How do you translate a Dominican birth certificate (acta de nacimiento) for USCIS?
USCIS asks for a full English translation of a Dominican birth certificate with the translator’s signed certification. We translate the acta de nacimiento from the Junta Central Electoral in full, in the single format issued since July 2025 or as an older extracto or inextensa, with every note, stamp and signature. A Dominican birth certificate is usually one page: $25, ready within 24 hours after payment.
Who issues the acta
The birth certificate is the acta de nacimiento. It comes from the Civil Registry Office (Oficialía del Estado Civil) where the birth was declared or from any service center of the Central Civil Registry Office, and the Department of State lists the issuing official as the National Director of the Civil Registry (U.S. Department of State (opens in a new tab)). The civil registry is run by the Junta Central Electoral (JCE): any oficialía can issue an acta, for RD$600 (JCE (opens in a new tab)). Outside the country, the JCE’s service offices abroad issue actas too (JCE fees abroad, 2025 (opens in a new tab)).
An acta issued since April 5, 2021 can be checked on the JCE portal with its event number and control number (JCE (opens in a new tab)). The translation keeps both numbers as printed.
Extracto, inextensa and the 2025 format
Until mid-2025 an acta came either as an extract (extracto) or in full (inextensa). Since July 1, 2025, birth, recognition, marriage, divorce and death actas have one format, without either label (U.S. Department of State (opens in a new tab)).
For immigrant and K visas, the US Embassy in Santo Domingo still asks for the inextensa when your acta was issued before July 1, 2025, because it carries more information. An acta in the new format is accepted as it is, and Dominican civil documents need no legalization for a visa (same source).
What the translation includes
We translate the acta in full, as USCIS requires (8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) (opens in a new tab)): the officer’s certification, the registration number, book, folio and year, the details of the birth and the parents, the notes, the stamps and seals, and the signature.
Our sample is an extract of a reconstructed birth record from Higüey, for a boy born in 1911. Its translation shows how we handle an older acta: the form number, the law cited in the heading, three canceled revenue stamps described in brackets, an empty notes field marked as blank, and unreadable numbers marked [illegible] instead of guessed.
Names
If the acta gives two surnames, we keep both in its order and spell names as in your passport. Tell us the spelling when you order, and every document in the order will use it.
Where the translation goes
- USCIS: the translation and certification filed with a copy of the acta. What USCIS accepts
- NVC and US consulates: the Department of State doesn’t ask for a translation of a certificate in Spanish if you are applying for your visa in the Dominican Republic or another country where Spanish is an official language (civil documents (opens in a new tab)). What NVC accepts
- Immigration court: a typed certification with the translator’s address and phone. What the court accepts
Our Spanish documents are translated and certified by a native Spanish speaker. What to file in your case is for you or your attorney to decide.
Sample translation
The sample has the original, the translation and the signed certificate. Personal details are blurred.
Questions
My acta says extracto. Is that enough?
For an immigrant or K visa, the US Embassy in Santo Domingo asks for the acta inextensa if the acta was issued before July 1, 2025. An acta issued after that date has neither label and can be filed as it is. We translate whichever copy you have.
How much does it cost?
A Dominican birth certificate is usually one page: $25. Each additional page in the same order is $20, so actas for three children are $65.
Do I need a notary or an apostille?
Not for USCIS: it asks for the translator’s signed certification, and it’s included. The Department of State also notes that Dominican civil documents don’t need legalization for visa purposes.
How long does it take?
1–4 documents: within 24 hours after payment; faster, within 12 hours (+$15 a page) or 3 hours (+$30 a page, paid between 8 am and 6 pm Pacific time). For 5 or more, we give you the date with the quote.
How we do it
- Full translation
every stamp, signature and handwritten line
- Signed certificate
with the translator’s name, address and phone
- A PDF, ready to file
original, translation and certificate, translation pages numbered
- Price
$25 for the first page up to 250 words, $20 for each additional page, in the same document or another one.
- Turnaround
1–4 documents: within 24 hours after payment; faster, within 12 hours (+$15 a page) or 3 hours (+$30 a page, paid between 8 am and 6 pm Pacific time). For 5 or more, we give you the date with the quote.
This is a summary of what the agency publishes, not legal advice.