- Both SSA and the U.S. Department of State accept foreign-language documents only with an English translation.
- SSA requires a translation certified by the translator and may verify the original with the issuing country.
- For a U.S. passport, the State Department requires a certified translation of any foreign-language document, with a signed statement that the translation is accurate and the translator is competent.
- Typical documents: birth certificate, marriage certificate, divorce certificate, name-change record.
- The same certified translation can usually be used for USCIS, SSA and the passport application if it is complete and signed.
The Social Security Administration and the U.S. Department of State accept a birth, marriage, divorce or death certificate in Russian or Ukrainian only with an English translation. SSA requires a translation certified by the translator and may verify the original; for a U.S. passport the State Department requires a certified translation with a signed statement of accuracy and competence.
Social Security number and record changes
When you apply for a Social Security number or card, change the name on your record, or claim benefits, SSA asks for evidence of identity, age, citizenship or immigration status, and for events such as marriage or death. SSA's published instructions say that a document not in English must be accompanied by an English translation, and SSA accepts translations certified by the translator as complete and accurate. SSA may also contact the issuing authority to verify the document.
What SSA offices commonly see from Russian and Ukrainian applicants:
- Birth certificate, for age and parentage.
- Marriage certificate, for a name change after marriage.
- Divorce certificate or court decision, for a return to a previous name.
- Death certificate, for survivor benefits.
SSA accepts a certified copy or an original of the foreign document together with the translation. Bring the translation printed; the certification page must be attached to it.
U.S. passport for a person born abroad
A first U.S. passport for a child born abroad to a U.S. citizen, or for an adult naturalized or deriving citizenship, is applied for with Form DS-11. The State Department requires evidence of citizenship and parental relationship. When a document, for example a foreign birth certificate or marriage certificate of the parents, is in another language, the Department requires a certified English translation. The translation must come with a statement signed by the translator confirming that the translation is accurate and that the translator is competent to translate.
A Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA, Form FS-240) is applied for at a U.S. embassy or consulate with the same translation requirement for foreign-language documents.
What the translation must include
- The whole document, both sides, every seal and stamp written out in brackets.
- Names spelled as in the person's foreign passport, consistently across the birth certificate, the marriage certificate and the passport.
- Dates written out in full.
- The translator's certification with name, signature, date and contact details.
What we do
FAQ
Does SSA need a notarized translation?
SSA requires a certified translation; notarization is not listed as a requirement. Local offices sometimes ask for it; if you are told so, we can arrange it.
Can I use the translation from my green card case for SSA?
Yes, if it is a full certified translation of the same document.
Does the State Department accept translations made abroad?
The requirement is a certified translation with the translator's statement; the place where it was made is not restricted.
Do I translate the apostille on my birth certificate?
If the apostille is attached, it is part of the document and is translated.
Official sources
Links open the original publications this article restates.
- SSA POMS GN 00301.330: Translations of foreign-language documentssecure.ssa.gov
- SSA: Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card (PDF)ssa.gov
- U.S. Department of State: Citizenship Evidence for a U.S. passporttravel.state.gov
- U.S. Department of State: Passports for children under 16travel.state.gov
If you need your documents translated, always work with a certified translator.
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