NAATI Certified Translation — Every Service

What is NAATI and who issues the credential?

NAATI is the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters, the Australian body that certifies translators and interpreters. Australian agencies expect translations produced by a currently certified practitioner.

What must a NAATI stamp show?

The stamp shows the translator's name, practitioner ID, certification type, language pair and direction, and the expiry date, alongside the signature. Digital stamps also carry a verification link.

Can I upload the PDF to ImmiAccount, or is a hardcopy required?

Online lodgement through ImmiAccount accepts a scan of the stamped translation. A paper original is needed only when the receiving body — a state transport agency or a court, for example — asks to sight it.

Do I have to send the original document before translation?

No. A sharp photo or a 300 dpi scan is enough, provided every line, seal and signature is legible. Anything unreadable must be marked as illegible in the translation, as professional practice requires.

How does NAATI differ from notarisation by a notarial attorney?

NAATI certifies the translation itself, by an Australian-credentialed translator. A notarial services attorney certifies signatures, copies, oaths or facts. They are separate functions and some files need both.

Does a NAATI translation still need consular legalisation?

For Australian and New Zealand submissions a NAATI translation is normally sufficient without consular legalisation. Documents destined for other countries usually follow the Thai MFA Department of Consular Affairs route instead.

Is Thailand part of the Apostille Convention yet?

Thailand has acceded to the Apostille Convention, which enters into force on 28 February 2027. Until then the traditional chain applies: Department of Consular Affairs, then the destination embassy.

How long does a NAATI translation take?

A single-page civil document such as a birth certificate or house registration typically takes about 1–3 business days. Multi-document bundles and technical files take longer, depending on the queue.

Does a NAATI translation expire?

The translation itself does not expire, but the translator's certification does, and some source documents — police checks, bank statements — have their own acceptance windows at the receiving agency.

Can I use the service from another province or from overseas?

Yes. The workflow is fully online: send files by email or LINE, receive the translation by email, and request postal dispatch of hardcopies within Thailand or internationally.

What NAATI credential levels exist?

The current scheme spans Recognised Practising, Certified Translator and Certified Advanced Translator for translation, plus Provisional, Certified and Conference levels for interpreting. Official submissions usually require at least Certified Translator.

What is the CCL test and is it related to document translation?

CCL (Credentialed Community Language) is a NAATI test that can yield five points in the skilled-visa points test. It is not a credential for certifying document translations.

How can I verify that a translator really holds NAATI certification?

Search the practitioner directory on naati.com.au by name or practitioner ID; digital stamps on the translation also carry a link that reveals the credential status.

What happens if the spelling differs from my passport?

Personal names should follow the current passport. A mismatch can lead an officer to treat the documents as belonging to different people, so confirm the preferred spelling before translation starts.

Can NAATI translate English into Thai for use in Thailand?

NAATI certification is direction-specific and covers both Thai→English and English→Thai. Thai authorities, however, usually expect MFA-legalised translations rather than a NAATI stamp, so check the receiving office first.

Do skills assessment authorities accept NAATI translations?

Australian assessing authorities such as VETASSESS, ACS, Engineers Australia and TRA require English translations by a certified translator. Read each authority's guide, as submission details differ.

Must every page be translated?

Standard practice is a complete rendering of the document, including seals, signatures and endorsements. Selective translation risks rejection.

If the source document contains an error, can the translator fix it?

No. The translation must mirror the source. Errors have to be corrected by the issuing authority first, then the corrected document is translated.

Why do some files need both NAATI and a sworn translator?

Destinations use different systems: Australia and New Zealand rely on NAATI, while much of Europe relies on court-appointed sworn translators. Parallel applications therefore need two sets.

How do I get a quote and page estimate?

Send photos or scans of every page you need translated by LINE or email. We count the actual pages, confirm the working window, and book the slot before starting.

Does AHPRA need a NAATI translation or will a Thai consular translation do?

AHPRA requires translations by a NAATI-credentialled translator or an equivalent it recognises; a Thai consular-legalised translation alone is usually not enough for professional registration.

Does Engineers Australia need the whole syllabus translated?

Transcripts and degrees always need translating; syllabus outlines are requested when the assessor needs to compare course content, so prepare the files but translate only what is asked for.

Which translation is needed to convert a Thai driver licence?

State road authorities such as Service NSW, VicRoads and TMR accept NAATI translations that show licence class, issue date, expiry and licence number; some states also require both sides.

My transcript is already issued in English — still need a translation?

If the issuing institution produced it in English, a re-translation is normally unnecessary; however, Thai-language seals or annotations on the page may still need certifying.

How important is the name-change deed in a visa application?

Critical — if the birth certificate and passport names differ, the case officer sees two different people; a certified name-change deed is the bridge between the documents.

How many months of bank statements need translating?

It depends on the stream — student and visitor applications typically look back three to six months; translate the same set you attach as evidence rather than selected pages.

Can a Thai police clearance be NAATI-translated directly?

Yes — translate both the body text and the Royal Thai Police seal, and lodge within the validity the receiving body expects, commonly twelve months.

Can Thai company documents such as DBD certificates be NAATI-translated?

Yes — common for business visas, overseas bank onboarding and tax filings; use a certified extract issued within the last six months.

For multi-page documents, is every page certified?

The translator certifies the set as one document and states the page count in the certification, which prevents pages being removed later.

The authority also wants a certified true copy — how is that different?

A NAATI translation certifies the text matches the source; a certified true copy attests that a photocopy matches the original — in Thailand that is done by a Notarial Services Attorney.

Home Affairs asked for the paper original after an ImmiAccount lodgement — what now?

We dispatch the letterhead hardcopy with wet stamp and signature by EMS against the original job reference — no re-translation required.

Does a translation expire?

The translation itself does not expire, but receiving bodies judge the age of the underlying document — police checks and statements in particular must be recent.

What if the translator's credential expires after we lodge?

There is no retrospective effect — what matters is that the certification date falls inside the credential's validity, which is why the stamp always shows an expiry.

For English-to-Thai use inside Thailand, is NAATI needed?

Thai authorities generally want translations legalised by the Department of Consular Affairs, not NAATI; NAATI is primarily for Australian and New Zealand bodies.

Do Thai documents for Australia also need embassy legalisation?

For most visa and skills-assessment purposes, a NAATI translation suffices; consular and embassy legalisation is needed when the destination is a court, land registry or a specific legal transaction.

Will Thailand's Apostille accession change the NAATI process?

Thailand's Apostille Convention entry into force is 28 February 2027, which streamlines authentication of public documents but does not replace NAATI translation — Apostille authenticates the document, NAATI certifies the translation.

How can I verify a NAATI stamp is genuine?

The stamp carries a practitioner ID searchable in NAATI's public directory, and newer digital stamps include a link or QR code for direct online verification.

Do I have to bring the paper original to your office?

Not for most NAATI work — a clear photo or scan is enough, unless the destination such as a court or the AAT specifically requires sight of the original.

Does New Zealand accept NAATI translations?

Immigration New Zealand accepts translations by qualified professional translators, which includes NAATI-credentialled practitioners, provided the certification, name and contact details appear.

Can errors be corrected after delivery?

Yes — transcription errors are reissued at no extra charge; if the source data itself changed, a fresh original document is required first.

Can medical documents such as doctor's certificates be NAATI-translated?

Yes — common for medical-treatment visas, insurance claims and AHPRA registration; clinical terminology follows standard international usage.

What is most often missed in partner-visa translation sets?

Most commonly the house registrations of both parties, the divorce certificate from a prior marriage, and the divorce agreement annex covering children.

What is the fastest realistic turnaround?

A single clean page with straightforward names can be done within 48 hours; multi-page sets or faded old documents should allow the standard five to seven business days.

How do I start?

Send the document images and name the destination (e.g. subclass 189, AHPRA, VicRoads) via LINE OA @Thainotary or call 094-895-8999; we confirm the required set and timeline before starting.

Can I order a NAATI translation from outside Thailand?

Yes. The whole process runs online — file submission, draft review and delivery of the certified PDF. A hardcopy is dispatched only where the receiving authority requires paper.

Do you need to see the paper original?

Generally no — a clear full-page scan suffices, unless the receiving authority specifies that the translator must certify from a sighted original.

Does a NAATI translation expire?

The translation itself does not expire, but the practitioner's certification carries an expiry date shown on the stamp, and receiving authorities usually limit the age of the source document — often three to six months.

What if the source is neither Thai nor English?

It requires a practitioner certified in that specific language pair. We state plainly which pairs are in scope and which need an alternative route.

Can a NAATI translation be used with Thai government agencies?

Normally not. Thai agencies rely on translations certified by the Department of Consular Affairs, while NAATI is an Australian and New Zealand system. The two are not interchangeable.

Does a NAATI translation need an apostille?

Australian and New Zealand authorities do not ask for an apostille on a NAATI translation. For Thai documents going to Hague states, check the Convention's entry-into-force status for Thailand separately.

How many pages must be translated — including reverse sides?

Every page bearing text must be translated, including reverse sides, seals, handwriting and official annotations. Omissions are the most frequent cause of follow-up requests.

Can a translation be corrected if a name is misspelled?

Yes. Where the discrepancy originates with the translator we correct and reissue at no additional cost. Where the source document itself differs from the passport, a supporting document explaining the difference is required.

How many copies do I need for multiple authorities?

The PDF can be reused without limit for online lodgements; order hardcopies according to how many authorities demand paper.

Can medical records and test results be translated?

Yes — medical certificates, treatment histories, laboratory results and vaccination records, preserving the source units and reference ranges without conversion.

What is the fastest urgent turnaround?

Typically 48 business hours for short documents, subject to queue and complexity. A delivery time is confirmed before work starts; we do not promise beyond what is achievable.

The authority says 'certified translator only' — what does that mean?

In the Australian context it means a practitioner holding NAATI Certified Translator credentials in the relevant language pair — not merely a translator issuing a self-declaration.

Can documents issued by a foreign embassy in Thailand be translated?

Yes, though check first what form of certified copy the destination accepts — some require the issuing mission itself to certify the copy.

How are place and agency names rendered consistently?

We use each agency's official English name as published on its government website, retaining the Thai name in parentheses where helpful so officers can cross-check.

What if handwriting on the document is illegible?

It is marked as illegible in accordance with translator practice rather than guessed, and we recommend requesting a freshly issued document where that passage is material.

Should the Thai original accompany the translation?

Yes — most authorities want the translation paired with a copy of the exact source document so they can confirm what was translated.

Can an earlier translation be reused at the permanent stage?

Yes if the source document is unchanged and still within the accepted age window; civil-status records that can change, such as house registration, should be reissued.

Is further certification available after a NAATI translation?

Yes. Where documents must also serve authorities outside Australia and New Zealand we advise on the parallel route through a notarial services attorney, the Department of Consular Affairs and the destination embassy.

Is sending personal documents online secure?

Files are used solely for translation and verification, are not disclosed to third parties, and are deleted per the stated retention cycle. Practitioners are bound by professional confidentiality obligations.

How do I know whether I need NAATI or MFA legalisation?

Follow the receiving authority: Australian and New Zealand bodies take NAATI, while Thai agencies and countries relying on the diplomatic chain take the MFA plus embassy route.