Translating your marriage certificate into Chinese: TECO won't do it for you, but a notary in Taiwan can certify it
To register a U.S. marriage certificate in Taiwan, you need to attach a Chinese translation. The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) doesn't translate documents, so you prepare the translation yourself and submit it for authentication together with the English certificate; alternatively, you can have only the English original authenticated and have the translation certified by a notary in Taiwan. In the other direction, Taiwanese documents for use with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) need a complete English translation and a translator's certification, under a different set of rules.
Below, both directions: English to Chinese for Taiwan, and Chinese to English for the U.S.
English to Chinese for Taiwan's household registration
The rule from the Department of Household Registration of Taiwan's Ministry of the Interior: documents in a foreign language must come with a Chinese translation, and the translation must be authenticated by a Taiwan overseas mission or certified by a notary in Taiwan (Department of Household Registration, Ministry of the Interior, checked 2026-10-22). So there are two routes:
- Authenticate both in the U.S.: Send the English certificate and the Chinese translation to TECO together.
- Authenticate only the English, notarize the translation in Taiwan: TECO authenticates only the English original, and you have the translation certified by a notary back in Taiwan. The checklist from TECO in San Francisco lists this option too (checked 2026-10-14).
Each office's translation requirements (for those whose official pages we found):
| Office | Translation rules |
|---|---|
| San Francisco | No translation service; requires a complete, unabridged translation in Traditional Chinese with a signed statement that the translation is accurate; authenticating the translation is US$15 per document, and a translation can't be submitted on its own |
| Houston | No translation service; authenticating the Chinese translation is US$15 and it must be submitted with the English version, for US$30 in total for English plus Chinese |
| Denver | No translation service; the translator's signature must first be notarized locally; US$30 including authentication of the translation |
Dates checked: 2026-10-14 for San Francisco and Denver, 2026-10-22 for Houston. For other offices, go by their websites; see Which TECO office to send your marriage certificate to.
How to write the translation
- Translate everything: Every field on the certificate must be translated, including the county name, the registration number, the officiant, the witnesses, the date of issue and the description of the seal. TECO in San Francisco states that an abridged translation isn't allowed.
- Names as on the passport and household registration: Put the Chinese name after the English name; Taiwanese citizens use the Chinese name on their household registration. A foreign spouse registering in Taiwan has to submit a separate declaration of the Chinese name they will use, so match the Chinese name in the translation to that declaration first, and you're less likely to be questioned when you submit.
- One consistent date format: U.S. certificates mostly use month/day/year; in the translation, write the date out in full as Western-calendar year, month and day (the equivalent of "October 22, 2026"), so it can't be misread.
- Attach a statement of accuracy: San Francisco requires a signed statement; Denver requires the translator's signature to be notarized locally. Follow the requirements of the office you're submitting to.
If the English content of the certificate itself is wrong, a translation can't fix it. Check it letter by letter as soon as you get the certified copy (see item 10 on the checklist).
Chinese to English for use in the U.S.
USCIS's rules (checked 2026-10-22):
- Every foreign-language document you submit must come with a complete English translation.
- The translator must certify that the translation is complete and accurate and that they are competent to translate from that language into English.
- A summary by the translator isn't accepted; it has to be a full translation.
For foreign-language documents used when applying for a marriage license, rules vary by county: San Francisco County requires an English translation by a court-certified or ATA-certified translator (checked 2026-10-22); Clark County (Las Vegas) requires a foreign birth certificate to come with a notarized English translation (checked 2026-10-22).
For a Taiwanese household registration transcript or divorce certificate, prepare the translation according to the requirements of whichever office you're submitting it to. For which documents to submit for a spouse's immigration, see the visa and documents site.
Do you need a translation agency?
The official rules we found call for "a complete translation plus a statement" or "the translator's signature notarized"; none of them require a translation agency across the board. Whether you can translate it yourself, and whether a particular qualification is required, depends on what the office or agency you're submitting to says. We don't recommend specific translation agencies or document services.
Frequently asked questions
Will TECO translate my marriage certificate?
No. The San Francisco, Houston and Denver offices all state that they don't provide translations, so you prepare the translation yourself.
Can I deal with the Chinese translation once I'm back in Taiwan?
Yes. The Department of Household Registration accepts a Chinese translation certified by a notary in Taiwan, and TECO only needs to authenticate the English original.
Does USCIS accept a summary translation?
No. USCIS requires a complete English translation, and the translator must certify that it's complete and accurate and that they're competent to translate.
Does the Chinese translation have to be in Traditional Chinese?
The checklist from TECO in San Francisco specifies a translation in "Traditional Chinese." If you're sending it to another office, follow that office's instructions; where it doesn't say, Traditional Chinese is least likely to be sent back. Taiwan's household registration offices use Traditional Chinese for their records anyway, and a translation whose characters match the household registration data makes it easier to compare names.
The translation, authentication and registering in Taiwan cover items 10 (certified copies) through 15 (registering in Taiwan) on the My Wedding Plan checklist. There's a free version, and you can start without leaving an email address; once you choose both partners' status, the relevant items are added to the list.
Sources (checked 2026-10-22)
- Department of Household Registration, Ministry of the Interior: Marriage registration guide (checked 2026-10-22)
- Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco: Checklist for authenticating birth and marriage certificates (September 2026 edition, in Chinese) (checked 2026-10-14)
- Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston: Authentication Services (checked 2026-10-22)
- Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Denver: Marriage certificate authentication (checked 2026-10-14)
- USCIS Policy Manual Vol. 1, Part E, Chapter 6 (Translations) (checked 2026-10-22)
- USCIS: Tips for Filing Forms by Mail (checked 2026-10-22)
- San Francisco County: Get a marriage license (checked 2026-10-22)
- Clark County: Marriage License Requirements (checked 2026-10-22)