Wisconsin Document Translation Services

Apostille Authentications provides certified document translation for people and businesses in Wisconsin, from $65 per page. Most translations are ready in 1 to 2 business days. We work remotely from the Portland, Oregon area: you upload your document through the quote form and we return the translation electronically or by mail. Each translation comes with a signed certificate of accuracy, and we can have the translator’s statement notarized when the receiving office asks for that.

Upload your document below as a PDF, JPEG, PNG or Word file, or call (971) 514-3743 for a quote.

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What Wisconsin offices ask for when a document is not in English

Rules differ by office, so check with the one receiving your document before you order. These are the published requirements we found on official sources.

USCIS. Federal rule 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) says any document containing foreign language submitted to USCIS must come with a full English translation that the translator has certified as complete and accurate, along with the translator’s certification of competence to translate from the foreign language into English.
Wisconsin courts. The Wisconsin Court System’s Language Access Plan says non-English documents submitted to a court, such as a foreign will or birth certificate, must be accompanied by an English translation with an affidavit of the translator’s qualifications. The party offering the document normally pays for the translation unless the court decides otherwise.
Wisconsin DMV. Wisconsin DOT recommends that visiting drivers carry an International Driving Permit or attach an English translation to their national license. Under the reciprocity agreements, a Korean license needs a translation certified by the Korean consulate in Chicago unless it already has English on the back, and a Taiwanese license needs an International Driving Permit or a notarized translation issued by the Taiwan consulate general. French and German licenses need no translation.

Who issues apostilles in Wisconsin

The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), Division of Corporate and Consumer Services, issues apostilles for Wisconsin documents. DFI has done this since January 4, 2016. Its FAQ states that authentications for countries outside the Hague Convention are handled by the Office of the Secretary of State, so confirm the destination country before you send anything.

Standard service	$10 per document, 3 to 7 business days, not including mail time
Expedited service	$35 per document, 1 to 2 business days, not including mail time
Request form	Apostille Form APO3500, one form per destination country
Mailing address	Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, PO Box 7838, Madison, WI 53707-7838
Physical address	4822 Madison Yards Way, North Tower, Madison, WI 53705
Office hours	Monday to Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Payment	Check or money order payable to Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, or online payment through DFI’s request system
Contact	(608) 266-8915, DFIApostille@dfi.wisconsin.gov

Getting a translation ready for a Wisconsin apostille

DFI authenticates the signature of a Wisconsin public official or a Wisconsin notary. It does not certify the content of a document. A translation is therefore apostilled through the notarization attached to it: DFI requires a complete notarial statement that conforms to Wisconsin notary law and is signed by a Wisconsin notary public.

When a translation needs to be notarized for Wisconsin, for example for a Wisconsin apostille, we hire a notary commissioned in Wisconsin to notarize the translator’s statement. The notarized translation can then be submitted to DFI with the request form and fee.

DFI’s FAQ lists what it looks for on a notarized document: the jurisdiction where the notarization took place, a notarial statement describing what is notarized, the date, the notary’s signature and seal or stamp, and the commission expiration date. DFI says the notarial statement is best in English or in bilingual form to help acceptance abroad.

Vital records follow a different path. DFI says certified copies of birth, marriage, death and divorce certificates must come from the official custodian and cannot be notarized. Tell the issuing office the copy is for foreign use, and ask the destination country whether it sets a time limit or format. DFI does not process federal documents such as FBI background checks, federal court documents, or vital records from other states or countries.

Where certified Wisconsin vital records come from

The Wisconsin Vital Records Office, part of the Department of Health Services, issues birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates for events from October 1907 to the present. It takes requests by mail, online through VitalChek, or by phone, and its page lists in-person counter service as closed.

You can also request records from the 72 county Register of Deeds offices and from city health offices serving Milwaukee and West Allis. Availability at local offices varies by date and type of event.

First copy	$20
Additional copies of the same record	$3 each
Mail requests	About 10 business days after receipt, not including postal time
Online or phone orders	About 5 business days, with extra fees
Mailing address	Wisconsin Vital Records Office, PO Box 309, Madison, WI 53701

Wisconsin notaries, translations and the 'notario publico' rule

A notary’s signature on a translation confirms the notarial act on the translator’s statement. It says nothing about the quality of the translation. Wisconsin law also limits what notaries who are not attorneys may do.

Under Wis. Stat. 140.02(1)(i), a non-attorney notary who advertises using the words ‘notario’, ‘notarizaciones’, ‘notarizamos’ or ‘notario publico’ must include a disclaimer stating that the notary is not an attorney licensed to practice law in Wisconsin and may not give legal advice or accept fees for legal advice. The same provision bars such notaries from soliciting or accepting pay to prepare documents for, or represent someone in, a judicial or administrative proceeding, including immigration and citizenship matters. Notaries who are accredited representatives under federal immigration regulations are excepted.

DFI’s rules also allow a Wisconsin notary to certify a copy of a personal document such as a passport, license or diploma only when the notary personally photocopies the original.

Court interpreters and languages spoken in Wisconsin

The Director of State Courts Office runs Wisconsin’s court interpreter program and is the only body that grants credentials to spoken-language court interpreters in the state. Certification involves a two-day orientation, a written exam and an oral exam, and the court system publishes a searchable roster. That credential covers interpreting in court. It is separate from the translator’s certificate of accuracy that accompanies a written translation.

The court system’s Language Access Plan identifies Spanish as the largest language group among Wisconsin residents with limited English proficiency, followed by Hmong and Chinese, and notes that Hmong is one of the top three languages used in Wisconsin courts.

According to American Community Survey 2024 one-year estimates published by Census Reporter, Wisconsin has about 5.96 million residents. About 9.6 percent speak a language other than English at home and 5.5 percent were born outside the United States.

How to order a translation from anywhere in Wisconsin

We have no office in Wisconsin. Everything is handled online, by phone and by mail from Lake Oswego, Oregon.

1. Upload. Send your document through the quote form as a PDF, JPEG, PNG or Word file.
2. Confirm. We reply with the price and timing. Translation starts at $65 per page and most jobs take 1 to 2 business days.
3. Receive. You get the certified translation electronically or by mail, with a signed certificate of accuracy. Tell us if you need the translator’s statement notarized or plan to request an apostille.

Translation pages for Wisconsin cities

We have a page for each of these Wisconsin cities, with the local offices, courts and schools that affect a translation there:

Madison · Milwaukee · Green Bay · Kenosha · Racine · Appleton

Wisconsin apostille service, when the original record needs an apostille too
All document translation services

Wisconsin document translation questions

Who issues apostilles in Wisconsin?

The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions in Madison issues apostilles for Wisconsin documents going to Hague Convention countries. DFI’s FAQ says authentications for other countries are handled by the Office of the Secretary of State.

How much does a Wisconsin apostille cost?

DFI charges $10 per document for standard service, listed as 3 to 7 business days, and $35 per document for expedited service, listed as 1 to 2 business days. Mail time is not included.

How much does certified document translation cost in Wisconsin?

Apostille Authentications charges from $65 per page for certified translation, and most translations are ready in 1 to 2 business days. The service is provided remotely from the Portland, Oregon area.

Can a translated document get a Wisconsin apostille?

DFI apostilles the signature of a Wisconsin notary or public official, so a translation is apostilled through a notarized translator’s statement. The notarization must carry a complete notarial statement signed by a Wisconsin notary public.

Does USCIS require a notarized translation in Wisconsin?

The federal rule, 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3), requires a full English translation certified by the translator as complete and accurate, plus the translator’s certification of competence. The rule does not mention notarization.

Do Wisconsin courts accept documents in a foreign language?

The Wisconsin Court System’s Language Access Plan says non-English documents submitted to a court must be accompanied by an English translation with an affidavit of the translator’s qualifications. Ask the clerk of the court handling your case about any local requirements.