Is your document already in English? You probably don't need a translation
No translation is needed for a document that is entirely in English. The Department of Home Affairs asks for non-English documents to be translated into English, so a UK, Irish, New Zealand, US, South African or Philippine certificate written in English can be submitted as it is, and so can many Indian, Pakistani and Sri Lankan documents issued in English. A translation is needed only for documents, or parts of documents, that are not in English: a handwritten entry in another language, a stamp, a back page. For driver licences, Western Australia also asks for a translation of licences written in English and another language, except Irish and Maltese EU card licences and UK licences in English and Welsh.
We are a translation service, and this page tells you when you do not need us.
The rule
Home Affairs asks applicants to "have all non-English documents translated into English". A document written entirely in English is not a non-English document: submit it as it is.
Documents that are usually already in English
| Country | Documents usually issued in English | When a translation is still needed |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, USA, Canada (English), South Africa | Birth, marriage and police certificates, licences | Documents issued in another language (Welsh-only, Irish-only, Afrikaans or French documents) |
| Philippines | Birth and marriage certificates, police (NBI) clearance | Entries or local documents in Filipino or another language |
| India | Many birth certificates, police clearance certificates, passports | Certificates or parts in Hindi, Punjabi, Tamil or another Indian language |
| Pakistan | Many NADRA documents | Nikah nama and other documents in Urdu |
| Sri Lanka | Some documents, often trilingual forms | Handwritten entries in Sinhala or Tamil |
| Singapore, Malaysia | Many official documents | Documents or entries in Malay, Chinese or Tamil |
This table describes what is common, not a rule: check every page of your own document.
Bilingual documents
Many documents are printed in English and another language. Look at what is written in, not only the printed headings:
- if every entry (names, dates, places, stamps) is in English, a translation is usually not needed;
- if any entry, stamp or note is only in the other language, translate it.
Driver licences: the exceptions
For licence transfers, Western Australia asks for an English translation of any licence "not written solely in English or written in dual languages", except:
- licences from the Republic of Ireland or Malta in the EU plastic card format;
- UK licences in English and Welsh in the UK plastic card format.
Other states ask for a translation when the licence is not in English. See the rules by state.
If part of your document is not in English
We translate only what needs translating, and certify it with the translator's NAATI practitioner number, which Home Affairs asks for when you apply from Australia. See translation requirements for Australian visas.
FAQ
My birth certificate is in English. Does Home Affairs need a NAATI translation?
No. Home Affairs asks for non-English documents to be translated into English. A certificate that is entirely in English is submitted as it is.
My document is in English and another language. Do I need a translation?
If every piece of information is also given in English, usually not, but check with the authority. If some entries, stamps or notes are only in the other language, those parts need translating.
Do I need to translate my UK or Irish driver licence?
No for licences in English. Western Australia states that UK licences in English and Welsh, and Irish and Maltese licences in the EU card format, do not need a translation.
Do Philippine documents need translating for an Australian visa?
Not when they are in English, as birth and marriage certificates issued in the Philippines usually are. Only documents or entries in Filipino or another language need a translation.
Sources
- Department of Home Affairs, Check twice, submit once
- Western Australia DTMI, Transfer a licence from a recognised jurisdiction (non-English and dual-language licences)
Rules change. Check with the authority you are applying to before you submit. We re-read these pages regularly and log changes below.
Change log
- 5 November 2026: First version, based on the Home Affairs page "Check twice, submit once" and the WA DTMI licence transfer page.