KENYA · CERTIFIED TRANSLATION
Certified Translation of Kenya Documents for USCIS
Translating civil documents from Kenya for USCIS carries a twist most countries don't: English is one of Kenya's two official languages, so a modern Nairobi-issued birth or marriage certificate often arrives already in English and needs certification rather than full translation. The real work is the Swahili and Arabic that surfaces on Kadhi-court marriage records, customary-union entries, official stamps, and the handwriting on colonial-era and rural registers. Because Kenya is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, no apostille exists — USCIS filings rely on a certified English translation meeting 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3), while consular cases route through the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs. Our native Kiswahili specialists render every stamp, seal, and mean-grade exactly as issued and pair it with a signed Certificate of Accuracy.
Updated July 11, 2026 · Reviewed by Victor Luján, Founder — certified translations since 2018
DOCUMENTS FROM KENYA
Pick Your Document
Kenyan Birth Certificate →
Kenyan Marriage Certificate →
Kenyan Divorce Decree →
Kenyan Death Certificate →
Kenyan Diploma →
Kenyan Academic Transcript →
Kenyan Police Record →
Kenyan Single Status Certificate →
GOOD TO KNOW
Issuing Authority & Authentication
Civil records in Kenya are issued by the Civil Registration Services (CRS), under the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services (Ministry of Interior); marriages are registered separately by the Registrar of Marriages at the Office of the Attorney General and Department of Justice · official language(s): English, Swahili (Kiswahili). Kenya has not joined the Hague Apostille Convention, so no apostille is available. For USCIS petitions filed inside the US a certified English translation with a signed Certificate of Accuracy is generally all that is needed; for immigrant-visa or consular processing, Kenyan documents are authenticated by Kenya's Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs and then legalized by the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi.
Every document above is translated by a native specialist, reviewed by a second linguist, and delivered with a signed Certificate of Accuracy that USCIS accepts under 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) — or we fix it free and cover your resubmission fee.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
My Kenyan certificate is already in English — do I still need a translation for USCIS?
Often not. English is an official language in Kenya, so most modern CRS and Registrar-issued certificates are in English and USCIS accepts them as-is. A certified translation is required only for the portions in Swahili or Arabic — common on Kadhi-court, customary, or older handwritten records — and for any document not fully in English. When any foreign-language content appears, USCIS requires a certified English translation, and we can supply a free 250-word sample so you can see exactly what needs translating.
Does Kenya issue an apostille for USCIS documents?
No. Kenya is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so no apostille exists. For petitions filed inside the US, USCIS generally needs only a certified English translation with a signed Certificate of Accuracy meeting 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3). For immigrant-visa or consular processing, documents are instead authenticated by Kenya's Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs and legalized by the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi.
My Kenyan birth certificate is old and handwritten — can you still translate it?
Yes. Colonial-era and rural registers are frequently handwritten and can include faded Swahili notations. Our native-speaker specialists transcribe and translate them, flag any illegible entries as required by USCIS practice, and attach a signed Certificate of Accuracy. If the certificate is later rejected on translation grounds, our USCIS Rejection Pledge means we fix it free and cover the resubmission fee.
How much does it cost and how fast is it?
We bill at $0.05 per word, so a typical Kenyan birth, marriage, or death certificate runs about $15-25 total, delivered in 24-48 hours. Every order includes a signed Certificate of Accuracy for USCIS, a free 250-word sample up front, and our USCIS Rejection Pledge. You can send documents and get a quote by email at info@translationhelpdesk.com.