How do you translate a Dominican death certificate (acta de defunción) for USCIS?
To file a Dominican death certificate with USCIS, you need a full English translation and the translator’s signed certification. We translate the acta de defunción issued by an Oficialía del Estado Civil of the Junta Central Electoral (JCE) in full, in the single format used since July 2025 or as an older inextensa or extracto. One page is $25, ready within 24 hours after payment.
Why a death certificate goes to USCIS
A spouse or petitioner who was married before shows that each earlier marriage legally ended (Form I-130 instructions, p. 6 (opens in a new tab)), and when that marriage ended with a death, the proof is the death record. A widow or widower of a US citizen files Form I-360 with a copy of the spouse’s death certificate (Form I-360 instructions, p. 2 (opens in a new tab)). A record in Spanish needs a full English translation and the translator’s certification (8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) (opens in a new tab)).
Where a Dominican death is registered
Deaths are recorded by the civil registry offices, the Oficialías del Estado Civil. The declaration is made at the office of the place of death, of the deceased’s home, or of the place of burial, and any relative or other person who knows the facts can make it. A declaration within 60 days of the death counts as timely under Law 4-23. A late one needs more papers, such as a certification from the town hall (ayuntamiento) that the body was buried, and a court ratifies it (Junta Central Electoral (opens in a new tab)).
To register, the office takes the ID card (cédula) or passport of the deceased, the death certificate from the clinic or hospital, the birth certificate of the deceased if there is one, and the declarant’s ID (JCE (opens in a new tab)). As of July 2025, a copy of the acta costs RD$600. You get it at the Oficialía for the area where the death took place or at any service center of the Central Office of Civil Registry (U.S. Department of State (opens in a new tab)).
The July 2025 single format
Since July 1, 2025, Dominican birth, recognition, marriage, divorce and death certificates come in a single format, without the old extracto and inextensa versions. For immigrant and K visa applications, the embassy in Santo Domingo still asks for the acta inextensa if your copy was issued before that date, because it gives more information (U.S. Department of State (opens in a new tab)).
The certificate has no special seal, color or format. We translate the whole page: the registration details, the entry, every signature and every stamp.
Names and ID numbers
We keep the surnames in the order of the acta and copy the cédula numbers exactly. Tell us the passport spelling, and it will match across your order.
Where the translation goes
- USCIS: the translation and certification filed with a copy of the certificate. 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. 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”. Can you translate it?
Yes, we translate whatever copy you have. For an immigrant or K visa, the embassy in Santo Domingo asks for the acta inextensa when the document was issued before July 1, 2025; an acta issued after that date no longer carries either label.
How much does it cost?
Each order starts at $25 for the first page; every further page is $20. Three pages come to $65.
Do I need a notary, an apostille or a legalization?
USCIS asks for the translator’s signed certification, and it’s part of the translation. The State Department page says legalization of Dominican civil documents is not required 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.