NIGERIA · CERTIFIED TRANSLATION
Certified Translation of Nigeria Documents for USCIS
Translating Nigerian civil documents for USCIS carries a twist most countries do not: English is Nigeria's sole official language, so federal records — NPC birth certificates, Federal Marriage Registry certificates, High Court decrees — are already issued in English and often need no translation at all. The genuine translation work lies in the exceptions: Islamic (Nikah) marriage certificates and Sharia-court divorce papers from the northern states written in Arabic or Hausa, customary records annotated in Yoruba or Igbo, handwritten entries in old registers, and the seals, stamps, and marginal notes that appear in a non-English script. Because Nigeria is outside the Hague Apostille Convention, applicants often assume they need heavy legalization for USCIS, when in fact a certified English translation is what the adjudicator actually requires. Every project ships with a signed Certificate of Accuracy meeting 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3), and a free 250-word sample lets you see exactly how we handle Nigerian name-order and mixed-script pages before you commit.
Updated July 11, 2026 · Reviewed by Victor Luján, Founder — certified translations since 2018
DOCUMENTS FROM NIGERIA
Pick Your Document
Nigerian Birth Certificate →
Nigerian Marriage Certificate →
Nigerian Divorce Decree →
Nigerian Death Certificate →
Nigerian Diploma →
Nigerian Academic Transcript →
Nigerian Police Record →
Nigerian Single Status Certificate →
GOOD TO KNOW
Issuing Authority & Authentication
Civil records in Nigeria are issued by the National Population Commission (NPC) — Komishin Kididdiga ta Kasa · official language(s): English. Nigeria is NOT a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so Nigerian documents cannot be apostilled. When an authority requires authentication, the path is consular legalization: the record is verified by the issuing body (e.g., the Federal Ministry of Education for academic papers), authenticated by the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja, and then legalized by the relevant consulate. Importantly, USCIS itself requires neither an apostille nor legalization — only a complete certified English translation with a signed Certificate of Accuracy.
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 Nigerian birth certificate is already in English. Do I still need a certified translation for USCIS?
Often not — Nigeria's official language is English, and NPC birth certificates, Federal Marriage Registry certificates, and High Court decrees are issued in English, which is exactly what USCIS requires. You still need a complete, legible document, and any non-English portions (Arabic or Hausa stamps, indigenous-language annotations, handwritten entries) must be translated. Send it for our free 250-word review and we'll tell you honestly whether translation is needed.
Do I need an apostille from Nigeria for my USCIS filing?
No. Nigeria is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so no apostille exists — and USCIS does not require an apostille or embassy legalization in the first place. USCIS asks only for a complete certified English translation accompanied by a signed Certificate of Accuracy, which is what we provide.
What is the difference between an NPC Birth Certificate and an Attestation of Birth?
Both are issued by the National Population Commission and carry equal legal validity. The Birth Certificate is issued for children registered before age 18, while the Attestation of Birth is issued to adults (17 and older) who register later. Either one is acceptable for USCIS as long as it is complete and properly issued.
My marriage was an Islamic (Nikah) ceremony documented in Arabic or Hausa. Can you translate it?
Yes. Islamic marriage certificates and Sharia-court divorce records from northern Nigeria are frequently in Arabic or Hausa, and our native-speaker specialists translate every seal, witness line, and Islamic-calendar date into English with a Certificate of Accuracy meeting 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3).
What does it cost and how fast is it for a Nigerian birth or marriage certificate?
Certified translation runs $0.05 per word, and a typical Nigerian birth or marriage certificate lands around $15–25 total with a 24–48 hour turnaround. Every order is backed by our USCIS Rejection Pledge: if a translation issue causes a rejection, we fix it free and cover the resubmission fee.