Import and export translation for customs and trade documents
One ambiguous figure on a customs declaration can hold your shipment at the border while demurrage runs. ABC translates the bills of lading, invoices, certificates of origin, and regulatory filings customs officers read, across 120+ languages, at rates as low as $0.06 per word.
Translation that keeps your shipments moving through customs
International trade runs on paperwork that has to be complete and exact. Whether it is a bill of lading, a certificate of origin, an invoice for the goods, or a regulatory certificate, customs has to clear it, and any such paper that shows up in a foreign language needs a certified translation before an officer will accept it. An error or an incomplete translation can mean a delayed shipment, a fine, or seized goods.
This is what officers at Customs and Border Protection expect, along with the FDA, the USDA, and the agencies that oversee international trade. They rely on the signed certification that affirms accuracy and translator competence, because that is what lets an officer trust the document and release the goods.
This is exactly what import export translation is for. ABC Translations provides certified renderings built to meet those requirements across more than 120 languages, each with a signed certification statement, plus professional translation for the internal logistics and communication that keep operations moving. If you want the broader sector overview rather than a specific deliverable, see our industrial and manufacturing translation.
Precise work from native speakers
- Native-speaking linguists handle every project, catching the subtle shades of meaning that keep your message accurate, clear, and true to its culture.
Quick, dependable, and protected
- You get fast turnaround without any drop in quality, backed by tight confidentiality and data security from start to finish.
Support that actually helps
- A responsive team stands ready at each step, so the whole process feels smooth, professional, and free of stress.
Certified and professional translation for the whole trade flow
Certified translations include a signed certification statement, unlimited revisions, and standard 48-hour turnaround. The expedited add-on reduces delivery by 50 percent, providing translations in 12 hours or less. When the work is internal, things like logistics records, product copy, or routine company correspondence, professional translation runs from $0.06 per word.
Importers, exporters, and freight teams across more than 255,000 customer orders have used us for 25 years to get the certified customs filings cleared and the commercial documents readable by every counterparty in the trade flow. What you get is accuracy on the page and clearance at the border, without a held shipment waiting on a fix.
Hand us the shipping document, the origin paperwork, and your invoices, and we hand back certified translations that customs and your regulators will take.
Import and export documents we translate most
Goods clear customs faster when the accompanying trade paperwork reads correctly in each country's language. The import and export documents we are asked to translate most often are these:
What makes ABC Translations the right choice for your import and export paperwork?
Accurate, native-language translations
- Every linguist on our team is a seasoned native speaker, which keeps each translated file clear and precise.
Fast and reliable service
- Because we know how much getting it done on time matters to you, we keep delivery fast while still holding firm on precision and careful attention.
Trusted translations
- Every translation we deliver is built with care, faithful to the meaning and purpose of your source documents, so the result reads clearly and professionally wherever you need it.
Secure and confidential
- We treat everything you send with strict confidentiality and protection, so each file stays private from translation through delivery.
Responsive customer support
- From start to finish, our committed support staff stands ready to help, keeping the whole translation experience easy and worry-free.
Our services
Either choice gives you polished, human-made work from professional linguists. Not sure if certification applies to your case? Ask whoever will receive the document, or reach out to our team.
How it works
Thanks to a simple, well-organized workflow, having your paperwork translated is fast and hassle-free.
Upload documents & place your order
Pick the two languages, send over your files, and choose any extras you want, then we get moving on your translation right away.
Professional translation and review
Your document is translated with care by a professional linguist. Before anything is locked in, you get to look it over and ask for changes.
Receive your translation
Once finished, the translated files are sent to you, and when you have chosen certification, a signed, stamped certificate on our letterhead comes with them.
I purchased a translation on Friday and expected a 24-hour turnaround but also ordered a notary not knowing it wasn't part of the estimated time. Unsurprisingly I needed it immediately. I emailed support and within a few hours, it was completely signed and notarized! Hats off to y'all!
Amazing service! My translation was done in 2 hours. All done on time, the right way, and the price was very good! Highly recommend.
I reached out to them last Friday for an emergency translation. They got back within the hour. ETA was 24 hours. Since it was a Friday, I expected Monday, but it was completed on Saturday. Accurate and on time, great job!
Phenomenal customer service. Fast responses and accurate translations. Very satisfied!
ABC Translations completed my request wonderfully. 24-hour turnaround even on a weekend. Impeccable quality. Notified me of a fee change before charging, outstanding!
Truly amazing experience. Easy process and great communication. Hard copies arrived on time. Would give a thousand stars!
Fantastic experience starting with the price. Very easy submission process. Fast, helpful replies. Will return for future translations.
From quote to delivery, everything was professional and timely. Quality is commendable. I appreciate the space for translator notes. Very satisfied!
Join 255,000+ happy customers
ABC Translations and its family of companies are proud to have delivered reliable, affordable, best-in-class translation and localization services to individuals, and global corporations and institutions for more than 25 years.
Submitted a 43 page doc, it was translated twice as fast as our previous vendor, and in-house loved it. Thanks ABC for amazing customer service and fast delivery of top notch translations.
I have used ABC Translations at two different occasions now and both translations has been perfect! I would truly recommend the company. Their customer service is nice and professional and the translation is accurate, well written with a very quick turnaround. Highly recommend!
Super happy with the experience. Smooth and efficient. I plan to use them again.
Easy to work with. Real human communication. Accurate translations, even for technical terms. Always on time or early. Incredibly convenient.
Used them many times for education/work docs. Great translation quality and speed. Appreciate the revision option even though I haven't needed it.
Great experience. They were responsive and helpful. They guided me, didn't oversell services, and even saved me money. Timely delivery despite a holiday. Highly recommend!
Highly recommend using this service. Outstanding translation job and fast turnaround. Excellent and professional.
Top of my list for fast, professional services. Best online interface I've used. Appreciate their speed and effectiveness. Highly recommend.
Join 255,000+ happy customers
ABC Translations and its family of companies are proud to have delivered reliable, affordable, best-in-class translation and localization services to individuals, and global corporations and institutions for more than 25 years.
Top of my list for fast, professional services. Best online interface I've used. Appreciate their speed and effectiveness. Highly recommend.
From quote to delivery, everything was professional and timely. Quality is commendable. I appreciate the space for translator notes. Very satisfied!
Used them many times for education/work docs. Great translation quality and speed. Appreciate the revision option even though I haven't needed it.
ABC Translations completed my request wonderfully. 24-hour turnaround even on a weekend. Impeccable quality. Notified me of a fee change before charging, outstanding!
Amazing service! My translation was done in 2 hours. All done on time, the right way, and the price was very good! Highly recommend.
Great experience. They were responsive and helpful. They guided me, didn't oversell services, and even saved me money. Timely delivery despite a holiday. Highly recommend!
Submitted a 43 page doc, it was translated twice as fast as our previous vendor, and in-house loved it. Thanks ABC for amazing customer service and fast delivery of top notch translations.
I reached out to them last Friday for an emergency translation. They got back within the hour. ETA was 24 hours. Since it was a Friday, I expected Monday, but it was completed on Saturday. Accurate and on time, great job!
I have used ABC Translations at two different occasions now and both translations has been perfect! I would truly recommend the company. Their customer service is nice and professional and the translation is accurate, well written with a very quick turnaround. Highly recommend!
I purchased a translation on Friday and expected a 24-hour turnaround but also ordered a notary not knowing it wasn't part of the estimated time. Unsurprisingly I needed it immediately. I emailed support and within a few hours, it was completely signed and notarized! Hats off to y'all!
Easy to work with. Real human communication. Accurate translations, even for technical terms. Always on time or early. Incredibly convenient.
Fantastic experience starting with the price. Very easy submission process. Fast, helpful replies. Will return for future translations.
Truly amazing experience. Easy process and great communication. Hard copies arrived on time. Would give a thousand stars!
Highly recommend using this service. Outstanding translation job and fast turnaround. Excellent and professional.
Super happy with the experience. Smooth and efficient. I plan to use them again.
Phenomenal customer service. Fast responses and accurate translations. Very satisfied!
Frequently Asked Questions
Read clear answers to the questions people raise most about translating import and export records: why professional work is needed, what has to be translated, who may do it, how long delivery takes, how we handle revisions, and the steps that keep the work accurate and dependable.
Does my bill of lading or certificate of origin need a certified translation to clear customs?
Yes. When trade documents such as a bill of lading, certificate of origin, or commercial invoice arrive in another language, customs and regulatory authorities require a certified translation before they will accept them. The signed certification affirms accuracy and translator competence, which is what lets an officer trust the document and release the goods. An incomplete translation can mean a delayed shipment, a fine, or seized goods.
Which trade documents do CBP, the FDA, and the USDA expect to be translated and certified?
Any foreign-language document under review by the FDA, the USDA, international trade bodies, or Customs and Border Protection is expected to arrive with a certified translation. Most of the time that points to a handful of papers: the shipping document, the certificate showing origin, the commercial invoice, and whatever regulatory certificate applies.
Each is delivered as a certified translation with a signed certification statement built to meet those authorities' requirements.
My shipment is already in transit. How fast can you certify a customs translation?
Standard turnaround is 48 hours. When a shipment is waiting at the border, the expedited add-on reduces delivery by 50 percent, providing your certified translation in 12 hours or less, so the goods are not stranded over a missing document.
Can you also translate our internal logistics and product information?
Yes. Beyond the certified papers customs reviews, your day-to-day logistics, product copy, and internal messaging can be handled with professional translation from $0.06 per word in more than 120 languages, which keeps operations readable while the border paperwork stays in line.
What if a customs or trade authority does not accept my translated document?
Certified submissions are backed by a 100 percent acceptance guarantee, and every order includes unlimited revisions. If a customs or regulatory authority will not accept the translation, we keep working on it until your document is accepted.
Related professional translation services
Other professional use cases we handle, plus where trade and customs work sits in the wider picture.
