PAKISTAN · CERTIFIED TRANSLATION
Certified Translation of Pakistan Documents for USCIS
Translating Pakistani documents for USCIS turns on one distinction: modern computerized "NADRA" certificates are bilingual Urdu/English with a QR code, while older civil records are handwritten registers kept entirely in Urdu (Nastaliq script). Even the bilingual ones still require a complete English translation, because USCIS wants every Urdu seal, stamp, marginal note and registrar remark rendered — not just the pre-printed English columns. Pakistani naming is another trap: documents frequently list a father's name rather than a Western-style surname, so consistent transliteration across a whole family's papers matters. Since Pakistan joined the Apostille Convention in 2023, authentication is now a single MOFA apostille, but that step is separate from the certified translation USCIS actually reads.
Updated July 11, 2026 · Reviewed by Victor Luján, Founder — certified translations since 2018
DOCUMENTS FROM PAKISTAN
Pick Your Document
Pakistani Birth Certificate →
Pakistani Marriage Certificate →
Pakistani Divorce Decree →
Pakistani Death Certificate →
Pakistani Diploma →
Pakistani Academic Transcript →
Pakistani Police Record →
Pakistani Single Status Certificate →
GOOD TO KNOW
Issuing Authority & Authentication
Civil records in Pakistan are issued by the یونین کونسل / NADRA — local Union Councils, Cantonment Boards & TMAs, with records maintained by the National Database & Registration Authority (NADRA) through its Civil Registration Management System (CRMS) · official language(s): Urdu, English. Pakistan acceded to the Hague Apostille Convention, in force since 9 March 2023, so Pakistani civil documents are authenticated with a single apostille from Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) rather than US embassy/consular legalization. Educational records normally need IBCC (school boards) or HEC (university degrees) attestation before the MOFA apostille is issued.
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 NADRA certificate is already bilingual — do I still need a certified translation for USCIS?
Usually yes. Even when a NADRA certificate shows English, USCIS requires a complete English translation of the entire document, including every Urdu seal, stamp, heading and handwritten note, with a signed Certificate of Accuracy. We translate the whole page so nothing is left untranslated, meeting 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3).
My birth record is an old handwritten Union Council register entry in Urdu. Can you translate that?
Yes. Our native Urdu specialists handle handwritten and older civil-register entries, transcribing registrar remarks, margin notes and faded Nastaliq script, then certify the translation for USCIS. Send a clear photo or scan and we'll return a free 250-word sample first.
Do I need a MOFA apostille and a translation, or just one of them?
They do different jobs. The apostille from Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (available since 2023) authenticates where the document came from, while USCIS separately needs a certified English translation of what it says. Most family-based petitions ask for the translation; check your specific filing instructions for whether an apostille is also requested.
How do you handle Pakistani names and the Nikah Nama?
We preserve name order exactly as printed — many documents list a father's name rather than a Western surname — and transliterate consistently across all your papers so names match. For a Nikah Nama we translate every column, including the mahr (dower) amount and any conditions, so the marriage details are fully legible to USCIS.