All documents submitted in support of an Australian visa application that are not in English must be accompanied by an English translation. The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) requires translations to be provided by a qualified translator — in Australia, the translator must be accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI). Translators engaged outside Australia are not required to hold NAATI accreditation, but their details and qualifications must be provided. This page explains when and how to provide translations for migration documents, the NAATI accreditation requirement, and what information must accompany the translation.

For current translation requirements and DHA's language services, refer to the DHA language services page.

• Migration Regulations 1994, regulation 2.07AJ and Schedule 1 — document requirements for visa applications, including translation requirements
• DHA: Attach documents — translation guidance — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/document-translation
• DHA: Language services — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/language-services
• NAATI: National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters — naati.com.au

The translation requirement

DHA requires that every document that is not in English must be accompanied by an English translation. This applies across all visa application types — partner, skilled, student, humanitarian, citizenship, and others. There is no category of non-English document that is exempt from the translation requirement.

The translation must be provided alongside the original document — DHA assesses the original and its translation together. DHA does not accept translations that have been submitted without the original document.

NAATI accreditation — Australian translators

When the translation is performed by a translator who is physically located in Australia, DHA requires the translator to be accredited by NAATI — the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters. NAATI is the national authority that assesses and certifies translators to specified competency levels. Key points about NAATI accreditation:

• NAATI accreditation operates at different levels — Certified Translator is the standard accreditation level required for most migration documents. Higher levels (e.g. Certified Specialist Translator) also satisfy the requirement
• A NAATI Certified Translator has passed a formal assessment process that demonstrates proficiency in both English and the source language, as well as translation competency
• DHA requires the translator's NAATI practitioner number to be included on or with the translation — this allows DHA to verify the accreditation
• NAATI accreditation can be verified through the NAATI online register at naati.com.au

An informal translation — for example, a translation prepared by a bilingual friend or colleague who is not NAATI-accredited — does not satisfy the requirement when the translator is located in Australia. DHA may reject non-NAATI translations from Australian-based translators.

Overseas translators — not required to hold NAATI

When the translation is performed by a translator who is located outside Australia, NAATI accreditation is not required. However, the applicant must provide the following details about the overseas translator with the translation:

• The translator's full name
• The translator's address
• The translator's phone number
• The translator's qualifications in the language they are translating from (for example, university-level education in the language, membership of a professional translation association in their country, or other evidence of competency)

Overseas translators should still be genuinely qualified — DHA expects that the translator has appropriate language competency. Using a family member or friend who happens to speak the language but has no formal qualifications is risky: if DHA has doubts about the quality of the translation, it may request a new translation from a more qualified translator, causing delays.

Online ImmiAccount submissions — no physical certification required

DHA has confirmed that when documents are submitted online through ImmiAccount, the physical document does not need to be "certified" in the traditional sense (i.e., the translation does not need to be stamped or signed in a specific form). However:

• The translation must still be provided — all non-English documents require an accompanying English translation regardless of how the application is submitted
• The NAATI practitioner number (for Australian translators) or the overseas translator's details must still be included in the submission
• DHA may request the original certified paper documents later in the process if needed

Free translating service for settlement

DHA offers a Free Translating Service for certain types of documents for newly arrived humanitarian entrants and other eligible migrants who are settling in Australia. This service translates personal documents (such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, and school records) into English for settlement purposes — it is available through community organisations and settlement services. It is not a substitute for the visa application translation requirement, but it is a useful resource for persons who have been granted a visa and need documents translated for Australian purposes. For information on the Free Translating Service, refer to the DHA Free Translating Service page.

What the translation must include

A complete translation for DHA purposes typically includes:

• A complete English translation of all text in the original document — not a summary
• Notation of anything in the original that has not been translated (for example, a stamp or seal that the translator has described rather than translated)
• The translator's statement confirming that the translation is accurate and complete
• The translator's NAATI practitioner number (for Australian translators) or full details (for overseas translators)
• The date the translation was prepared

The translation should be formatted clearly — DHA recommends that the translation reflect the layout and structure of the original document where possible, so that corresponding sections can be identified.

The NAATI requirement for Australian-based translators is strictly applied — using a non-NAATI translator in Australia when one is required will result in the translation not being accepted, potentially delaying a visa application. The distinction between Australian and overseas translator requirements reflects the practical reality that NAATI is an Australian accreditation scheme; overseas translators are assessed on their stated qualifications rather than an equivalent certification. For applicants who need to obtain NAATI-certified translations in Australia, NAATI maintains a searchable register of accredited practitioners by language and location at naati.com.au. For the most current DHA translation requirements and document attachment guidance, refer to the DHA language services page.