Birth Certificate Translation

Birth certificates are, without a doubt, one of the most frequent requests when it comes to translating documents. The birth certificate is a vital record that is submitted as part of critical application processes including USCIS, visa applications, college applications and legal proceedings.  

With the steady growth of movement around the world, be it for study abroad or immigration, we consistently receive a high volume of birth certificate translation requests every year. Below is a list of important aspects of birth certificate translation that you should know when sending your document for translation –

1.When you request a birth certificate translation, you are most likely looking for certified translation services. If you want to immigrate to or work and study in a foreign country, a simple translation is not enough! Agencies, including USCIS, explicitly require all document translations to include a formal statement attesting to the translator’s competence to translate the language needed, and the accuracy of the translation.

2.You cannot receive a certification for your own translation. No matter how fluent you are in the language of your birth certificate, you cannot certify your own translation. When you have your document translation delivered through a professional Translation company, they will be able to certify the translation as a non-beneficiary party in your application process. Certified translation of birth certificates must be done by a third party that can attest to the accuracy of the work. Again, – we cannot certify a translation done by you or a relative; a translation can only be certified by the Translation company delivering the translation!

3.“Certification” and “Notarization” are two very different things! A certified translation of a document is not a notarization of the translation. While a certification of an official document translation attests to the accuracy of the translation and competency of the translator, a notarization of the translation attests to the authenticity of the signature on the certification. Notarizations are performed by a notary public who assigns to the document their own seal and signature on the certification after the issuer of the certificate signs in front of the notary public.

4.The certified translation is valid forever unless the requesting agency states otherwise. Generally, the certification of an official document translation does not expire. Occasionally though, the requesting agency may request an up-to-date certified translation, which can be quickly provided upon request.

5.Name changes and spelling corrections are not allowed in the translation of a birth certificate. Some vital records may contain spelling errors. However, this does not permit a professional Translation company to make any corrections when delivering certified translation services! The strict rule of certified translation requires that the translated document be an accurate reflection of the original document, and that includes spellings of names and cities. If you see an error in your birth certificate, contact the official office that produced the document and request a corrected document.

6.Everything, including seals, stamps, and signatures needs to be translated. In keeping with the rule of completion and accuracy, certified translations include translations of all the information on each page including stamps, seals, and signatures. Any part that cannot be read is indicated as “illegible” within the translation- this is a common practice for a professional Translation company.

We receive birth certificates that are mostly handwritten, which can result in multiple “illegible” parts when translating documents. To ensure complete translation in these instances, the owner of the birth certificate should be requested to provide the proper spellings of the handwritten names. The translator would then include these names in the certified translation. 

Legal translation is often requested with birth certificate translation as both are frequently required in the handling of legal immigration matters.  The points above are just as applicable when translating legal documents, especially given the complexity of the legal language.  A skilled and experienced legal translator must be utilized to guarantee the accuracy of a legal translation.

Select a Reliable Professional Translation company

When it comes to delivering birth certificate translations, JR Language Translation Services’ highest priority is accuracy. While it is common practice to shop around for the most comfortable service prices, remember to prioritize quality and timeliness of your translation. Submission of a poorly translated birth certificate could jeopardize critical application processes and result in setbacks to plans for international employment, studies, or immigration. Your birth certificate is your legal record that proves your identity, and a reliable Translation company will make sure that the certified translation of your birth certificate is a complete, flawless representation of the original document.