Translation requirements for Australian visa applications
The Department of Home Affairs asks for every document that is not in English to be translated into English. What the translation must show depends on where you are when you apply. If you are in Australia, it must include the translator's NAATI practitioner number. If you are outside Australia, it must include the translator's full name, address, phone number and qualifications in the language they translate, and NAATI is not required. The free government translation service cannot be used for visa or citizenship documents.
The rule, word for word
On its page "Check twice, submit once", the Department of Home Affairs asks applicants to:
Have all non-English documents translated into English. If you are in Australia you need to include the translator's National Accreditation Authority of Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) practitioner number. If you are outside of Australia you need to include the translator's full name, address, phone number and qualifications in the language they are translating.
| Where you are when you apply | What the translation must show |
|---|---|
| In Australia | The translator's NAATI practitioner number |
| Outside Australia | The translator's full name, address, phone number and qualifications in the language. NAATI is not required |
Documents that often need translating
- Birth certificates and family registers, for most visas and for citizenship
- Marriage, divorce and relationship documents, for partner and family visas
- Police certificates, for the character requirement, when the certificate is not in English
- Name change documents, when your name differs between documents
- Academic transcripts and employment documents, for skilled visas and skills assessments
Common mistakes
- Names spelled differently from your passport. Ask the translator to use the spelling of your passport.
- Dates from another calendar converted by hand and one day off. Nepali, Persian, Thai and other dates must be converted exactly, day by day.
- Untranslated stamps or back pages. Translate every page that carries text, including stamps and handwritten notes.
Is there a free option?
The Free Translating Service does not translate documents required for visa or citizenship applications. See who can use the Free Translating Service.
FAQ
Do my visa documents need a NAATI translation?
If you apply from Australia, yes, the translation must show the translator's NAATI practitioner number. If you apply from outside Australia, NAATI is not required, but the translation must show the translator's full name, address, phone number and qualifications.
Can I translate my own documents?
Home Affairs asks for the translator's NAATI practitioner number in Australia, or the translator's details and qualifications outside Australia. A translation by the applicant does not show those.
Can I use the free government translation service for my visa?
No. The Free Translating Service does not translate documents required for visa or citizenship applications.
Sources
- Department of Home Affairs, Check twice, submit once
- TIS National, Free Translating Service eligibility (visa and citizenship documents excluded)
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 the Home Affairs page "Check twice, submit once" read on 4 November 2026.