Your US marriage certificate comes up more often than you might expect when living in Ecuador. Visa applications, property purchases, bank accounts, dependent visas, name discrepancies — all of these can trigger the requirement for an apostilled and translated marriage certificate. Here's exactly how to get it done, step by step, without wasting time or money on common mistakes.
When You Need a Translated Marriage Certificate in Ecuador
Ecuador requires a translated marriage certificate in a wide range of situations:
Visa applications. If you're married and applying for any visa type — retiree, professional, investor — the Cancillería will ask for your marriage certificate as part of the application package. If your spouse is applying for a dependent visa, the marriage certificate is the core supporting document. See our visa translation services for details on complete visa document packages.
Property purchases. Buying property in Ecuador as a married person requires proof of marital status. The notary handling your property transaction will need to see a translated marriage certificate to determine how the property should be titled and whether spousal consent is required.
Banking and financial matters. Opening joint accounts, applying for credit, or handling inheritance matters often requires proof of marriage. Ecuadorian banks and financial institutions need the translated version to process your documentation.
Name changes and discrepancies. If your current name differs from the name on your birth certificate or passport due to marriage, the translated marriage certificate serves as the connecting document that explains the name change. This comes up frequently in visa processing and legal matters.
Registro Civil registration. If you want your foreign marriage recognized and registered with Ecuador's civil registry, you'll need to present the apostilled and translated marriage certificate.
Legal proceedings. Divorce, inheritance, custody, and other family law matters in Ecuadorian courts require proof of the marriage — which means an apostilled and translated certificate.
The common thread: if your marital status is relevant to any official process in Ecuador, you'll need the translated certificate. Getting it done early saves you from scrambling when a deadline appears.
Step 1: Get a Certified Copy from Your County or State
You can't use a photocopy or a printout from an online search. Ecuador requires that your marriage certificate be a certified copy — an official document issued by the appropriate government office with a registrar's seal or signature.
Where to Get It
Marriage certificates in the US are typically issued at the county level, by the county clerk or recorder in the county where the marriage took place.
- In person: Visit the county clerk's office in the county where you were married
- By mail: Most counties accept mail-in requests with an application form and processing fee
- Online: Many counties offer online ordering through their official website or through an authorized service like VitalChek
Some states also maintain marriage records at the state vital records office, which can be an alternative if the county is difficult to reach.
What to Ask For
Request a certified copy with a registrar's seal or signature. This is essential — the Secretary of State cannot apostille an uncertified document.
Processing time is usually 1-2 weeks by mail. If you're in a hurry, check whether the county offers expedited or walk-in service.
Step 2: Get the Apostille
The apostille authenticates your marriage certificate for international use. Since both the US and Ecuador are members of the Hague Apostille Convention, an apostille is the required form of authentication — no consular legalization needed.
Who Issues It
Your marriage certificate must be apostilled by the Secretary of State in the state where the marriage was recorded. This is the most common point of confusion.
- Married in Nevada? Nevada's Secretary of State must apostille it — even if you now live in Florida
- Married in New York? New York handles it (in some New York counties, the county clerk can also issue apostilles)
How to Submit
- By mail: Send the certified copy to the Secretary of State's office with an apostille request form and fee (typically $5-$25)
- In person: Some states offer walk-in or same-day service
- Third-party expediters: Services that hand-deliver to the Secretary of State can significantly reduce turnaround time
Timeline
- Standard mail-in: 2-6 weeks (varies significantly by state)
- Expedited: 1-2 weeks
- Walk-in or third-party: Same day to a few business days
If you need help coordinating the apostille, we offer an apostille + translation package that handles both steps.
Step 3: Get the Certified Translation
Once your marriage certificate has the apostille attached, it's ready for translation. The order matters: always apostille first, then translate. The translation must include the apostille certificate, so getting them in the wrong order means paying for translation twice.
What Gets Translated
A complete certified translation of your marriage certificate for Ecuador includes:
- The full marriage certificate — Names, dates, location, officiant, certificate number, registrar information, and any annotations
- The apostille certificate — The entire Hague apostille page with all fields, signatures, and seal descriptions
- Stamps and seals — Official markings are noted and described in the translation
Certification
The translation includes a formal certification statement from the translator — declaring the translation is accurate and complete, with the translator's credentials, date, and signature. This certification is what Ecuador's agencies require to accept the translation as official.
Standard turnaround is 3-5 business days. Rush delivery (24-48 hours) is available, and same-day service is offered when workload permits.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Translating before apostilling. This is the most expensive mistake. If you translate first and then get the apostille, the translation won't include the apostille — and you'll need to pay for a new translation that does. Always apostille first.
Apostilling in the wrong state. Your marriage certificate can only be apostilled by the state where the marriage was recorded. Sending a California marriage certificate to Texas's Secretary of State results in rejection and lost time.
Using Google Translate or a bilingual friend. Ecuador's government agencies require certified translations from qualified translators. A DIY translation — no matter how accurate — won't include the formal certification statement that agencies require, and it will be rejected.
Skipping the apostille. A certified translation alone is not enough. Ecuador requires both the apostille on the original document and the certified translation. They work together as a package.
Submitting an expired copy. Some agencies require documents to be recent — typically issued within the last 6-12 months. If your certified copy is old, you may need to order a fresh one before apostilling.
Only translating part of the document. Some generic translation services translate the certificate but skip the apostille or ignore stamps and seals. Ecuador agencies expect everything translated. We translate the complete document, every time.
Timeline and Cost Expectations
Here's what the full process typically looks like:
| Step | Timeline | Approximate Cost | |---|---|---| | Certified copy from county | 1-2 weeks | $10-$30 | | Apostille from Secretary of State | 2-6 weeks | $5-$25 | | Certified translation | 3-5 business days | See pricing | | Total | 3-9 weeks | Varies by state |
The apostille step is the bottleneck. If you're working on a visa application through EcuaPass, start the apostille process as early as possible — the translation is the fast part.
Ready to Get Your Marriage Certificate Translated?
If you already have your apostilled marriage certificate, you're most of the way there. Send it to us through our contact page and we'll have your certified translation ready within 3-5 business days.
If you're still working on getting the certified copy or apostille, we can help with that too through our apostille + translation service.
Need your marriage certificate as part of a larger visa document package? Check out our visa translation packages — they cover your marriage certificate along with every other document your application requires, all formatted for the Cancillería.
For other legal translation needs related to your marriage — property purchases, name changes, Registro Civil registrations — we handle those as well.
Need your marriage certificate translated for Ecuador? Get a free quote — we respond within 24 hours.