USCIS translation requirements in 2026

What the official rule says

Any foreign-language document must be accompanied by a full English translation that the translator certifies as complete and accurate, and a certification that the translator is competent to translate from the foreign language into English. The regulation does not require notarization or any particular translator credential.

Official source: eCFR: 8 CFR § 103.2 (full text)

Official text last verified 2026-10-01

A compliant translation must include

  • A full English translation — every word on the original, including seals, handwritten notes, back pages and attachments; not a summary or excerpt
  • A certification signed by the translator that the translation is complete and accurate
  • A statement that the translator is competent to translate from the foreign language into English
  • The signer is identifiable: translator's name, signature and date

Does a Smartlink Translation translation meet it?

Meets it: every order includes a translator's declaration with the translator's full name, signature, credentials, date and statement of competence.

Every Smartlink Translation order includes the same five-part delivery kit: a submission-ready translation (.docx + .pdf, laid out like the original), a signed translator's certification under 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3), our PSB-registered bilingual translation seal (seal code 11011210314198), a project quality report scored on the MQM translation-quality framework (six dimensions per file), and free revisions for 24 months — with an itemized quote within 3 minutes of upload.

Common reasons a translation is questioned or returned

Only some pages translated, or seals, back pages and attachments left out — the translation is not "full"
The certification states accuracy but not the translator's competence in the language
The certification is unsigned or has no translator name, so nobody is identifiably certifying it
Paying for notarization the regulation does not require, and losing time doing it

FAQ

Does USCIS require notarized translations?

No. 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) requires the translator's certification, not notarization. Notarize only if another receiving body asks for it.

Is there such a thing as a "USCIS-certified translation company"?

No. USCIS requires a certified translation — the translator's certification of accuracy and competence — not a translation from an approved vendor. The regulation creates no list of approved companies.

Other authorities

IRCC translation requirements in 2026UKVI translation requirements in 2026Australia Home Affairs translation requirements: when NAATI is requiredImmigration New Zealand (INZ) translation requirements in 2026
Requirements for all countries on one page →

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