NAATI translator or consulate translation? What each state and Home Affairs accept
For a visa applied for from Australia, Home Affairs asks for the translator's NAATI practitioner number, so a consulate translation without one does not meet the rule. For licence transfers, it depends on the state: Victoria, South Australia and the ACT accept a consulate or embassy translation as well as a NAATI one; Western Australia accepts a consulate translation only when no NAATI or tertiary-qualified translator covers the language; Queensland and Tasmania name NAATI translators only; NSW accepts neither, except the Korean Consulate-General and TECO Sydney for Korean and Taiwanese licences; and the Northern Territory asks for an authorised translator.
Disclosure: we provide NAATI certified translations. Where a consulate translation is the better or only option, this page says so.
Licence transfers: state by state
| State or territory | NAATI translation | Consulate or embassy translation |
|---|---|---|
| Victoria | Accepted ("any NAATI accredited translator") | Accepted ("the country's consulate in Australia") |
| Queensland | Accepted ("approved NAATI translator") | Not mentioned |
| Western Australia | Accepted (NAATI certified, incl. Recognised Practising) | Only when the language is not covered by NAATI or tertiary-qualified translators |
| South Australia | Accepted (stamped and signed, or NAATI digital stamp) | Accepted, signed and on official consular letterhead |
| Tasmania | Accepted ("a NAATI certified translator") | Not mentioned |
| ACT | Accepted ("a translator who is certified by NAATI") | Accepted ("an embassy or consulate") |
| New South Wales | Not accepted | Only the Korean Consulate-General and TECO Sydney, for Korean and Taiwanese licences |
| Northern Territory | Not named: "an authorised translator" | Not named: ask the MVR |
Visas and citizenship
Home Affairs ties the rule to where you are when you apply:
- In Australia: the translation must include the translator's NAATI practitioner number.
- Outside Australia: the translation must include the translator's full name, address, phone number and qualifications in the language.
Which one to choose
- The consulate is the better option when you are transferring a Korean or Taiwanese licence in NSW, or when your language is not covered by NAATI translators in Western Australia.
- A NAATI translation is the safer option for visas applied for from Australia, and for licence transfers in Queensland and Tasmania, which name NAATI translators only.
- Either works in Victoria, South Australia and the ACT: compare price, delay and the consulate's opening hours.
See also which states accept a NAATI licence translation and what NSW accepts.
FAQ
Can I use my consulate's translation for my Australian visa?
If you apply from Australia, Home Affairs asks for the translator's NAATI practitioner number on the translation. A consulate translation without one does not meet that rule. If you apply from outside Australia, the translation must show the translator's full name, address, phone number and qualifications.
Does VicRoads accept a consulate translation?
Yes. VicRoads says a licence that is not in English must be translated by a NAATI accredited translator or the country's consulate in Australia.
Does NSW accept my consulate's translation of my licence?
Only the Korean Consulate-General and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Sydney, for Korean and Taiwanese licences. Otherwise NSW accepts only the Free Translating Service and Multicultural NSW.
Is a NAATI translation accepted in every state?
In every state and territory except NSW, for licence transfers, with each state's conditions. The Northern Territory asks for an authorised translator without naming NAATI, so check with the MVR first.
Sources
- VicRoads, Convert overseas licence
- Queensland Government, Transferring to a Queensland driver licence
- Western Australia DTMI, Transfer a licence from a recognised jurisdiction
- SA.GOV.AU, Transfer your overseas driver's licence
- Service Tasmania, Convert an overseas driver licence
- Access Canberra, Drivers with licences from overseas
- NSW Government, Prepare your application (overseas licence)
- NT.GOV.AU, Transfer your overseas driver licence
- Department of Home Affairs, Check twice, submit once
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. The state rules were read on the official pages on 4 November 2026 (see the state-by-state guide).