When accuracy and legal acceptance matter most — for immigration filings, court submissions, university applications, or international business — Gotham Lab delivers certified document translation services that are accepted by USCIS, U.S. federal and state courts, hospitals, and government agencies across New York City and beyond. Our in-house team has been translating documents for New York’s legal, business, and immigration communities since 2007.
Every document translation at Gotham Lab follows a structured quality process: source review, translation by a subject-matter specialist, independent editing, and final proofreading before delivery. Certified translations include a signed Certificate of Accuracy. Notarized translations add a Notary Public stamp and seal. Apostille-ready translations are prepared to meet the requirements of Hague Convention countries. Each level of certification is handled entirely in-house — never outsourced.
We translate personal, legal, academic, medical, and business documents in 50+ languages. Whether you need a single birth certificate translated for a visa application or a portfolio of corporate contracts prepared for international use, our team handles every project with the same commitment to accuracy, confidentiality, and compliance. All document translation projects are covered by a standard Non-Disclosure Agreement.
What Is Certified Document Translation?
A certified translation is a translation accompanied by a signed Certificate of Accuracy — a formal written statement by the translator certifying that the translation is a complete and accurate representation of the original document, and that the translator is competent to perform the translation. The Certificate of Accuracy is typically printed on letterhead and signed by the translator.
Certified translations are required by law or institutional policy whenever a foreign-language document is submitted to a U.S. government agency, court, or institution. USCIS regulations (8 CFR 103.2(b)(3)) specifically require that all documents in a foreign language be accompanied by a full English translation certified by a competent translator.
Certified translation is different from notarized translation — certification refers to the translator’s attestation of accuracy, while notarization is performed by a Notary Public who authenticates the translator’s signature. We provide both, separately or together, depending on what the receiving institution requires.
Certified vs. Notarized vs. Apostille: What’s the Difference?
Certified Translation
A certified translation includes the translated document plus a Certificate of Accuracy signed by the translator. This is the standard requirement for USCIS immigration filings, university applications, court submissions, and most U.S. government agencies. The certification is performed by our in-house translator — no notary is required for standard certified translation.
Notarized Translation
A notarized translation takes the certified translation one step further — a New York Notary Public authenticates the translator’s signature by adding their official stamp and seal. Notarized translations are required by some courts, banks, consulates, and agencies that need additional proof of the translator’s identity and authority. Notarization does not verify the accuracy of the translation itself — it verifies the translator’s signature.
Apostille-Ready Translation
An apostille-ready translation is a certified, notarized translation that has been prepared for use in countries that are signatories to the Hague Convention of 1961. If you are submitting translated documents to a foreign government, embassy, or institution in a Hague Convention country, you will typically need a certified translation, notarized, and then apostilled by the New York Secretary of State. We prepare translations to be apostille-ready and can advise on the full apostille process.
Our Document Translation Services
We provide the full range of certified and uncertified document translation services for individuals, businesses, law firms, hospitals, and institutions in New York City and nationwide.
| Service | What we deliver | Learn more |
|---|---|---|
| Certified document translation | USCIS-accepted certified translation for immigration filings, green card applications, naturalization petitions, and government submissions. Signed certification letter included. Accepted by all US federal and state agencies. | Get a quote |
| Notarized translation | Certified translation with notarization by a licensed New York State notary public. Required for court filings, real estate transactions, academic submissions, and many official government documents. Notarization fee $25 flat. | Get a quote |
| Apostille-ready translation | Certified and notarized translation prepared for apostille authentication — for documents intended for use in Hague Convention countries. Apostille preparation $50 flat. Full chain handled in-house with no third-party coordination required. | Get a quote |
| Legal document translation | Translation of contracts, agreements, court filings, affidavits, powers of attorney, and corporate legal documents. Handled by native-speaking translators with legal subject-matter expertise. NDA standard on every project. | View service |
| Immigration document translation | Birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce decrees, passports, police clearances, academic transcripts, and all supporting immigration documents. Certified and USCIS-accepted. Fast turnaround available for urgent filings. | Get a quote |
| Medical document translation | Medical records, discharge summaries, clinical trial documents, pharmaceutical documentation, and patient consent forms. Translated by native-speaking specialists with medical and clinical terminology expertise. | Get a quote |
| Financial document translation | Financial statements, audit reports, tax documents, investment prospectuses, and banking records. Handled by translators with finance and accounting expertise. Accurate terminology across all major currency jurisdictions and regulatory frameworks. | Get a quote |
| Academic document translation | Diplomas, transcripts, degree certificates, recommendation letters, and academic records for university admissions, professional licensing, and credential evaluation bodies including WES, ECE, and NACES members. | Get a quote |
| Business document translation | Contracts, corporate filings, HR documents, internal communications, and business correspondence. Part of Gotham Lab's full business translation offering covering all document types your organization requires. | View service |
Free quote — same day response
Contact us for a precise project quote. We respond to all inquiries within one business day. Rush turnaround available for time-sensitive deadlines. Ready to start? Contact Gotham Lab for a free consultation!
Document Types We Translate
Our translators specialize in four primary document categories. Each category requires distinct expertise in terminology, formatting conventions, and regulatory compliance. We assign every project to the translator best qualified for the subject matter.
Personal & Immigration Documents
Immigration is one of the most common reasons New York City residents need certified document translation. USCIS requires certified translations of all foreign-language documents submitted with visa, green card, citizenship, and other immigration applications. We translate:
Birth certificates
Marriage and divorce certificates
Powers of attorney
Passports and national ID cards
Adoption documents
Military records
- Naturalization and citizenship documents
- Police clearance certificates and background checks
- Death certificates
All personal document translations include a Certificate of Accuracy and are formatted to match the original document. Notarization is available for documents requiring it.
Medical & Technical Documents
Medical and technical document translation demands more than bilingual fluency — it requires deep familiarity with specialized terminology, industry standards, and regulatory requirements. Our medical and technical translators hold subject-matter credentials in addition to language expertise. We translate:
- Patient medical records and clinical histories
- Hospital discharge summaries
- Pharmaceutical and clinical trial documents
- Medical device documentation
- Informed consent forms
- Technical manuals and engineering specifications
- Safety data sheets (SDS)
- Scientific research papers
- FDA submission documents
Medical translations at Gotham Lab are handled exclusively by translators with demonstrated expertise in life sciences, healthcare, or clinical research. Technical translations are matched to translators with engineering, manufacturing, or industrial backgrounds.
Document Translation Rates
Certified document translation starts at $0.12 per word with a $65 minimum. Standard (non-certified) document translation starts at $0.07 per word. All rates include a thorough quality review. Request a free quote for an exact cost estimate based on your document, language pair, and certification level required.
| Service | Rate | What's included | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard document translation | From $0.07/word | Native-speaking specialist, two-stage quality review, NDA standard, delivery in your required format | Get a quote |
| Certified document translation | From $0.12/word | Certified translation with signed certificate of accuracy — accepted by USCIS, courts, and all US federal and state agencies | Get a quote |
| Notarization | $25 flat | Notarization by a licensed New York State notary public — added to certified translation for court filings, real estate, and official submissions | Get a quote |
| Apostille preparation | $50 flat | Full apostille preparation for documents intended for use in Hague Convention countries — handled in-house, no third-party coordination required | Get a quote |
| Legal document translation | Contact for quote | Priced per project — document type, language pair, and legal complexity. NDA and confidentiality standard on every project | View service |
| Immigration document translation | Contact for quote | Priced per project — document type and language pair. Certified and USCIS-accepted. Rush turnaround available for urgent filings | Get a quote |
| Medical document translation | Contact for quote | Priced per project — document type, language pair, and clinical complexity. Handled by native-speaking specialists with medical expertise | Get a quote |
| Rush turnaround | Contact for quote | Same-day and 24hr turnaround available for urgent immigration filings, court deadlines, and time-sensitive document requirements | Get a quote |
All rates include project management, native-speaking specialist translation, two-stage quality review, and delivery in your required format. Contact us for a free project quote — we respond within one business day.
All prices are in USD. Minimum fees apply per document. Rush service subject to availability — contact us before submitting time-sensitive documents. Apostille processing fees (NY Secretary of State) are not included.
In-house. New York City. Since 2007
Every project handled by our NYC team — no outsourcing, no middlemen, no subcontractors. Translation, localization, subtitling, voice-over, and CCSL in 50+ languages at rates 20–30% below the national average. Get started with a free consultation today.
Why Choose Gotham Lab for Document Translation?
In-house NYC team. USCIS accepted. NDA standard. 50+ languages. Founded 2007.
| Why Gotham Lab | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| In-house NYC team — no outsourcing | Every document translation at Gotham Lab is handled by our own in-house team at 340 W 42nd St #2424, Midtown Manhattan — never passed to freelancer networks, offshore processors, or anonymous subcontractors. Your documents stay in-house from intake through delivery. Contact us to discuss your project. |
| Certified + notarized + apostille — all in-house | Gotham Lab handles the complete document chain under one roof — certified translation accepted by USCIS, courts, and government agencies, notarization at $25 flat, and apostille preparation at $50 flat. No coordinating between separate vendors, no delays waiting on third parties. Request a certified translation quote. |
| NDA standard — complete confidentiality | Every document translation project is handled under a signed NDA and strict confidentiality protocols as standard practice — not an optional add-on. Your personal records, legal filings, immigration documents, and business contracts never pass through external platforms or third-party systems. Contact us to discuss your project. |
| Native-speaking subject-matter specialists | Gotham Lab's translators are native speakers of the target language with professional expertise in your specific document type — legal translators for court and immigration documents, financial translators for contracts and corporate records. Not generalist translators working from terminology glossaries. Learn more about our translation services. |
| Full-service language partner | Gotham Lab is New York City's only document translation company that also provides in-house subtitling, voice-over production, dubbing, closed captioning, and movie localization under one roof. One partner, one NDA, one quality standard — for every language need. |
| Transparent rates — from $0.07/word | Standard document translation starts from $0.07 per word. Certified translation at $0.12 per word. Notarization $25 flat. Apostille preparation $50 flat. No hidden fees, no per-page surprises, no agency markup. Volume discounts available for ongoing document translation needs. Contact us for a free project quote. |
| Founded in NYC, 2007 | Over 17 years serving New York City law firms, immigration attorneys, hospitals, government agencies, and individuals. Gotham Lab has built its reputation on accuracy, confidentiality, and on-time delivery — with a client base that returns because the quality is consistent. Learn more about Gotham Lab. |
Ready to start your document translation project? Contact our New York City office for a free consultation and same-day quote.
Contact Gotham Lab: info@gothamlab.com | +1 347-587-8110 | 340 W 42nd St #2424, New York, NY 10108
f.a.q.
Frequently Asked Questions — Document Translation New York City
Document translation questions answered by Gotham Lab’s in-house NYC team. If you don’t see your question below, contact us — we respond within one business day.
What is a certified document translation?
Are your certified translations accepted by USCIS?
How much does document translation cost?
Do you provide notarized translations?
What is an apostille and do I need one?
Is my document kept confidential?
What types of documents do you translate?
How long does document translation take?
What languages do you translate?
Is all document translation done in New York?
Get a Free Document Translation Quote
Ready to get started? Contact Gotham Lab for a free, no-obligation quote on your document translation project. Tell us the language pair, document type, and certification level required — we will respond within one business hour during business hours.
Contact Gotham Lab: info@gothamlab.com | +1 347-587-8110 | 340 W 42nd St #2424, New York, NY 10108
Gotham Lab – NYC
Address: 340 W 42nd St #2424, New York, NY 10108
Phone: +1 347-587-8110
Email: info@gothamlab.com
Hours: Mon–Fri: 8:00am–7:00pm | Sat: 9:00am–5:00pm