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NVC Certified Translation Requirements for Civil Documents
NVC civil documents that are not in English or in the official language of the country from which the applicant is applying need a certified English translation. The translation must include a signed statement that it is accurate and that the translator is competent.
Last reviewed: July 2026.
NVC civil documents that are not in English or in the official language of the country from which the applicant is applying need a certified English translation. The State Department rule is simple: the translation must be complete, accurate, and accompanied by a signed statement that the translator is competent to translate.
Corpus provides certified document translations for NVC/CEAC use. Each completed translation includes a signed Certificate of Accuracy with the translator-competence statement applicants normally need for civil document uploads.
Clear, readable civil documents with a known page count can start at $19.99/page. Start a certified NVC translation order if the file is a standard birth certificate, marriage certificate, police certificate, court record, death certificate, divorce decree, or similar civil document with no special recipient instructions.
Request quote review for CEAC/NVC document sets before ordering if you have multiple documents, unclear scans or photos, handwriting, stamps, seals, back-side text, dense tables, special wording from a consulate, attorney, or agency, or any question about notarization, apostille, or special handling.
Primary source: State.gov Step 7: Collect Civil Documents.
What does NVC require for translated civil documents?
State.gov says civil documents not written in English, or in the official language of the country from which the applicant is applying, must be accompanied by certified translations. The signed translator statement must confirm the translation is accurate and the translator is competent to translate.
Which NVC civil documents may need translation?
- Birth certificates
- Marriage certificates
- Divorce decrees, death certificates, and annulment records
- Police certificates
- Court records and prison records
- Military records
- Adoption documents and custody documents
- Passport biographic pages when requested
NVC translation checklist before you upload
Use this checklist before sending a civil document to NVC, CEAC, or a consular interview packet. It helps you decide whether direct order or quote review is safer.
- Confirm the civil document is not already in English and is not in the official language of the country where the applicant is applying.
- Scan the complete record, including backs, seals, stamps, handwritten notes, registry annotations, and any amendment pages.
- Use direct order for one clear birth, marriage, divorce, death, police, court, adoption, or passport-page record when the page count is obvious.
- Use quote review for mixed family packets, unclear scans, handwriting, old civil-registry books, multi-document uploads, or recipient-specific instructions.
- Keep the original-language document, English translation, and signed Certificate of Accuracy together when preparing the CEAC upload.
How should NVC translations be uploaded to CEAC?
State.gov’s Civil Documents FAQ says that if you have a certified translation, include a scan of the translation with the original foreign-language document in one file. Put the native-language document first, followed by the English translation.
- Scan the full source document clearly.
- Include front and back if both sides contain text, seals, stamps, or notes.
- Add the English certified translation after the source document.
- Keep the signed certificate with the translation.
- Upload as one file when CEAC asks for the civil document.
Does NVC require notarized translations?
NVC generally asks for a certified translation statement, not a notarized translation. If your consulate, attorney, or recipient asks for notarization, apostille, or special wording, request quote review and include the upload or recipient instructions.
NVC vs Department of State vs USCIS
NVC is part of the Department of State immigrant visa process. USCIS filings are separate domestic immigration submissions. The certification language is similar, but CEAC upload rules and consular interview document handling are specific to NVC/Department of State processing. For the domestic filing path, see USCIS translation requirements.
How much does an NVC certified translation cost?
Eligible clear standard civil documents can start at $19.99/page. Quote review is required for dense, unclear, handwritten, multi-document, stamp/seal/back-side, special-instruction, or recipient-specific files. For more pricing context, see the certified translation cost guide.
Order an NVC certified translation
Upload the full document and tell us it is for NVC, CEAC, or a consular interview. We will prepare the certified English translation and signed Certificate of Accuracy for your civil document packet.
Related resources
- Department of State translation requirements
- Visa document translation services
- USCIS translation checklist
- Birth certificate translation
- Marriage certificate translation
- Divorce decree translation
- Death certificate translation
- Police clearance translation
- Court order translation
- Adoption document translation
- Certified translation pricing
FAQ
Does NVC require certified translations?
Yes. NVC civil documents not written in English or in the official language of the country from which the applicant is applying must include a certified translation. The certification statement should say the translation is accurate and the translator is competent to translate.
What does Corpus include with a certified NVC translation?
Corpus provides the translated document and a signed Certificate of Accuracy. The certificate includes an accuracy statement and translator-competence wording for certified document translation use.
Do NVC translations need notarization?
NVC generally asks for a certified translation statement, not a notarized translation. If your consulate, attorney, or recipient asks for notarization, apostille, or special wording, request quote review and include the upload or recipient instructions.
How much does certified translation for NVC cost?
Eligible clear standard civil documents can start at $19.99/page. Quote review is required for dense, unclear, handwritten, multi-document, stamp/seal/back-side, special-instruction, or recipient-specific files.
Should I start an order or request a quote?
Start an order for clear, readable civil documents when you know the page count and need a standard certified translation. Request a quote for multiple documents, unclear scans, handwriting, stamps, seals, back-side text, dense tables, recipient instructions, or any special handling question.
Should I order or request a quote for NVC civil documents?
Start an order for one clear civil document with an obvious page count. Request quote review for mixed family packets, unclear scans, handwriting, old registry records, back-side text, multiple documents, or recipient-specific NVC, CEAC, consulate, or attorney instructions.
Which NVC civil documents may need translation?
Common NVC civil documents include birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce decrees, death certificates, police certificates, court records, custody records, and adoption documents. Translation need depends on the document language and the official language of the country from which the applicant is applying.
Official sources used
State.gov Step 7: Collect Civil Documents; State.gov Civil Documents FAQ; State.gov Submitting Documents to NVC.
This page explains translation requirements and order logistics only. It does not address visa eligibility or case strategy.