Your US birth certificate is one of the most frequently requested documents when dealing with Ecuador's government agencies. Whether you're applying for a visa, getting your cédula (national ID card), or registering a marriage, you'll need an apostilled and translated copy. Here's exactly how to get it done right.
Why Ecuador Needs Your Birth Certificate
Ecuador requires a translated US birth certificate for a surprisingly wide range of processes:
- Visa applications — Every visa category (professional, investor, retiree, dependent) requires a birth certificate as part of your application package at the Cancillería
- Cédula de identidad — Once your visa is approved, you'll need to present your birth certificate again to obtain your national ID
- Marriage registration — If you're marrying an Ecuadorian citizen or registering a foreign marriage, the Registro Civil requires your birth certificate
- Dependent visas — If you're bringing children to Ecuador, each child's birth certificate is required
- Legal proceedings — Inheritance matters, property transactions, and court proceedings may all require proof of identity via birth certificate
The bottom line: if you're planning any kind of official life in Ecuador, your birth certificate is foundational. Getting it properly apostilled and translated early saves you from delays down the road.
Step 1: Get a Certified Copy of Your Birth Certificate
You can't just use any photocopy. Ecuador requires that the birth certificate be a certified copy issued by the appropriate vital records office. Here's how to get one:
Where to Order
Birth certificates in the US are issued at the state level, not the federal level. You need to contact the vital records office in the state where you were born — not where you currently live.
- In person: Visit your state's vital records office or county clerk
- By mail: Most states accept mail-in requests with a completed application form and fee
- Online: Many states now offer online ordering through their official vital records website or an authorized third-party service like VitalChek
What to Request
Ask for a certified copy with a raised seal or registrar's signature. This is essential — the Secretary of State will not apostille an uncertified photocopy.
Processing times vary by state, but plan for 1-3 weeks if ordering by mail. If you're on a tight timeline, most states offer expedited processing for an additional fee.
Step 2: Get the Apostille
The apostille authenticates your birth certificate for international use. Since Ecuador is a Hague Convention member country, an apostille is the required form of authentication.
Who Issues It
Your birth certificate must be apostilled by the Secretary of State in the state that issued it. This is a critical detail that trips up many people.
- Born in California? California's Secretary of State must apostille it — even if you now live in Texas
- Born in New York? New York's Secretary of State (or county clerk, depending on the county) handles it
How to Get It
- By mail: Send the certified copy to the Secretary of State with the apostille request form and processing fee (typically $5-$25 depending on the state)
- In person: Some states allow walk-in service, which can be same-day
- Third-party expediting services: Companies that hand-deliver documents to the Secretary of State's office can cut the timeline significantly
Timeline
- Standard mail-in: 2-6 weeks depending on the state
- Expedited: 1-2 weeks
- Walk-in or third-party: Same day to a few business days
If you need help navigating the apostille process, we offer an apostille + translation package that handles both steps for you.
Step 3: Get the Certified Translation
Once your birth certificate has the apostille attached, it's ready for translation. This is an important order of operations — the translation must include the apostille itself, so you always apostille first, then translate.
What the Translation Must Include
A proper certified translation of your birth certificate for Ecuador covers:
- The full birth certificate — Every field, including names, dates, certificate numbers, registrar information, and any annotations
- The apostille certificate — The complete Hague apostille page, including all fields and signatures
- Seals and stamps — Physical seals, raised stamps, and official markings should be noted and described in the translation
Certification Requirements
Ecuador's agencies expect the translation to include a formal certification statement from the translator or translation company. This statement includes the translator's credentials, a declaration of accuracy, the date of translation, and a signature.
Our certified translators produce translations formatted specifically for Ecuador's Cancillería, Registro Civil, and other government agencies. We know exactly what each office expects to see.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Translating before apostilling. If you translate first and then get the apostille, your translation won't include the apostille — and you'll have to pay for translation again. Always apostille first.
Apostilling in the wrong state. Your birth certificate can only be apostilled by the state that issued it. Sending a Florida birth certificate to Georgia's Secretary of State will result in rejection and lost time.
Using an uncertified copy. A regular photocopy won't be apostilled. You need an officially certified copy with the registrar's seal or signature.
Skipping the apostille altogether. Some people assume a certified translation alone is enough. It isn't — Ecuador requires both the apostille on the original and the certified translation.
Using a generic translation service. Translators unfamiliar with Ecuador's specific requirements may produce technically accurate translations that don't match the format immigration officers expect. This can lead to delays or requests for re-translation.
Timeline: Putting It All Together
Here's a realistic timeline for the entire process:
| Step | Standard Timeline | |---|---| | Order certified birth certificate | 1-3 weeks | | Apostille processing | 2-6 weeks | | Certified translation | 3-5 business days | | Total | 3-10 weeks |
If you're working on a visa application through EcuaPass, we recommend starting this process as early as possible. Rush translation is available in 24-48 hours, and same-day translation is available when workload permits, but the apostille step is the one that takes the most time and is hardest to speed up.
Ready to Get Your Birth Certificate Translated?
If you already have your apostilled birth certificate, you're in great shape. Send it to us and our certified translators will have your translation ready within 3-5 business days (standard) or 24-48 hours (rush).
If you're still figuring out the apostille step, we can help with that too through our apostille + translation service.
Working on a visa application? Check out our visa translation packages that cover your birth certificate along with every other document you'll need — all formatted for Ecuador immigration.
Need your birth certificate translated for Ecuador? Get a free quote — we respond within 24 hours.