Most countries that do not use English want U.S. documents translated, and the apostille does not help with that. The question that decides your plan is who is allowed to translate. Some countries accept any competent translator. Many, including Mexico, Spain, France, Brazil and Germany, only accept a translator appointed by their own government or courts, and a translation made by anyone else is refused, however good it is.
The order matters too. Apostille first, then translate, so the apostille is translated along with the document. Translate first and you may need it done twice.
One more thing to know before you book a translation with anyone, us included. In the U.S., a “sworn” translation means the translator’s statement is sworn before a notary, which lets it be apostilled itself. That is useful for U.S. courts and agencies and for countries that accept U.S. translations. It is not the same as a Spanish traductor jurado or a French traducteur assermenté, and it will not replace one.
At a glance
Country by country
| Country | Language | Who must translate | U.S. translation accepted? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | Spanish | A perito traductor authorised by a Mexican state court | No |
| Spain | Spanish | A traductor jurado appointed by Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (they can be based anywhere) | No |
| France | French | A traducteur assermenté sworn by a French court of appeal | No |
| Germany | German | A translator sworn or authorised by a German court | Rarely |
| Brazil | Portuguese | A tradutor público registered with a Brazilian state Junta Comercial | No |
| Argentina | Spanish | A traductor público, with the translation legalised by the translators’ college | No |
| Italy | Italian | U.S. consulates generally accept a professional translation and certify it; offices in Italy want a sworn (asseverata) translation | At U.S. consulates, usually |
| Portugal | Portuguese | A certified translation; a notarized U.S. translation with an apostille is often accepted | Often |
| Colombia | Spanish | An official Colombian translator, or a notarized translation that is itself apostilled | Often, if apostilled |
| Costa Rica | Spanish | An official translator appointed by Costa Rica’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs | Rarely |
| Dominican Republic | Spanish | Usually a judicial interpreter in the Dominican Republic | Rarely |
| Greece | Greek | Greece’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs translation service, or a Greek lawyer | Rarely |
| Poland | Polish | A tłumacz przysięgły (Polish sworn translator) | No |
| Netherlands | Dutch, but English is widely accepted | A sworn translator (beëdigd vertaler) when a translation is needed | Usually not needed for English |
| Japan | Japanese | Any competent translator who signs and identifies themselves | Yes |
| South Korea | Korean | A translation with the translator’s statement; some offices want it notarized in Korea | Often |
| China (mainland) | Chinese | Usually a qualified translation company in China | Rarely |
| United Arab Emirates | Arabic | A legal translator licensed by the UAE Ministry of Justice | No |
| Saudi Arabia | Arabic | A certified translation office in Saudi Arabia | No |
| Turkey | Turkish | A sworn translator, with the translation notarized in Turkey | No |
| Philippines, India, UK, Ireland, Australia | English | No translation needed for U.S. documents | Not needed |
Checked against consulate and translator-registry guidance in October 2026. Receiving offices sometimes apply stricter rules than their country’s general practice, so confirm with the office that will read the document.
Which translation to choose
| You need | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A foreign document for USCIS, a U.S. court or a U.S. university | Certified translation, $85/page | U.S. bodies accept a translator’s signed statement of accuracy |
| A U.S. translation that will itself be apostilled | Notarized (“sworn”) translation, $185/page | The notarized statement is what the state apostilles, as Colombia often asks |
| A U.S. document for Japan, an Italian consulate in the U.S., or often Portugal | Certified or notarized, $85 to $185/page | These accept a competent translator’s work |
| A U.S. document for Mexico, Spain, France, Brazil and similar | That country’s own sworn translator | U.S. translations are refused; we will tell you rather than sell you one |
Things worth knowing
- Translate the apostille too. Most authorities want every page translated, including the apostille certificate.
- Names must match exactly across the translation, your passport and every other document.
- A translation of a scan is often fine for the translator, but the authority will want the apostilled original alongside it.
- Some sworn translations expire with the document, so if a birth certificate must be recent, the translation of it is effectively recent too.
How it works
Step 1
Tell us the country and office
That decides who is allowed to translate.
Step 2
Apostille first
Federal or state, depending on the document.
Step 3
Then the translation
Ours where it is accepted; where it is not, we tell you before you pay.
Step 4
Delivered together
The apostilled original and its translation, ready to submit.
Translation Requirements by Country: common questions
Should I translate before or after the apostille?
After. The apostille is part of what the foreign authority reads, so it needs translating too.
Is your sworn translation accepted in Spain?
No. Spain requires a traductor jurado appointed by its Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Our sworn translation is notarized in the U.S., which is a different thing. We will tell you this before you book.
Can I use your translation in Mexico?
Generally not for official procedures. Mexican authorities want a perito traductor authorised by a Mexican state court, so the translation is usually done in Mexico.
Which countries accept a translation made in the U.S.?
Japan generally does, Italian consulates in the U.S. usually do, and Portugal, South Korea and Colombia often do, Colombia when the translation is itself apostilled. English-speaking countries need none.
Ready to get started?
Tell us the country and the office, and we will tell you who must translate before you pay for anything.
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