米国移民局 (USCIS) 提出用
Certified Japanese translation for USCIS
USCIS accepts translations certified by the translator — no ATA accreditation, no notarization, and no US address are required.
Federal requirement, not a state one
The self-certification standard above is a federal rule governing USCIS filings for green cards, naturalization, and other immigration benefits. It does not extend to state agencies. State DMVs set their own translation rules, and some require notarization or specific providers. If you need a translation for a DMV rather than USCIS, check the state-by-state DMV requirements first.
What USCIS actually requires
“Any document containing foreign language submitted to USCIS shall be accompanied by a full English language translation which the translator has certified as complete and accurate, and by the translator’s certification that he or she is competent to translate from the foreign language into English.”
Source: 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3). Last reviewed: 2026-07.
How our certificate meets each requirement
| Required | Our certified translation |
|---|---|
| A full English language translation of the document | We translate the complete document, including all stamps, seals, and marginal notes, in a layout that mirrors the original. |
| Certified by the translator as complete and accurate | Each translation includes a signed Certificate of Translation Accuracy affirming that the translation is complete and accurate. |
| Certification that the translator is competent to translate from the foreign language into English | The certificate includes the translator’s declaration of competence to translate from Japanese into English, along with their name, signature, date, and contact details. |
Not sure whether you need a certified, notarized, or sworn translation? See what each term means for Japanese documents.
Common questions
Does my koseki translation for USCIS need to be notarized?
No. 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) requires only the translator’s own certification of completeness, accuracy, and competence. Notarization is not part of the federal requirement.
Does the translator need to be ATA-certified or based in the United States?
No. The regulation sets no accreditation, nationality, or residence requirement for the translator.
Can I translate my own documents for USCIS?
The regulation does not expressly forbid it, but a translation certified by an independent translator avoids any question about the certification’s objectivity.
Can a friend translate my koseki and sign the certification, or does it have to be a professional?
8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) sets no requirement that the translator be a professional or hold any qualification. What it requires is the certification itself: that the translation is complete and accurate, and that the translator is competent to translate from Japanese into English. The rule is easy to satisfy; the document is not. A koseki records registry transfers, adoptions, corrections, and removals in fixed legal vocabulary, and in the registers we handle those are the entries whose wording has to be exact.
Which Japanese documents does USCIS typically need translated?
Family registers (koseki) for marriage, family-based petitions, and naturalization; marriage and divorce acceptance certificates; and occasionally residence certificates (juminhyo) or bank statements as supporting evidence.
More in the general FAQ, including certification requirements by country.
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