"Certified," "notarized," and "apostilled" get used as if they mean the same thing. They don't. Confusing them is one of the most common reasons a document set gets bounced back. Here is a clear breakdown for Peru.

Three different acts

Certification (the translation). A CTP-certified translation is certified by the translator: it comes with a cover sheet, the translator's número de colegiatura, post-signature seals, and a declaración jurada attesting the translation is faithful. This is what makes the translation itself reliable for official use. For many procedures, this is the certification needed.

Notarization (a notarial act). Peru has a notarial system — notarios públicos, organized in Colegios de Notarios. A notarial act is separate from translation certification and from apostille. It involves a notary, not a translator.

Apostille (authenticating the original's origin). An apostille is a government certificate authenticating the origin of a public document so it is recognized in another Hague Convention country. For a foreign document, the apostille is obtained in the country that issued it; Peru's MRE apostilles only Peruvian public documents.

These are three independent layers handled by three different parties.

How they relate in practice

A typical foreign document for a Peruvian procedure goes:

Apostille the original in its country of origin (government act).
Certified translation into Spanish by a CTP colegiado (translator's act) — including the apostille.
Notarization if and when the receiving authority requires it (notary's act).

A CTP-certified translation already carries the translator's colegiatura, post-signature seals, and sworn statement — for many procedures that is the certification, distinct from any notarial act. Whether a specific Migraciones or SUNEDU procedure additionally requires the translation to be notarized depends on that procedure. We do not assert a blanket rule, because there isn't a reliable one — confirm with the receiving authority.

What we include

Our service includes the CTP-certified translation and notarization, at the flat price of $150 per document ($130 each for three or more). So the certification layer and the notarial layer are both covered when you order with us.

What we do not provide is apostille or legalization — that is a government function performed in the relevant country, before translation. See Apostille for Peru documents.

The mistake to avoid

The expensive mistake is assuming one layer substitutes for another:

An apostille does not translate the document.
A certified translation does not authenticate the original document's origin.
Notarization is neither of the above.

Each does its own job. Sequence them correctly — apostille, then certified translation (with notarization included), then submit — and confirm with the receiving office whether any extra notarial step is needed for your specific procedure.

A simple mental model

If the three terms still feel slippery, hold onto this: each layer answers a different question about your document. Apostille answers "is this a genuine public document from where it claims to be?" — and for a foreign document, that question is answered abroad, by the issuing country. Certified translation answers "what does this document say, reliably, in Spanish?" — answered by a CTP colegiado, who attaches a sworn statement that the rendering is faithful. Notarization answers a notarial question under Peru's notarial system — a separate act involving a notary. Three different questions, three different answerers. No single layer answers more than its own question, which is exactly why none can stand in for another.

Run that test whenever you are unsure what a procedure is asking for. "They want it apostilled" is about the original's authenticity and happens in the issuing country. "They want a certified translation" is about the Spanish text and is what we provide. "They want it notarized" is a notarial step whose necessity is procedure-specific — we include notarization in our service, but whether a particular Migraciones or SUNEDU procedure additionally requires a notarial act on the translation is something to confirm with that office, because there is no reliable blanket rule.

Frequently asked questions

Is a certified translation automatically notarized? They are distinct acts. Our service includes both the CTP-certified translation and notarization, but the certification (translator's colegiatura, seals, sworn statement) is separate from any notarial act.

Does notarization replace an apostille? No. Notarization is a notarial act; an apostille authenticates a public document's origin (done in the issuing country for foreign documents). Different functions entirely.

Do all Peru procedures require the translation itself to be notarized? There is no reliable blanket rule. We include notarization, and you should confirm with the specific receiving authority whether any additional notarial step applies to your procedure.

Do you provide apostille? No. Apostille/legalization is a government function performed in the relevant country before translation. We provide the certified, notarized translation.

Get started

Order a CTP-certified, notarized translation at /order. For visa documents see /visa-translations; for SUNEDU see /sunedu-translations.

Notarized vs. Certified Translation in Peru