Apostille & Certified Translation Services
We translate apostilled documents, including the apostille certificate itself, with a signed Certificate of Accuracy for $22.99 per page. If the receiving country also wants the translation notarized or apostilled, contact us before you order.
An apostille authenticates the signature and seal on a public document so it can be used in another country that belongs to the Hague Apostille Convention. It does not translate anything. Most authorities want the original document apostilled first and then translated, apostille page included.
- USCIS, UKVI and IRCC do not ask for an apostille on the translation itself
- Some countries also want the translation notarized and apostilled; notarization is available on request
- Countries outside the Hague Convention use embassy legalization instead of an apostille
What an Apostille Is, and What It Is Not
An apostille is a standard certificate, created by the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention, that confirms the signature, capacity and seal on a public document. A birth certificate apostilled in one member country can be used in another without further embassy legalization.
An apostille says nothing about the language of the document or the accuracy of a translation. That is why a foreign authority usually asks for two separate things: an apostille on the original, and a certified translation of the original and the apostille together.
Apostille vs Notarization vs Certified Translation
These three are often confused. Each one proves something different.
| What it proves | Who does it | When it is needed | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certified translation | The translation is complete and accurate | The translator, with a signed Certificate of Accuracy | Almost every official submission of a foreign document |
| Notarization | The translator's identity and signature | A notary public | Some courts, schools and foreign offices |
| Apostille | The official signature or seal on a public document | The designated government authority | Documents used in another Hague Convention country |
| Legalization | Same purpose as an apostille | The destination country's embassy or consulate | Countries that are not in the Hague Convention |
For a longer comparison, read certified vs. notarized vs. sworn translation.
Two Ways an Apostille and a Translation Fit Together
1. Apostille the original, then translate it
This is the most common route, and the one USCIS, UKVI and IRCC follow when they ask for an apostilled foreign document. The issuing country apostilles the original. You send us the document and its apostille page, and we translate both into English with a signed Certificate of Accuracy. Nothing else is needed on the translation.
2. Apostille the translation as well
Some destination countries want the translation itself authenticated. In the United States that means three steps. The translation is certified, then signed before a notary public. Finally, the Secretary of State of the state where the notary is commissioned apostilles the notary's signature. Texas, for example, also asks for the translator's statement and a copy of the original; see Texas translation rules. Notarization is available on request, so contact us before you order and we confirm what your destination needs.
Who Issues Apostilles
The apostille always comes from the country that issued the document, never from the country where it will be used.
| Document issued in | Apostille issued by |
|---|---|
| A US state (birth, marriage, death certificates, notarized documents) | The Secretary of State of that state |
| The US federal government (for example FBI background checks) | The US Department of State, Office of Authentications |
| The United Kingdom | The FCDO Legalisation Office |
| Canada (a member since January 11, 2024) | Global Affairs Canada or the competent provincial authority |
| Mexico, Spain, India, the Philippines and other member countries | The authority each country designates |
Each member country publishes its competent authority on the Hague Conference website. If your document comes from a country that is not a member, it is legalized by that country's foreign ministry and the destination country's embassy instead.
Documents We Translate with Apostilles
- Birth certificates, marriage certificates and divorce decrees
- Diplomas and transcripts for study or work abroad
- Police clearance certificates and FBI background checks
- Powers of attorney, affidavits and other legal documents
- Company documents such as certificates of incorporation and board resolutions
Using a Translation in Spain, France, Germany or Italy?
Several civil-law countries ask for a sworn translation made by a translator appointed in that country, and a US certified translation with an apostille may not replace it. Check with the receiving office first, and read do European countries require a sworn translator.
How Apostille Translation Orders Work
Upload
Send the document and its apostille page, and tell us which country will receive it.
Translate
We translate the document and the apostille certificate together, with a signed Certificate of Accuracy.
Check the destination rules
If the destination also wants the translation notarized or apostilled, contact us before you order. Notarization is available on request.
Delivered
You receive the certified translation as a PDF within 24 hours for documents up to 3 pages.
Apostille vs Notary: A Quick Comparison
| Notarization | Apostille | |
|---|---|---|
| What it confirms | That a person signed a document in front of a notary | That a public official's signature or seal on a document is genuine |
| Who issues it | A notary public | The competent authority in the country that issued the document |
| Where it is used | Mostly inside the same country | In other countries that are party to the Hague Apostille Convention |
| Does it check the translation? | No | No |
Neither a notary nor an apostille confirms that a translation is accurate. That is what the translator's signed Certificate of Accuracy does.
Apostille and Translation Services: What We Do
We translate the document and the apostille certificate attached to it, and sign a Certificate of Accuracy for the translation. We do not issue apostilles: only the designated authority in the issuing country can do that.
If the receiving office also wants the translation itself apostilled, the usual route is to have the translation notarized first and then apostilled by the authority for the place of notarization. Ask the receiving office which route it requires before you order, and we prepare the translation to suit.
Apostille Translation Pricing
One flat rate covers your document in full. The total is shown before you pay.
- Document and apostille certificate translated together
- Signed Certificate of Accuracy on every order
- Notarization available on request
- 24 hour delivery of the certified translation for up to 3 pages
- Free revisions for 14 days after delivery, full refund if an authority rejects a certified translation
Optional add-ons
No hidden fees. Free revisions for 14 days after delivery. Compare all translation rates. Need it sooner? See rush translation.
100% Acceptance Guarantee
If the authority your translation was prepared for rejects it because of the translation, send us the rejection notice and we will refund your order in full. Free revisions are included for 14 days after delivery; after that, a small revision fee applies. Apostille fees and processing times are set by the issuing office.
Related Guides
- Legalised vs certified translation in the UK: what UK offices ask for
Apostille Translation: Frequently Asked Questions
Related Pages
Need a Translation for Use Abroad?
Upload your document and tell us the destination country. We translate it with a signed certificate. If the destination also needs notarization, contact us before you order.
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