Free Translating Service or a private NAATI translator? A fair comparison
If you are eligible, the Free Translating Service is the cheapest option: it is free, for up to 10 personal documents, and it is accepted for NSW licence transfers. But it is only for holders of listed visas granted in the past 2 years who are in Australia, it does not translate visa or citizenship documents, it can take up to 30 days with no rush option, and most translations are 100-word extract summaries. A private NAATI translator costs money but is open to everyone, translates documents for visas and citizenship, gives a full translation and can deliver within 24 hours or even 1 hour.
Disclosure: we are a private translation service. Where the free service is the better choice, we say so.
Side by side
| Free Translating Service | Private NAATI translator | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Paid (about $30 to $80 per page for a standard document; see prices) |
| Who can use it | Holders of listed visas granted in the past 2 years, in Australia | Anyone |
| Students, working holiday makers, tourists, citizens | Not eligible | Yes |
| Visa and citizenship documents | Not covered | Yes |
| Number of documents | Up to 10 | No limit |
| Delivery time | Up to 30 days, no rush option | Usually 24 to 48 hours; some services deliver within 1 hour |
| Format | Usually a 100-word extract summary; full translation on request with evidence | Full translation |
| Originals | Original documents only, no certified copies | Scan or photo of the original |
| NSW licence transfer | Accepted | Not accepted |
| Licence transfer in VIC, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, ACT | Accepted in WA (named by DTMI); check other states | Accepted when the translator is NAATI certified |
When the free service is the better choice
- You hold an eligible visa granted less than 2 years ago and you are in Australia.
- The document is for work, study or everyday life, not for a visa or citizenship application.
- You are transferring a licence in NSW: it is one of only two accepted options.
- You can wait up to 30 days.
Check your eligibility with the checker on the TIS National website, or read who is eligible.
When a private NAATI translator is the better choice
- The translation is for a visa or citizenship application.
- You are not eligible: student, working holiday maker, visitor, citizen, or a visa granted more than 2 years ago.
- You need it this week, today or within the hour.
- The authority needs a full translation, not a summary.
FAQ
Should I use the Free Translating Service if I am eligible?
Yes, if the document is not for a visa or citizenship application and you can wait up to 30 days. Use a private NAATI translator if you are in a hurry or need the translation for a visa.
Is a free translation as valid as a private one?
For the uses it covers, yes. TIS translators hold NAATI credentials where available, and NSW and WA name the Free Translating Service among the translations they accept for licences.
Can a student or working holiday maker use the free service?
No. Student visas are not on the eligible list, and working holiday makers, tourists and Australian citizens are not eligible.
Sources
- TIS National, Free Translating Service eligibility
- TIS National, About the Free Translating Service
- NSW Government, Moving your overseas licence to NSW, Prepare your application
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
- 4 November 2026: First version, based on TIS National and NSW Government pages read on 4 November 2026.