My old Chinese marriage certificate is faded — can it still get a certified translation?
Yes. Legible content is translated as written and illegible spots are marked "[illegible]"; if key details such as both names, the registration date or the certificate number cannot be read, get a replacement certificate from the marriage registration office first.
The situation
Marriage certificates from the 1980s and 1990s were often handwritten or stencil-printed and may be faded, water-stained or have unclear seals.
What the rules say
8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) requires a full English translation and the translator's certification; there is no special rule for older certificates. For immigrant visas, civil documents such as marriage records are notarial certificates issued by a Chinese notary office, which carry their own English translation.
Official source: eCFR: 8 CFR § 103.2 (full text) · U.S. Department of State: Collect Civil Documents (translations)
Sources last verified 2026-10-01
How we handle it
- Translated in the old certificate's layout, including handwritten fields, straddle seals and the registry seal
- Unreadable text is marked [illegible], never guessed
- If key details are unreadable, we tell you first and suggest a replacement certificate so the translation matches your other records
Price
Certified translation is $16 per real uploaded page (minimum order $25), including the translator's declaration and translation seal; the quote you see after uploading is the final price.
Marriage certificate translation: requirements and price →More special cases
- My Chinese certificate already has English on it — do I still need a certified translation?
- I have an English CHSI verification report — do I still need a certified translation?
- My Chinese birth certificate is handwritten — how is it translated for USCIS?
- The name on my Chinese documents is spelled differently from my passport — what does the translation use?
- Hukou translation: the whole booklet or just my page?
- Can I translate only part of a Chinese bank statement?
Upload your document for an itemized quote
One transparent price includes the translation, translator's declaration and bilingual seal — the quote you see is the final price.