GREEK · CERTIFIED TRANSLATION
Greek to English Certified Translation for USCIS
Yes — Translation HelpDesk provides certified Greek-to-English translations that USCIS accepts, at $0.05 per word (most one-page civil documents run a flat $15-25). Every translation is produced by a native Greek linguist, never machine software, and ships with a signed Certificate of Accuracy meeting 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3), backed by our USCIS Rejection Pledge. Whether your certificate is written in modern Demotic or older Katharevousa, and whether it was issued in Greece or Cyprus, we transliterate names to match your passport and deliver in 24-48 hours. Start with a free 250-word sample.
Updated July 11, 2026 · Reviewed by Victor Luján, Founder
ABOUT GREEK TRANSLATION
Why a Native Greek Specialist Matters
Greek is written in the 24-letter Greek alphabet, the oldest alphabet still in continuous use, and its documents defeat generalists and machines alike. Greece lived under diglossia until 1976: official records were kept in Katharevousa, an archaizing "purified" register whose grammar and vocabulary differ sharply from the Demotic Greek spoken today. Certificates issued before that reform — and many Orthodox church records long after — use Katharevousa and the polytonic accent system (multiple accents and breathings) that was only abolished in 1982. A native Greek translator reads these older hands fluently, renders ecclesiastical and legal terminology precisely, and transliterates names using the ELOT 743 standard (identical to ISO 843) so your spelling matches your Greek or Cypriot passport — inconsistent romanization is the single most common cause of USCIS name mismatches. Cypriot documents add their own administrative vocabulary. We reproduce patronymics, registry-office seals, and apostilles exactly as the original presents them.
Where Greek is spoken: Greece, Republic of Cyprus, Greek diaspora communities in Albania (Northern Epirus), Turkey, Egypt, the United States and Australia.
DOCUMENTS WE TRANSLATE
Common Greek Documents
Birth certificate (ληξιαρχική πράξη γέννησης)
Certificate of family status (πιστοποιητικό οικογενειακής κατάστασης)
Marriage certificate (ληξιαρχική πράξη γάμου)
Greek Orthodox baptism certificate
Divorce decree
Death certificate
Every Greek translation includes a signed Certificate of Accuracy meeting 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3), reproduces the original layout, and is accepted by USCIS or we fix it free and cover your resubmission fee.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
My Greek birth certificate is written in old-fashioned Greek. Can you still translate it?
Yes. Documents issued before Greece's 1976 language reform — and many baptism and church records after it — are written in Katharevousa with the older polytonic accent system abolished in 1982. Our native Greek translators read these archaic forms fluently and render them into clear, certified English. Machine tools routinely mangle Katharevousa vocabulary and grammar, which is exactly what triggers USCIS rejections.
Will the spelling of my name match my Greek passport?
We transliterate Greek names using the ELOT 743 standard (identical to ISO 843), the same system the Greek and Cypriot passport authorities use. Matching your passport spelling matters: inconsistent romanization of Greek names is one of the most common reasons USCIS flags a document. If your passport already uses an older or alternate spelling of your name, tell us and we will match and annotate it.
Do you translate documents from Cyprus as well as Greece?
Yes. Greek is an official language of both Greece and the Republic of Cyprus. Cypriot civil documents use Greek with some distinct administrative terminology, layout, and district-office seals. Our linguists are familiar with both Greek and Cypriot registry conventions, including the Cypriot certificate of family status.
What is the most common Greek document you translate for USCIS?
Birth certificates (ληξιαρχική πράξη γέννησης) and certificates of family status (πιστοποιητικό οικογενειακής κατάστασης) are the most frequent, followed by marriage certificates, Orthodox baptism certificates, university diplomas, and criminal-record certificates. We also handle military-service certificates and apostille pages, reproducing every seal and stamp.
Does USCIS require a notary or anything special for a Greek translation?
No notary is required for USCIS. USCIS requires a complete English translation of the entire document plus a signed statement certifying the translator's competence and the accuracy of the translation, per 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3). Every Translation HelpDesk order includes that certification, and our USCIS Rejection Pledge means if a translation is ever rejected for accuracy or formatting, we correct it free.