The Short Answer
Only a translator who holds current NAATI certification or accreditation can produce a translation that the Department of Home Affairs will accept for an Australian visa or immigration application. NAATI — the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters — is the peak credentialling body for the translation profession in Australia. Its certification is the recognised standard for translation used in government, legal, and official contexts across Australia. This requirement applies to all foreign-language documents submitted as part of a visa or citizenship application, regardless of the document type, the language involved, or the country of origin of the document.Who Can Translate Documents for Immigration in Australia?
NAATI Certified Translators
A NAATI certified translator has passed NAATI’s current certification exam for a specific language pair and direction — for example, Thai into English or Mandarin into English. The exam assesses translation accuracy, language transfer quality, professional judgement, and ethical practice. Certification must be renewed periodically through Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points, which means the credential reflects ongoing professional practice rather than a one-time qualification. NAATI certified translators are the preferred standard for immigration documents. Their credential number is the reference that the Department of Home Affairs uses to verify that a translation was produced by a qualified professional.NAATI Accredited Translators
A NAATI accredited translator qualified under NAATI’s previous credentialling framework, which was replaced by the current certification system in 2018. Many experienced translators working today still hold NAATI accreditation at the professional level, and the Department of Home Affairs continues to accept their translations for most visa and citizenship applications. NAATI no longer issues new accreditations — all new practitioners now qualify through certification. Over time, accreditation will phase out as accredited translators retire or transition to the new framework. However, for now, a translation from a currently accredited NAATI translator at the professional level remains valid for Australian immigration purposes.Translation Agencies Using NAATI Certified Translators
A translation agency can produce a valid certified translation for immigration purposes, provided it assigns the work to a NAATI certified or accredited translator in the relevant language pair. The translator’s NAATI credential number must appear on the completed translation — not the agency’s name or registration alone. When using a translation agency, always confirm that a specific NAATI certified or accredited translator — not a machine translation tool or an unqualified bilingual staff member — will complete the work.Who Cannot Translate Documents for Australian Immigration?
This is where many people run into problems. The following are all disqualified from producing translations for Australian immigration purposes, regardless of their language ability, professional background, or relationship to the applicant.Friends and Family Members
Even if a family member is a native speaker of the relevant language and fully bilingual in English, their translation will not be accepted by the Department of Home Affairs. The requirement is not about language ability — it is about professional accountability and verified credentials. A translation produced by a family member has no NAATI credential number, no verifiable statement of accuracy, and no professional standing.Bilingual Migration Agents and Lawyers
Migration agents and lawyers frequently work with clients across language barriers, and many are fluent in more than one language. However, their professional registration as a migration agent or solicitor does not qualify them to produce certified translations for immigration purposes unless they also hold current NAATI certification or accreditation as a translator. These are separate professional credentials.Bilingual Community Workers and Teachers
Community interpreters, language teachers, and community workers may provide invaluable informal assistance to people navigating the immigration system. However, their role does not extend to producing certified translations for Department of Home Affairs submissions. Only NAATI certified or accredited translators can do this.Machine Translation Tools
Google Translate, DeepL, ChatGPT, and other machine translation tools cannot produce a certified translation for immigration purposes. Machine translations lack a NAATI credential number, a signed statement of accuracy, and a qualified human translator accountable for the output. The Department of Home Affairs does not accept machine-generated translations under any circumstances, including those reviewed or lightly edited by a bilingual person.NAATI Recognised Practising Translators
As discussed in other articles in this series, the NAATI Recognised Practising Translator (RPT) credential acknowledges professional translation practice but is not based on a rigorous language-pair assessment. The Department of Home Affairs does not list RPT holders as equivalent to certified or accredited translators for standard immigration document submissions. Relying on an RPT translation carries a real risk of rejection.Translators Certified by Overseas Bodies
A translator may hold a qualification or certification from an overseas translation body — the American Translators Association, the Chartered Institute of Linguists in the United Kingdom, or a government-registered sworn translator in their country of origin. These credentials are not equivalent to NAATI certification or accreditation for Australian immigration purposes. The Department of Home Affairs requires a NAATI credential specifically.What If No NAATI Certified Translator Exists for My Language?
This is a genuine practical challenge for applicants whose documents are in rare or low-resource languages where few or no NAATI certified translators are available in Australia. In these situations, the Department of Home Affairs may accept alternative arrangements, but you should not assume this without confirming it directly. The steps to take are:- Search the NAATI directory at naati.com.au. Use the “Find a Practitioner” tool and search specifically for your language pair. Some language pairs have translators listed who work remotely and are not geographically limited to a single state.
- Contact a specialist translation agency. Some agencies maintain networks of translators for rare language pairs, including translators who hold overseas qualifications and may be able to work under supervised or verified arrangements.
- Contact the Department of Home Affairs directly. If you genuinely cannot locate a NAATI certified or accredited translator for your language, contact Home Affairs or consult a registered migration agent to ask how to proceed. Document your attempts to find a qualified translator.
- Ask your migration agent. An experienced registered migration agent will have handled rare language cases before and will know the correct procedure for your specific visa subclass.
How to Verify a Translator’s NAATI Credentials
Before placing an order with any translation provider, take three minutes to verify the translator’s credentials directly through the NAATI public directory at naati.com.au. When checking the directory, confirm:- Credential type — The translator holds NAATI certification or accreditation, not an RPT credential or informal registration.
- Language pair and direction — The credential covers your specific language pair in the correct direction. A credential for Vietnamese into English does not cover English into Vietnamese.
- Currency — The credential is currently active and has not lapsed, expired, or been suspended.
Can I Use a Translator Who Is Also a Migration Agent?
Yes — provided they hold both credentials separately. A registered migration agent who also holds current NAATI certification or accreditation as a translator in the relevant language pair can legally produce certified translations for immigration purposes. However, the two roles carry separate professional obligations, and it is worth confirming that the individual holds both credentials in their own right rather than simply claiming the authority of one to cover the other.A Practical Checklist Before Submitting Your Translation
Before including any certified translation in an Australian visa or immigration application, work through this checklist.- The translation was completed by a NAATI certified or accredited translator — not an RPT holder, overseas-certified translator, or unqualified bilingual person.
- The translator’s NAATI credential number appears on the completed translation.
- The translation includes a signed statement of accuracy with the translator’s name, contact details, and the date of translation.
- The translation covers the entire document, including all stamps, seals, annotations, and text on both sides where applicable (unless explicitly labelled as an ‘Extract Translation’).
- The name, dates, and key details in the translation match the original document exactly.
- You have kept a copy of both the original document and the certified translation for your records.
Get Your Documents Translated by a Qualified NAATI Translator
Immi Translating Service assigns every immigration document translation to a NAATI certified or accredited translator in the relevant language pair. Every completed translation includes the translator’s NAATI credential number and a signed statement of accuracy — meeting all Department of Home Affairs requirements.Order your certified translation online at Immi Translating Service — qualified translators, fast digital delivery, and compliant translations accepted by Australian immigration authorities.NAATI Certified Translation by Language
We provide NAATI certified translations for all major languages spoken in Australia.
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NAATI Certified Translation by Document Type
Need a specific document translated? We certify all common immigration and legal documents.
