Certified translation of a Spanish birth certificate for USCIS
A certified translation of a Spanish birth certificate for USCIS is the complete English translation of the certificación literal de nacimiento, stamps and marginal notes included, plus my signed certification of accuracy and competence (8 CFR § 103.2(b)(3)). I am Elena Peñaranda Ortega, sworn translator appointed by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2009 (no. 7310). I translate Spanish civil registry records every week and deliver yours as a signed PDF the same day (up to 10 pages).
Price in US dollars
$40per certificate
- Turnaround
- Same day (up to 10 pages)
- Delivery
- Signed PDF · paper copy to the US for $25
- Payment
- In USD, by card or Wise
Calculated from my euro rates at a fixed reference rate (1 € = 1.10 $), rounded to the nearest $5.
- Verifiable Foreign Ministry (MAEC) appointment
- If the authority rejects it because of my mistake, I fix it for free
- Same-day delivery up to 10 pages, deadline in writing before you pay
What USCIS requires for a Spanish birth certificate
USCIS asks for a birth certificate in almost every family case: I-130, I-485, N-400 and the DS-260 consular process. When it is in Spanish, 8 CFR § 103.2(b)(3) requires a full English translation and the translator's certification of completeness, accuracy and competence. No notary, no US-based translator.
Two things trip people up. USCIS wants the long-form record, which in Spain is the certificación literal, not the summary extracto. And the multilingual CIEC extract issued for use in Europe is not a translation: its captions are printed in several languages, but the entries, stamps and notes are in Spanish. If you are not sure which version you have, send me a photo.
What a Spanish birth certificate looks like, and what I translate
Spanish birth records come in three formats, and I handle all of them:
- Handwritten or typed entries from the old registry books (Tomo, Página, Sección 1.ª), often with marginal notes added years later.
- Printed certificates from the Registro Civil, with the registrar's stamp and the signature of the Encargado or the Letrado de la Administración de Justicia.
- Electronic certificates from the Ministry of Justice, with a secure verification code (CSV) and an electronic signature block instead of a wet stamp.
I translate every element: registry details, the entry, marginal notes, every stamp, the CSV block and the apostille if present. A partly illegible stamp is marked as such in brackets.
Why a Spanish sworn translator for a Spanish record
USCIS does not require a translator certified in Spain. But a Spanish registry record is full of details a translator who does not handle them daily gets wrong:
- Registry references (Tomo, Folio, Sección, Inscripción, DICIREG codes) must stay consistent across every document in your file.
- Abbreviations and titles: D./D.ª, núm., Fol., Juez Encargado, LAJ. Rendered wrongly, they make an officer doubt the whole translation.
- Two surnames, kept exactly as registered and in the same order, so they match the passport and the rest of your evidence.
- Marginal notes (acknowledgement of paternity, adoption, change of name) change the legal meaning of the record and are often skipped.
Since 2009 I have handled these documents as sworn translator no. 7310. USCIS does not require that appointment; it is why the translation is right the first time.
What USCIS requires vs. what you get
| What USCIS requires | What you get |
|---|---|
| A full English translation (8 CFR § 103.2(b)(3)) | The whole Spanish birth certificate: every stamp, note, handwritten entry and code, and the apostille if there is one |
| Certification of completeness and accuracy | A signed, dated Certificate of Translation Accuracy per document |
| Statement of the translator's competence | My statement, backed by my appointment as sworn translator no. 7310 (Spain's Foreign Ministry, since 2009) |
| Translator's name, signature and contact details | Name, signature, stamp, email, phone and website |
| No notarisation | None needed. Paper original couriered to the US for $25 on request |
| Copy of the original | Your scan attached in the same PDF |
How I work
Send
A full scan or clear photo of your Spanish birth certificate, on WhatsApp or by email.
Quote and deadline
Fixed price in US dollars and delivery date within 2 working hours.
Translation and certification
Full English translation, stamps included, with my signed certificate.
Delivery
Signed PDF the same day for up to 10 pages; paper copy to the US for $25 on request.
What clients say
Published on Google by real clients, reproduced as written.
Elena was a joy to work with, the translated documents were provided within a couple of hours of getting in touch with her. Excellent job and wouldn't hesitate to use Elena again!
Elena did an amazing job! She responded immediately to my request and did the translation of a few documents within 1,5 hours. I‘m so happy I found her, it‘s a flawless service! Thank you very much!
Frequently asked questions
Which Spanish birth certificate does USCIS want: literal or extract?
The long-form record: the certificación literal de nacimiento. The extracto and the multilingual CIEC extract are summaries and may trigger a request for evidence. The literal version can be requested online from the Spanish Ministry of Justice.
My certificate is bilingual (Catalan, Galician or Basque and Spanish). Can you translate it?
Yes. Certificates from those regions carry the Spanish text alongside; I translate from the Spanish and note the bilingual layout.
Do you translate the marginal notes and the apostille too?
Always. USCIS requires a complete translation, so every marginal note, stamp and apostille appears in English, where it sits in the original.
Do I need to have the translation notarised for USCIS?
No. USCIS requires the translator's signed certification of accuracy and competence, not a notary. My certificate carries my name, signature, stamp, date and contact details.
Does USCIS accept a translation made in Spain?
Yes. The regulation does not say where the translator must be or what licence they must hold; it requires a complete translation and a certification of accuracy and competence.
How do I pay from the United States?
In US dollars, by card or through Wise, once you approve the quote and deadline in writing. The dollar price quoted is the price you pay.
Need your Spanish birth certificate translated for USCIS?
Send me a scan on WhatsApp or by email and tell me which form it is for. You will have a fixed price in US dollars and a delivery date within 2 working hours.