How to Translate Birth Certificate from Spanish to English
Daniel Osiomwanuri
This post is also available in:English /
Updated:
Aug 14, 2025
Published:
Apr 18, 2025
You need a translation of your birth certificate from Spanish to English for official and legal purposes, such as the USCIS immigration application. A certified translation ensures that your Spanish birth certificate meets the country's requirements and eliminates delays.
However, there are specific processes and expectations when translating birth certificates for official use. Failure to meet these requirements might lead to application rejections and legal issues, depending on the receiving country.
In this article, you will learn when, where, and how to translate a Spanish birth certificate into English. You will also learn tips to help you find a certified translation service.
Table of Contents
When do you need a certified Spanish birth certificate translation?
A certified Spanish birth certificate translation is needed for official procedures in a country where the language isn't Spanish. These processes include visa application, school admission, registering a birth, adoption, and marrying a foreigner in an English-speaking country.
Importantly, this type of translation is required by USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services), IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada), UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration), and other government authorities when submitting non-English documents for immigration, legal, or official purposes.
Here's a breakdown of specific scenarios:
Official procedures
If you need to submit a Spanish birth certificate for official purposes in an English-speaking country, it must be translated by a professional translator. These official procedures include;
Immigration applications: You need a birth certificate to prove your identity, age, and family relations for the immigration process. The immigration processes can include visa applications, citizenship applications, green card applications, asylum applications, and records corrections.
Passport applications: You need to provide a certified birth certificate translation to prove age and family relationship, especially for minors
Social Security benefits: Authorities might request a translated Spanish birth certificate to confirm your identity and eligibility for benefits.
If you have any engagements with the court in English-speaking countries that require you to use a Spanish birth certificate, you must translate it. Common scenarios include;
Registering a child: If you are registering a child with a Spanish birth certificate in an English-speaking country, you need a translation. This ensures that the child's birth is legally recognised in the country and that they can access certain benefits.
Adoption procedures: If you are adopting a child from a Spanish-speaking country, immigration authorities, adoption agencies, courts, and family services will need a translation of the birth certificate. The translated birth certificate helps to prove the child's identity, nationality, and birth parents' information.
Court cases: The Spanish birth certificate must be translated to English for identity, custody, age-related, and inheritance claims court cases.
Obtaining a marriage certificate: If you are getting married or registering for marriage in any country, like the USA, you might have to submit a birth certificate in English. All Spanish birth certificates must be translated before you can use them for the application. Submitting a certified birth certificate translation from Spanish to English allows authorities to verify identity and age. Most countries have a strict age limit for marriage, so the birth certificate ensures the marriage meets legal requirements.
Pro Tip: If you need to translate a birth certificate from Spanish to English, Translayte provides certified birth certificate translation services with a 12-24 hour delivery time and competitive translation rates.
How to translate a birth certificate from Spanish to English
You need a professional translator to accurately translate a Spanish birth certificate into English. The translator or translation company will request a copy of the original document and any relevant information. They will translate the document word for word, ensuring accuracy, and provide you with a copy accompanied by a certificate of accuracy. Here's a breakdown of the steps to translating a birth certificate from Spanish to English
Find a professional translator or translation company
Translating a birth certificate requires experience to maintain the content and ensure accuracy. You should look for a professional translator or company with expertise and a track record of delivering high-quality translations fast at competitive market rates.
Certified translation services are available online through the American Translators Association (ATA), translation company websites, and other local directories. Confirm the company's credentials, experience, and reviews before proceeding with your translation project.
Ask for a quote and delivery time
Request a quote for an accurate estimate of the birth certificate translation cost. Ensure all the necessary details are included in the form submission or communicated clearly during the phone call. Requesting a quote ensures you don't end up paying extra or hidden charges after completing the translation.
Submit a copy of your document to your translation provider
Obtain your original Spanish birth certificate and submit a copy to the translation company online. Ensure the copy is legible, free of damage, and conveys the correct details. Make payment after submission and wait for a translated copy.
Receive your certified translation
Depending on your requirements, the translated document is sent via email or post. A certificate of accuracy always accompanies a certified translation. The translator or translation company adds the certification to show its accuracy. You will receive your translated birth certificate and the certification, which contains the translator's details, translation date, signature, and stamp.
Pro Tip: Some countries require notarized translations or an apostille for the birth certificate. You might have to legalise it before or after translation. Always confirm the requirements from the authorities before proceeding.
Tips for choosing a Spanish birth certificate translation services provider
When choosing a Spanish birth certificate translation company, look for certification, expertise, turnaround timeline, cost, customer support, and data security. Avoid AI-generated or heavily outsourced work; instead, choose services with experienced human translators who can accurately handle even handwritten certificates. Here's what you should know:
Certification
Look for a certified translation company accredited by a professional association recognised by global authorities. Some association memberships to look out for include the American Translators Association (ATA) and the Association of Translation Companies (ATC).
Also, verify if their services and processes follow industry standards. You can confirm certification by checking association websites before contacting the translation company.
Expertise
While the birth certificate might be a non-technical document translation, it still requires expertise for accuracy. Confirm whether the translation company has experience translating documents for immigration or other official and legal purposes.
Using a company with expertise ensures 100% accuracy and acceptance and eliminates any delays. You can confirm this by checking their certified birth certificate translation services page or reading reviews from online platforms like Trustpilot.
Turnaround time
Confirm the turnaround time before using any translation company. Some authorities have strict submission deadlines, so you must use a service that can deliver promptly. That's why Translayte offers a 12 - 24-hour delivery window, ensuring you meet your deadline and eliminating delays.
Cost of translation
Always confirm the translation cost from the company before placing any order. This ensures you don't pay extra, especially if you need additional services like notarization and an Apostille certificate.
Data security
The birth certificate is a personal and sensitive document. To avoid issues, use a translation company with strict confidentiality and data security protocols.
Best practices for translating Spanish to English yourself
While it’s always safest to use a professional certified translation service, some people choose to translate their Spanish birth certificate into English themselves. If you decide to do it yourself, here are some best practices to follow:
Type, don’t handwrite: Your translation should be typed, clearly formatted, and match the structure of the original document.
Translate everything: Include all text, including seals, stamps, and handwritten notes. If you can’t read a part, note it as [illegible] rather than leaving it blank.
Keep names and dates consistent: Do not “fix” spelling errors or abbreviations in the original; replicate them exactly.
Use formal, neutral language: Avoid casual phrasing; keep the tone official.
Include a Certificate of Accuracy: Sign and date a statement declaring that the translation is complete and accurate to the best of your knowledge.
Note: Even if you follow these steps, self-translations are not always accepted, especially in countries like Canada, the UK, or Australia, which require certified translators. If your document is for visa, immigration, or legal purposes, it’s safer to use a professional certified translator to avoid costly setbacks.
How can Translayte help with your Spanish birth certificate translations?
We are trusted by 10,000+ clients for certified birth certificate translation from Spanish to English, and our translations are accepted by USCIS, IRCC, and UKVI.
Our Spanish birth certificate certified translations are prepared by certified human translators, no AI tools or outsourcing. Our translators are professional native Spanish speakers who are also fluent in English, ensuring every document is clear, accurate, and meets certification requirements.
Whether you need the translation for immigration, admission, inheritance, or other official purposes, we provide:
Accredited translators with expertise in translating Spanish birth certificates to English
Fast delivery within 12–24 hours so you can meet your deadline
Multi-step quality assurance for accuracy, consistency, and compliance
24/7 multilingual support via email, phone, and WhatsApp to answer questions or resolve issues
Competitive translation rates from $31.75 per page, compared to other competitors with rates starting at $35 per page.
Additional services like notarization, apostille, expedited timeline, and paper copy delivery via post
Using Translayte's certified translation services ensures you receive high-quality translated documents at a competitive market rate, with 100% acceptance guaranteed.
What makes our service better?
Human translators only, no AI or machine translation
Experience with both printed and handwritten certificates
Rush and same-day turnaround options
Transparent pricing with no hidden fees
100% acceptance guarantee by immigration and legal authorities
Need certified birth certificate translation services from Spanish to English? Request a quote today to get started.
You can translate your birth certificate from Spanish to English online at Translayte. We offer fast turnaround time, competitive pricing, and 100% global acceptance.
Your birth certificate should be provided in a clear, legible format. High-resolution scans or photos are preferred to ensure every detail, including seals, stamps, and handwritten notes, can be translated accurately. Avoid cropped or blurry images, as these can cause errors or delays.
Certified translations meet the exact requirements of immigration, legal, and government authorities. Paying for a certified translation ensures accuracy, compliance, and acceptance — avoiding costly delays or rejections that can happen with uncertified or automated translations.
If your birth certificate is handwritten, it’s even more important to use a professional translator with experience in reading historical or cursive handwriting. This ensures no critical information is misread or omitted. Our translators are trained to handle both printed and handwritten certificates.
A complete translation includes every detail from the original document: names, dates, places of birth, official stamps, seals, and signatures, along with a signed Certificate of Accuracy. If required, notarization or apostille services can also be added.
A scanned PDF or clear image is usually fine for translation. However, if the receiving authority requires an original paper copy of the translation, Translayte can provide printed, signed, and sealed copies via post.
Many countries, including Canada, the UK, and Australia, require certified translators. Even for USCIS, mistakes or formatting errors can cause rejections. Professional certified translation is the safest option.
This depends on the receiving authority. Some institutions only require a certified translation, while others may request notarization or an apostille. Translayte offers both services if needed, so your document meets all requirements.
Common reasons include incomplete translations (missing seals or notes), incorrect formatting, uncertified translators, or not meeting the authority’s specific requirements. Using Translayte eliminates these risks by following official standards for every jurisdiction.
