is for official documentation. Translation may be required when you’re:
1. When Applying for Residency or Citizenship Abroad
Countries such as Spain, Italy, France, Germany, and many others require extensive documentation when you apply for long-term visas, residency, or citizenship. A translated birth certificate is often one of the core documents they request, especially for family-based or ancestry claims (e.g., claiming Italian citizenship through descent). Examples:
- Italy: To apply for Italian citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis), you must submit a translated and apostilled version of your U.S. birth certificate.
- Mexico: For a residency visa, you must provide a certified Spanish translation of your birth certificate, along with an apostille.
- Germany: Requires a German translation by a court-certified translator, especially if you’re applying for residency or dual citizenship.
- Spain: If you’re a U.S. citizen applying for Spanish residency under the non-lucrative visa, the Spanish consulate may require that your birth certificate be translated into Spanish and legalized or apostilled.
Registering a Foreign Birth or Child: If you’re registering the birth of your child abroad, many countries will require the parents’ birth certificates as part of the process — translated into the local language and sometimes legalized.
Applying for Dual Citizenship Based on Descent: If you’re seeking dual nationality (e.g., Irish, Italian, or Polish citizenship through grandparents or great-grandparents), your U.S. birth certificate may be required to prove your familial link — and must often be professionally translated.
In all these cases, the birth certificate serves to prove your identity, lineage, and nationality—but it must be readable and legally acceptable in the local language.
Tip: Check with the local embassy or consulate of the country you’re applying to—they often provide detailed requirements for translations and legalizations.
2. When Getting Married Abroad
If you’re planning a destination wedding or seeking legal recognition of your marriage in another country, expect to submit a translated version of your birth certificate as part of the documentation.
Examples:
- France: U.S. citizens must present a translated birth certificate issued within the last three months (or six months if abroad) to the local town hall (mairie) where the marriage will take place.
- Japan: U.S. citizens must provide a translated birth certificate when filing their intent to marry at the municipal office.
- Brazil: The U.S. birth certificate must be translated into Portuguese by a sworn translator registered with a local Brazilian board.
Some countries also require a certificate of no impediment to marriage (proving you’re legally single) alongside your translated birth certificate.
3. When Applying for School, Jobs, or Healthcare Abroad
If you’re relocating to a country for work, school, or extended travel, your birth certificate may be required for university enrollment (e.g., proving age or nationality), healthcare services or insurance enrollment, or opening bank accounts or applying for national ID numbers.
Many European and Latin American countries require documentation in their official language, and in some cases, the translations must be done by court-approved or government-certified translators.
What Type of Translation Do You Need?
A quick translation by a bilingual friend may seem like a cost-saving idea, but most foreign governments don’t accept informal translations. There are different types of document translation, and the one you need depends on the legal requirements of the country you’re dealing with.
Certified Translation
This is the most common requirement. A certified translation is completed by a professional translator or agency that provides a signed statement affirming that the translation is complete and accurate.
- Often required by immigration offices, embassies, and foreign courts
- Must be done by a third-party translator—self-translations are rarely accepted
- The certificate of translation usually includes the translator’s name, credentials, signature, and contact information
Do not use Google Translate, ChatGPT, or DIY translations for legal purposes. These will almost always be rejected.
Sworn Translation (Traduction Assermentée / Traduzione Giurata)
Some countries (such as France, Italy, and Germany) have a legal system where translators must be officially authorized or sworn in by a court. In these cases, only a sworn translator in that country is permitted to produce valid translations for government use. Spain and Brazil, for example, only accept translations done by sworn translators registered with their respective Ministries of Foreign Affairs. These translations may also need to be notarized locally upon arrival.
Notarized Translation
In some cases, a notarized translation is required in addition to a certification. This means a notary public verifies the identity of the translator, not the translation itself. Needed for some European consulates or when submitting documents to foreign schools or banks.
Do You Also Need an Apostille?
Sometimes, a translated birth certificate is not enough. In many cases, foreign governments require not just a translated birth certificate but also an apostille — an official certification under the Hague Convention that verifies the authenticity of the original document. In the U.S., apostilles are issued by the Secretary of State in the state where the birth certificate was issued.
- Countries like Portugal, Argentina, and Italy will not accept your birth certificate unless it has an apostille issued by the U.S. state that issued the document.
- The apostille only authenticates the original birth certificate, not the translation.
- Some countries may require an apostille for both the original document and its translation.
Here’s the typical sequence:
- Obtain an official (long-form) copy of your U.S. birth certificate.
- Request an apostille from the Secretary of State’s office in the state where the document was issued.
- Have the apostilled document translated by a certified (or sworn) translator, as required by the destination country.
Where to Get Your Birth Certificate Translated
To ensure your translation is accepted internationally, use reputable sources:
Certified Translation Services
- Many offer certified and notarized translations with a turnaround of 1–3 business days
- Look for agencies that specialize in immigration or legal translations
- Cost typically ranges from $25–$70 per page, depending on the language
Embassy-Approved Translators
- Some embassies and consulates maintain lists of approved translators
- If your target country requires a sworn translation, this list is usually the safest option
Step-by-Step: How to Translate and Legalize Your Birth Certificate
Step 1: Determine the Requirements
Check with the embassy, consulate, or government office of the country in question for accurate information. Ask:
- Do they require a certified, notarized, or sworn translation?
- Is an apostille also needed?
- Do they have formatting or translator accreditation requirements?
Step 2: Get a Certified Copy of Your Birth Certificate
Request a certified copy from the vital records office in the state where you were born. Be sure to obtain the long-form version, which includes detailed information, such as the names of parents.
Step 3: Request an Apostille (If Needed)
Contact the Secretary of State’s office in the state where your birth certificate was issued to obtain an apostille. This can take a few days to a few weeks, depending on the state.
Step 4: Hire a Professional Translator or Agency
Look for a translation agency that offers certified translations, has experience with legal documents, and can provide notarization or sworn translations if required.
Make sure they guarantee acceptance by consulates or foreign authorities — reputable agencies will often specify which countries their translations are valid for.
Step 5: Submit and Keep Copies
Always keep both the original and translated versions of your birth certificate, as well as any apostilles or other relevant documents. Submit the documents in accordance with the instructions provided by the foreign authority.
Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute
Many U.S. citizens are unaware of the time it takes to obtain a certified translation, apostille, or embassy approval—especially when a deadline for marriage or immigration is approaching. Every country has slightly different rules, so it’s best to start the process early and always check with the official embassy or consulate website of the country you’re dealing with. Some countries require that translated documents be issued within 3 to 6 months of the submission date. Don’t start too early or too late. To find more information on international travel and visas, visit the U.S. Department of State website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I translate my birth certificate?
Technically, yes. But legally, no self-translations are accepted by most foreign governments or immigration offices. You need a neutral third-party certified translator.
Do I need both an apostille and a translation?
It depends on the country. Many require both, but not all. Countries not in the Hague Apostille Convention may require embassy legalization instead.
What if I were born abroad but am a U.S. citizen?
If your U.S. birth certificate is already in English, you’ll follow similar rules—but your Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) may also need translation and authentication.
