How do you translate a Moldovan birth certificate for USCIS?
USCIS asks for a full English translation of a foreign birth certificate with the translator’s signed certification. We translate Moldovan birth certificates in full: today’s certificat de naștere, a certificate from the Moldavian SSR in Russian or in two languages, and the paper extract Moldova prints for births registered since November 2025, with every stamp and signature. A birth certificate is usually one page: $25, ready within 24 hours after payment.
Today’s certificate
The Department of State describes the Moldovan birth certificate (certificat de naștere) as a form on a light background with a blue and purple border, 8.27 by 5.83 inches, with one ink stamp and the signature of the registrar (U.S. Department of State (opens in a new tab)). The Public Services Agency (Agenția Servicii Publice) issues it; certified copies come from the civil status office.
Certificates from the Moldavian SSR
Births before 1991 were registered by Soviet civil registry offices, and their certificates are usually in Russian, or in two languages: Russian and Moldovan in the Cyrillic alphabet. Many were filled in by hand. These are civil status documents like any other, and we translate both languages on the form, the handwriting included. More on old forms: handwritten Soviet documents.
Births registered since November 2025
From November 1, 2025, Moldova keeps civil status records in an electronic register and issues the documents in digital form. A paper extract from the record is printed when someone asks for it (Government of Moldova (opens in a new tab)). If your child was born after that date, the paper extract is what you file, and we translate it like a certificate.
Transnistria
The Department of State doesn’t recognize documents issued by the de facto authorities in Transnistria. The birth certificate it lists for Moldova is the one issued by the Public Services Agency.
What the translation includes
Every field of the form, the personal number (IDNP) where the certificate has one, the stamp and the signature. Names written in Romanian keep ș, ț, ă, â and î unless your passport spells them another way.
Where the translation goes
- USCIS: a copy of the certificate with the full translation and the translator’s signed certification. What USCIS accepts
- NVC and US consulates: a certified translation of every document that isn’t in English or in the official language of the country where you apply. What NVC accepts
- Immigration court: a typed certification with the translator’s address and phone. What the court accepts
Documents in Romanian are translated and certified by a native Romanian speaker, documents in Russian by a native Russian 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 certificate is from the Soviet period and it’s in Russian. Can you translate it?
Yes. Certificates from the Moldavian SSR are usually in Russian, or in Russian and in Moldovan written in Cyrillic letters, often filled in by hand. We translate every language and every handwritten line on the form, at the same price per page.
My name is spelled differently on the certificate and in my passport. Which spelling goes in?
The passport spelling, if you tell us which one it is when you order. A name written in Cyrillic on a Soviet certificate has no single Latin spelling, so we use yours and keep it the same in every document of the order.
How much does it cost?
A birth certificate is usually one page: $25. Each additional page in the same order is $20, so certificates for three family members 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. If an apostille is attached to your certificate, we translate it in the same order.
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.