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Certified or Notarized?
“Notarized” and “certified” are not the same thing — and submitting the wrong one gets documents rejected. Answer three questions and see exactly what the institution receiving your document requires.
Question 1 of 3
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The difference in one minute
A certified translation is a complete translation accompanied by the translator’s signed statement that they are competent in both languages and that the translation is accurate and complete. The certification is about the translation itself.
Notarization is different: a notary authenticates a signature on a document. A notary does not read the translation, does not verify its accuracy, and cannot make an uncertified translation valid.
That is why institutions that evaluate foreign documents — USCIS, courts, universities, Mexican registries — ask for the certification, not the notary stamp. USCIS states the requirement directly in 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3): a full English translation plus the translator’s certification of accuracy and competence. In Mexico, the equivalent standard is the perito traductor — a translator authorized by the judiciary (TSJ and CJF).
Why people get told “notarized”
Checklists, forums, and even well-meaning officials often use “notarized” loosely when they mean “officially translated.” If a specific institution genuinely requires notarization on top of the certification, it can be arranged — but it is always an addition to a certified translation, never a replacement for one. When in doubt, confirm with the party requesting the document.
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