What “certified” actually means
A certified translation is an ordinary translation accompanied by a signed statement from the translator attesting that it is complete and accurate. In the United States it does not require a government licence, a sworn translator, or a notary in most cases — the certification is the signed statement itself. Some receiving offices additionally ask for that statement to be notarised, which only verifies the signer’s identity, not the translation’s quality.
When you genuinely need it
- USCIS and immigration filings — any foreign-language document submitted with an application (birth and marriage certificates, household registration, police records, court documents).
- Courts — evidence, filings, and anything entering a case record.
- Universities and licensing boards — foreign transcripts and diplomas, often alongside a credential evaluation.
- Some employers and agencies — occasionally for identity or background documents.
We do not provide certified translations for these purposes. For USCIS filings, court documents, and academic credentials, use a provider that certifies its work and stands behind it — sending an uncertified translation risks a Request for Evidence and months of delay, which costs far more than the translation. Our explainer on certified translations covers what to look for, and the glossary entry on RFE explains what happens when a filing comes back incomplete.
When you almost certainly don’t
Most documents in ordinary life never touch a certification requirement. Nobody needs a notarised statement of accuracy for:
- School letters, permission slips, enrollment packets, IEP paperwork
- Employee handbooks, safety procedures, schedules, HR policies
- Benefit notices, clinic instructions, appointment letters
- Leases, utility notices, community announcements
For these, what matters is that the translation is accurate, readable, and keeps the original layout — not that it carries a signature block. Before paying certified rates, ask the office that requested the document one question: “Do you require a certified translation, or just a translation?” The answer is frequently the latter, and it is worth asking in writing.
What we do instead
Document translation reviewed by a working school-district translator, returned as a formatted Word file with tables, checkboxes and signature fields exactly where they were — English ⇄ Burmese, Myanmar Unicode output, from $39 per document. Organizations get the first document free, so you can judge the quality before spending anything.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Requirements vary by agency and change over time — confirm with the office receiving your document.