US Embassy Cairo Translation Requirements: Immigrant Visas 2026
Certified translation accepted by foreign embassies in Cairo
If you are applying for a US immigrant visa in Cairo, the embassy's document instructions are specific: some Egyptian records must be issued in bilingual Arabic/English form, while others must be accompanied by an English translation. Getting this right before your interview prevents delays and refusals under administrative processing. This guide summarises what the US Embassy in Cairo publishes and how certified translation fits in. For non-immigrant visas and general embassy translation, see our companion guide COT – certified translation for the US Embassy.
The general rule
According to the U.S. Embassy Cairo immigrant visa instructions, any document that is not in English or Arabic must come with a certified English translation. For most civil documents the embassy asks for the original, an English translation and a photocopy. Egyptian birth and marriage certificates have a special rule, explained below.
Civil documents for Egyptian applicants
| Document | What the embassy asks for |
|---|---|
| Birth certificate | Original bilingual Arabic/English certificate and a photocopy (also for children of the principal applicant, even if they are not travelling) |
| Marriage certificate (if married) | Original bilingual Arabic/English certificate and a photocopy |
| Divorce or spouse's death certificate | Original, English translation and a photocopy |
| Police certificate (age 16+) | Original from the current country of residence and each previous country of residence |
| Court and criminal records (if any) | Copy with English translation |
| Military records (if served) | Copy with English translation |
| Adoption or custody papers | Copy with English translation |
Bilingual birth and marriage certificates are issued by the Egyptian civil registry, not by translators – so do not replace them with a translated Arabic-only certificate. For documents that do need translation, a complete certified English translation is the safest approach.
Documents from other countries
If you lived in another country – for example in the Gulf or Europe – you may need police certificates and civil records from there. If they are not in English or Arabic, they need a certified English translation. We translate from more than 120 languages.
How to prepare your translations
- Check the latest instructions from the embassy and the National Visa Center before translating anything.
- Use passport spellings for every name, consistent across all documents and your DS-260.
- Translate everything on the page – stamps, marginal notes, annotations and seals.
- Keep sets together: original, translation and photocopy, in the order the embassy lists them.
- Bring originals to the interview, even if you uploaded scans earlier.
If your case also involves foreign documents for use in Egypt, see our guide to certified translation of official documents.
Common mistakes we see
- Bringing an Arabic-only birth certificate instead of the bilingual version.
- Different spellings of the same name across translations and forms.
- Partial translations that skip the divorce annotation or court stamp.
- Outdated police certificates.
More examples in translation mistakes that delay applications.
Frequently asked questions
Does the US Embassy accredit translation offices in Egypt?
The embassy asks for certified English translations; it does not issue formal accreditations to offices. Our certified translations are prepared to the standard the embassy describes, and the final decision always rests with the consular officer.
Do Arabic documents need translation for the US Embassy?
The embassy's general rule covers documents not in English or Arabic, but its document list asks for English translations of several Egyptian documents, such as divorce certificates and court records. Follow the list for your case.
Can you translate my documents remotely?
Yes. Send scans by WhatsApp or email and collect the certified copies from a Cairo branch or receive them by courier.
Do you also handle non-immigrant visa documents?
Yes – see our embassy translation services.
Prepare your US immigrant visa documents
Send us your document list and scans, and we will confirm which items need translation and the delivery date:
- Phone / WhatsApp: +20 111 176 0177
- Email: Operation@cottranslation.com
- Branches in Maadi, Downtown Cairo and Mohandessin – see addresses and opening hours on our contact page.
Note: the information in this article is accurate as of the last-updated date above. Embassies, universities and authorities can change their requirements at any time, so always confirm the current rules on the official website of the receiving authority before you submit your documents.