How do you translate a Nicaraguan birth certificate for USCIS?
USCIS asks for a full English translation of a Nicaraguan birth certificate with the translator’s signed certification. We translate both documents the Registro Central del Estado Civil issues for a birth, the certificado de nacimiento and the literal copy of the whole entry, with the registrar’s seal and signature and every note. Each Nicaraguan birth certificate is usually one page: $25, ready within 24 hours after payment.
Two documents: the certificado and the literal
Nicaragua’s civil registry is run by the Consejo Supremo Electoral (CSE). For a birth, it issues two documents:
- certificado de nacimiento: the certificate of the birth entry, requested at the civil registry of each municipality, at the Registro Central del Estado Civil de las Personas, at Servigob or at the departmental and regional electoral councils (CSE (opens in a new tab));
- certificación literal: a word-for-word copy of the entire entry (CSE (opens in a new tab)).
The US Embassy in Managua requests both forms for each beneficiary. A municipality can issue a birth certificate, but the embassy accepts only those from the Central Registry. If the entry was corrected, a parent recognized the child later or the birth was registered late, the literal is the one that lists every change made to the registration (U.S. Department of State (opens in a new tab)).
What a Nicaraguan certificate shows
The certificate is on light blue or white paper and carries the signature and seal of the civil registrar (U.S. Department of State (opens in a new tab)). The CSE identifies a registry entry by its references: the volume (tomo), the page (folio), the entry number (partida) and the date of registration (CSE (opens in a new tab)). If your certificate shows them, the translation gives them exactly as printed.
The Central Registry keeps the records of the whole country on microfilm, and they survived the 1972 earthquake and the fighting of 1979. A baptism record from the church is not a government document in Nicaragua (same source). The Central Registry certifies the actas; authentication and the apostille are done at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (CSE (opens in a new tab)).
What the translation includes
USCIS asks for a full translation (8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) (opens in a new tab)). Ours has every field of the certificado or the literal, each marginal note, the registry references, the seal and the signature, and any authentication stamp. A faded word is marked [illegible] rather than guessed.
Names
When the certificate gives two surnames, both stay, in the certificate’s order. Names are spelled as in your passport: give us the spelling with your order, and it will be the same on the certificado, the literal and every other document.
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 Nicaragua 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.
Questions
Do I need both the certificado and the literal translated?
The US Embassy in Managua asks for both forms, and for an interview in Nicaragua the Department of State doesn’t ask for a translation of a Spanish certificate. For USCIS, which forms to file is for you or your attorney to decide. We translate one or both.
How much does it cost?
Each Nicaraguan certificate is usually one page: $25. Each additional page in the same order is $20, so the certificado, the literal and a marriage certificate are $65.
Do I need a notary or an apostille?
Not for USCIS: the translator’s signed certification is what it asks for, and we include it. In Nicaragua the apostille comes from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, not the civil registry; if your certificate has one, we translate it too.
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.