Guides · 2026-09-09

Apostille and Translation: Which One Comes First (and Do You Need Both?)

Two different pieces of paper get confused constantly, and the confusion is expensive because the order in which you obtain them matters.

What each one actually does

An apostille is a certificate attached to an original document by a designated authority in the country that issued it, under the 1961 Hague Convention. It says: the signature and seal on this document are genuine, and the person who signed it held the office they claim. It says nothing about the content, and it is not a translation. In Italy it comes from the Prefettura or the Procura; in Poland from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; in the UK from the FCDO; in the US from the Secretary of State of the issuing state.

A certified translation renders the document into English and carries a signed statement that it is complete and accurate. It says nothing about whether the original is genuine.

They are not alternatives, and neither substitutes for the other.

The order that saves money

If you need an apostille, get it first.

The apostille is physically attached to the original — usually a separate page, sometimes a stamp on the reverse. Once attached, it is part of the document, and a complete translation must include it. Translate first, apostille second, and you now hold a translation that does not cover the newest page of your document; most offices will send you back for a translation of that page too.

Done in the right order, the apostille is translated along with everything else, in the same order, at the same per-page price.

Working out whether you need one at all

There is no general rule by country, only by filing. As a rough map of where they usually appear:

USCIS immigration filings — generally no apostille. A complete certified translation is what the rule asks for.
UKVI visa applications — generally no apostille for supporting documents; a certified translation with a statement of accuracy is what is described.
Marriage abroad, foreign civil registries, foreign courts — apostille frequently required, because a foreign registry has no way to verify a seal it has never seen.
Some universities, professional boards and pension authorities — varies, and the only reliable source is their own instructions.

If your checklist does not mention an apostille, do not assume you need one. They cost money and take time, and a large share of the apostilles people obtain for immigration filings were never requested by anyone.

The question to ask

"Do you require the original document to be apostilled, or only a certified English translation of it?"

Send that to the office that will read your paperwork before you pay for either. It is a one-sentence email and it decides a multi-week sequence.

How we handle apostilled documents

We do not issue apostilles — that is a government function in the issuing country, and no translation company can do it for you.

What we do is translate the apostille as part of the document when it is present: the issuing authority, the certificate number, the date, the signatory and the seal are all rendered and labelled, because leaving it out would make the translation incomplete. Each physical page — including the apostille page — counts as one page at the standard rate, and you see the count before paying.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an apostille as well as a translation?

They answer different questions and are often required independently. An apostille certifies that the signature and seal on the original document are genuine; a translation makes the content readable. Whether you need an apostille depends entirely on the office receiving the document — ask them, because the answer varies by filing type, not by country.

Should the apostille come before or after the translation?

If your document needs an apostille, get it first. The apostille is a physical page attached to the original and it is part of the document, so it should be translated too. Translating first and apostilling afterwards usually means paying for a second translation to cover the new page.

Does USCIS require apostilles?

Generally no. USCIS asks for a complete English translation with a signed certification of accuracy. Apostilles are mainly needed when a document travels the other way — a US document going abroad — or for certain courts, foreign registries and civil procedures. Always check the specific instructions for your filing.