One of the first questions people ask when they need documents translated for Ecuador is: "How much is this going to cost?" It's a fair question — and the answer depends on several factors. Here's a straightforward look at what drives translation pricing and how to get the best value.
What Affects Translation Pricing?
No two translation projects are exactly alike. Here are the main factors that determine what you'll pay:
Document Length
This is the most straightforward factor. A one-page birth certificate costs less to translate than a 30-page set of university transcripts. Most translation services — including ours — price primarily by document or by page, depending on the document type.
Document Complexity
Not all pages are created equal. A simple birth certificate with standard fields is less complex than a detailed medical report full of specialized terminology, or a legal contract with precise language that must be translated with exactness. Documents with technical, legal, medical, or academic vocabulary require more expertise and take longer to translate accurately.
Urgency
Our standard turnaround is 3-5 business days, which gives our certified translators adequate time to produce accurate, polished work. If you need it faster:
- Rush service (24-48 hours): Available for most document types at an additional fee
- Same-day service: Available when our team's schedule allows, at a premium rate
Planning ahead and ordering with standard turnaround is always the most cost-effective option.
Language Pair
English-to-Spanish and Spanish-to-English translations are our primary services and are priced at standard rates. If you need translations involving other languages (Portuguese, French, German, etc.), pricing may differ due to the availability of qualified translators for those pairs.
Certification and Notarization
All of our translations come certified by default — the signed statement of accuracy that Ecuador's government agencies require. If your situation also requires notarization (common for certain legal proceedings), there's an additional fee for the notary step. See our guide on certified vs. notarized translations for more on when you need which.
Typical Cost Ranges
Here's a general sense of what translation costs look like for common document types. For an exact quote based on your specific documents, contact us directly.
Visa Documents
| Document | Estimated Cost | |----------|---------------| | Birth certificate | $25–$50 | | Marriage certificate | $25–$50 | | Police/FBI background check | $25–$50 | | Bank statement (per page) | $25 | | Pension/income letter | $25–$50 | | Health insurance policy | $50–$75 |
Need a full visa package? Ask about our visa translation bundle — translating multiple documents together is typically more cost-effective than ordering individually.
SENESCYT / Academic Documents
| Document | Estimated Cost | |----------|---------------| | University diploma | $25–$50 | | Academic transcript (per page) | $25 | | Course syllabus (per page) | $25 | | Accreditation letter | $25–$50 |
Academic documents tend to be longer and more terminology-dense, which is reflected in the pricing. Our SENESCYT translation service includes translators who specialize in academic terminology and know SENESCYT's specific formatting expectations.
Legal Documents
| Document | Estimated Cost | |----------|---------------| | Power of attorney | $50–$75 | | Court order / decree | $50–$75 | | Contract (per page) | $25 | | Corporate documents (per page) | $25 |
Legal translations require precision. A single mistranslated term can change the meaning of a legal document. See our legal translation services for more details.
Medical Documents
| Document | Estimated Cost | |----------|---------------| | Medical report (per page) | $25 | | Prescription / treatment plan | $25–$50 | | Vaccination records | $25 |
Standard vs. Rush vs. Same-Day
Turnaround time directly affects cost. Here's how the tiers break down:
- Standard (3-5 business days): Base pricing. Best value. Recommended whenever your timeline allows.
- Rush (24-48 hours): An additional fee on top of base pricing. Best for time-sensitive situations where you've got a few days but not a full week.
- Same-day: Premium rate. Available based on our team's current workload. Best reserved for genuine emergencies.
Our honest recommendation: whenever possible, plan ahead and use standard turnaround. You'll get the same quality at the best price.
Bundle Discounts
If you need multiple documents translated — which is the case for nearly every visa applicant and most SENESCYT submissions — bundling saves you money. Here's how:
- Visa translation bundles: Submit all your visa documents together and receive a package rate
- SENESCYT bundles: Diploma + transcripts + supporting documents priced as a package through our SENESCYT service
- Apostille + translation packages: Combine apostille facilitation with translation for a streamlined rate
Bundling also saves time because our team can process related documents together, maintaining consistent terminology across your entire submission package.
How to Get the Best Value
- Start early. Rush fees are avoidable if you plan ahead. Give yourself at least 2 weeks before your deadline.
- Bundle your documents. Package pricing is always better than individual document pricing.
- Send complete documents. Incomplete or unclear scans may require back-and-forth that delays the process.
- Get the apostille first. If your documents need apostilles, handle that before requesting translation. Translating a document and then re-translating after the apostille is added means paying twice.
- Ask about what you actually need. Not sure which documents require translation? Contact us and we'll tell you — for free — before you spend anything.
How to Get a Free Quote
Getting an exact quote is simple:
- Visit our contact page or send us an email
- Attach your documents (scans or photos are fine for quoting purposes)
- Tell us your timeline and what the translations are for (visa, SENESCYT, legal, etc.)
- We respond within 24 hours with an itemized quote — no surprises, no hidden fees
If you're also working on a visa application through EcuaPass or a SENESCYT submission through EcuadorSENESCYT.com, mention it — we offer special rates for clients using our partner services.
For a full overview of our services and pricing structure, visit our pricing page.
Want to know exactly what your translations will cost? Request a free quote — we'll send you an itemized estimate within 24 hours.