NAATI Translation FAQ

A translation done by a translator credentialed by NAATI (Australia's National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters), stamped with the translator's CPN. Home Affairs and all Australian authorities accept it as proof the translation is accurate and produced by a professional.

Three options: (1) a Sydney-based NAATI translator (AUD 55–80/page), (2) NYC in Bangkok — same-day PDF + DHL AU 2 days (THB 800/page ≈ AUD 35), (3) online freelancers — cheaper but verify the CPN. 82% of Sydney cases use ImmiAccount = PDF is enough.

Passing the Credentialed Community Language (CCL) test awards 5 credentialed-community-language points in the skilled visa points test (189/190/491). It is a separate test from translator certification and does not make you a NAATI translator.

Translators work with written text and issue stamped translations; interpreters work with live speech in courts, hospitals or interviews. They sit different exams and hold different credentials.

The Credentialled Community Language test measures two-way dialogue transfer in community settings. A pass earns community-language points in the skilled migration points test, but it is not a credential to practise as an interpreter.

Give the date and time, the venue or online platform, the language and any regional variety, the subject matter, and the expected duration, and send reference documents ahead so the interpreter can prepare terminology.

Sworn translation is a civil-law concept where a translator is sworn before a court. Australia instead uses certified translation based on a NAATI credential; there is no sworn-translator status.

Translators work with written text and issue stamped translations; interpreters convey speech in real time. NAATI credentials these separately, so holding an interpreting credential does not authorise certifying document translations.

Credentialed practitioners are bound by the professional code of ethics, which imposes a confidentiality duty, and in Thailand the handling of personal data also falls under the Personal Data Protection Act B.E. 2562.

Ask for the name and CPN of the person who will actually sign, check the NAATI register for currency and matching language direction, then confirm scope, deadline, and the correction policy in writing.

If you lodge inside Australia, Home Affairs strongly prefers NAATI and can reject other translations. If you lodge from Thailand, a Thai consular-legalised translation is accepted, but NAATI has the widest acceptance across DHA, BDM, AHPRA, and universities.

NAATI is stamped by an Australian-credentialed translator, accepted by DHA, state BDM, and universities. A Thai consular certified translation is stamped by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs authenticating the translator's signature — used in Thailand and countries with Thai embassies. Different systems, different acceptance chains.

Five standard docs: (1) transcript, (2) degree/diploma, (3) birth certificate (for guardian or family), (4) sponsor's financial statement, (5) English test if any Thai text. Total THB 4,500–6,500.

Six core: both partners' birth certificates + marriage certificate (Kor.Ror. 2+3) + divorce records if any + both police checks. Relationship evidence — LINE chats, family photos with Thai text — adds cost. Total THB 5,500–8,500.

Five core: transcript + degree + employment letters (3+ employers) + payslips + police check. VETASSESS/EA/AHPRA add stream-specific docs — trade cert, medical licence, CPD. Total THB 6,000–12,000.

Three core: (1) applicant's birth certificate (for citizenship by descent, also the Australian parent's), (2) marriage certificate if name changed, (3) police checks for every country lived > 12 months in the past 10 years. THB 2,500–4,500.

All states accept a NAATI-translated Thai licence. Take the licence + NAATI + passport + proof of address to the service centre — QLD and NSW (if Thai licence < 3 yrs) issue without a driving test.

AHPRA requires translations by an accredited translator such as NAATI, submitted with copies of the originals. The core set is the professional licence, degree, transcript and a certificate of good standing from the Thai professional council.

Generally not for use inside Australia. But if the document is destined for an Apostille Convention country, or the receiving body requires certification of the original, that step is separate and additional.

Generally yes — NAATI has long-standing trans-Tasman standing — but always check the specific requirements of the receiving body such as Immigration New Zealand or NZQA before lodging.

Degree, transcript, subject syllabi and employment references — any Thai-language item needs an accredited translation. The CDR itself must be written by the applicant in English.

Transcripts, graduation certificates, and scholarship or financial evidence where applicable, lodged with copies of the originals. Most universities accept translations by an accredited translator such as NAATI.

Typically the marriage certificate or relationship evidence, birth certificate, house registration, ID card, name-change records, and any divorce decree or death certificate of a former spouse. Every Thai-language document needs a certified translation.

Academic transcripts, graduation certificates, financial capacity evidence or bank letters, sponsor documents, and guardianship or relationship records for younger applicants.

Prepare qualification certificates, transcripts, subject outlines, employment references, payslips and civil records. The skills assessment comes first, then the EOI.

Yes — any Thai-language identity or history document, such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate, name-change record or police clearance, must be submitted with a certified translation.

Yes. Australian government service agencies accept translations by NAATI-credentialed translators, and in some settlement cases a free government translating service is available.

State registries need translations showing names, date and place of birth and parents' names exactly as in the original, with verifiable translator details on the document.

Some bodies accept it, but NAATI is primarily an Australian and New Zealand system. Other countries usually run their own certification regimes, so check the receiving body's rule first.

Yes. The Home Affairs requirement attaches to the translator, not to where you live. If the translator holds a current NAATI credential, the translation is acceptable whether you send your files from Bangkok or anywhere else.

A review body reads documents more closely than the original decision-maker. Translations must cover every page, including seals, signatures, and endorsements, and must state the date and the translator clearly.

For use inside Australia, generally no: the practitioner's stamp already certifies the translation. Extra notarisation matters when the document will be used in a country that imposes its own legalisation chain.

Each assessing authority sets its own rules. Some want certified copies alongside translations, others want the institution to send records directly, so read that body's guidelines before assembling your set.

Usually the birth certificate, the most recent school reports or leaving certificate, the immunisation record, and custody documents where the parents are not together. Each state runs its own enrolment forms.

Only where the receiving body accepts it. NAATI is the Australian and New Zealand system; other countries usually have their own route — a sworn translator, or certification through a foreign ministry and embassy.

THB 900/page (1 page standard), 2–3 business days. Both Thai and AFP police checks need translation if any Thai text is on the certificate. Source must be < 3 months old. NYC bundles police + licence + birth cert at −15%.

THB 900/A4 page. A 4-year bachelor's transcript is usually 3–4 pages = THB 2,700–3,600 pre-discount. Scan every page including the university seal margin. Transcript + degree cert bundle (5 pages) qualifies for −10%.

THB 900/page. A Thai marriage record is 2 forms (Kor.Ror. 2 = registry + Kor.Ror. 3 = certificate). Both must be translated = 2 pages, THB 1,620 after −10%. All state BDMs need both. 2–3 days.

THB 900/page. Reference letter 1 page 900. 3 months of payslips = 3 pages, THB 2,430 after −10%. Company registration certificate (MOC-issued) 900.

Use a copy certified by the district registrar and reasonably recent, scan every page bearing the applicant's name including the householder page, and send high-resolution colour files.

It supports identity verification for visa lodgement, bank account opening, employment and agency registration in Australia. Both sides of the card should be translated.

Provide both the divorce certificate (Kor Ror 7) and, where it exists, the divorce agreement (Kor Ror 6) — Australian agencies commonly want the custody and property terms as well.

For Australian estate administration, life insurance claims, spousal pension applications, and visa cases where widowhood must be evidenced.

Translate every page you lodge, including the summary page and the bank's stamp. Do not submit only the favourable pages, and request a bank-stamped statement.

Yes, whenever an older document shows a different name from your current passport. The Thai change-of-name (Chor 3) or change-of-surname (Chor 5) certificate is the link proving the same identity.

When an authority asks male Thai applicants to evidence conscription status — for example in citizenship character checks or certain overseas employment applications.

Use a DBD-issued certificate within the recipient's accepted age limit, together with the shareholder list and memorandum of association, and translate the set in one batch.

Yes — they are frequently requested as income evidence alongside bank statements. Translate both the tax return form and the withholding tax certificate as a complete set.

Use a translator credentialed in that exact language pair. Avoid relay translation through Thai or English — layered translation degrades accuracy and agencies may reject it.

Obtain it from the Royal Thai Police Special Branch, then have the original certified-translated with the reference number, issue date and result wording reproduced exactly.

Almost every state road authority requires a certified translation so it can read the licence class, issue date and expiry. Some states accept an international permit alongside it for a short period.

Yes, and you should use a legal-stream translator: court filings require exact legal wording, case numbers and paragraph numbering that will be cited in proceedings.

Translate the full order or agreement, all guardians' names and any travel conditions, preserving the issuing authority's certification wording and seals.

Translate every page including witnesses and seals, and confirm the required format with the estate's lawyer first — each state's probate registry has its own filing rules.

Yes, when submitted to an Australian bank, tax authority or investment review body. Title number, land area and any encumbrances must all be reproduced.

Yes, whenever an Australian insurer or authority must read a Thai police report, medical certificate or treatment invoice.

Yes, for school enrolment or entry into the Australian immunisation register: every vaccine name, date given and dose number must appear.

Every subject, credit value, grade, the grading scale and any endnotes must be translated. Do not summarise, and do not convert grades into an Australian scale yourself.

In Australia a copy is certified by a Justice of the Peace, a lawyer, or another occupation on the Commonwealth statutory declaration list. A NAATI translator certifies the translation, not that a copy matches the original.

If the English on the document is complete and was issued by the issuing authority itself, a further translation is often unnecessary. If the English covers only headings while the actual entries are in Thai, a certified translation is still required.

Use a translator credentialled in that specific language pair. Relaying through an intermediate language degrades accuracy and can be queried by the receiving body.

Documents proving your relationship to the deceased — death certificate, marriage certificate, birth certificate, name-change records — need certified translations, usually alongside certified copies as the fund trustee requires.

Typically the certificate of registration, the shareholder list, the memorandum of association, audited financial statements, and tax documents — each translated in full, including seals and signatures.

Translate the document that links the old name to the new one — the Thai change-of-forename certificate (Ch.3), the change-of-surname certificate (Ch.5), or the marriage or divorce certificate — and file it alongside any record still bearing the old name.

Usually two: the marriage certificate (Kor Ror 3) and the marriage register entry (Kor Ror 2). The register entry carries spouse details, witnesses, and any agreements that the certificate alone does not show.

It can, but any illegible passage must be marked as illegible in the translation. The better route is to request a fresh certified extract from the registry that issued the original before ordering the translation.

The core set is the house registration, national ID card, birth certificate, marriage certificate with its register entry, and — where either party was married before — the divorce certificate with its register entry.

No. If the institution itself issues an official English-language version, that is an original English document rather than a translation, so no translator's stamp is required.

Full employee name, position, start and end dates, full-time status or weekly hours, detailed duties, all on company letterhead with an authorised signature and a contact point for verification.

Not always. Check what the receiving body actually asks for — often a bank's balance-confirmation letter, which is far shorter. But if a statement is required, the whole specified period must be translated, not a selection of pages.

Figures, units, drug names, and diagnostic codes must be carried across exactly, with no added interpretation, and the doctor's signature and any professional licence number shown must be noted.

Yes, but work from a court-certified copy and translate the document in full, including the case heading, the black-case and red-case numbers, and the date judgment was read.

From THB 800/A4 page (civil docs), including stamp, statutory declaration, and PDF. Rush 24h adds 50%. Complex pages (legal, medical, long transcripts) are THB 1,000–1,500/page. DHL Express abroad THB 1,200–1,800.

Rush 24h = standard + 50%. Same-day (< 8h) = +100% for single-page docs when a translator is free. The earlier you send files, the more feasible — Thai time cutoff 10:00.

Don't chase 'cheapest' — providers at THB 300–500/page usually sub-contract overseas with no CPN, and DHA rejects the translation. NYC's real promos: 6+ pages −20%, institutions −15%, referral −THB 200.

THB 800/page — a Thai birth certificate is 1 page, 2–3 business days, including stamp + statutory declaration + PDF + 1 hard copy. Rush 24h THB 1,200. DHL Australia THB 1,200.

THB 800 per licence, 2 business days. NSW/VIC/QLD/WA all accept NAATI-translated Thai licences to drive for the first 3 months and to convert to a local licence without a re-test (state rules apply).

Send files via LINE @nycli or email contact@nyclegal.co.th with (1) how many documents, (2) which visa, (3) when needed — we return a quote within 2 business hours with translator CPN and delivery date.

Usually full translation of every page, description of seals and signatures, the certification statement with the practitioner's stamp, and the delivered file. Printed copies, courier, and any onward legalisation are separate items.

No — 95% of NAATI jobs use a high-quality scan or photo. Originals are only required for (a) documents where a state BDM insists on a certified original copy, or (b) legal cases requiring chain of custody. NYC accepts scans via LINE or email and can start immediately.

Standard 2–3 business days for 1–3 pages. Rush 24 hours adds 50%. Same-day (< 8 hours) is possible only for short single-page docs when a translator is available.

Merge source + translation into a single PDF (source page 1, translation page 2). Upload under 'Attach documents' → pick the matching evidence type → name the file '{doctype}_{name}_NAATI_translation.pdf'. < 5 MB per file.

Usually proof of date of birth such as a birth certificate, plus evidence that any earlier marriage has ended — a divorce decree or death certificate — each with a certified translation.

A certified copy attests that a copy matches the original; a certified translation attests that the translation is accurate. Some agencies ask for both together.

High-resolution colour PDF scans of every page and both sides, squared up with full edges visible, named by document type to avoid mix-ups.

Credentialed translators are bound by a professional code of ethics on confidentiality, and you should choose a provider with a clear data retention and deletion policy.

Confirm the translator's name and credential number, language direction, how pages are counted, delivery format, timeframe, and the revision policy if the receiving body asks for changes.

One stamped PDF can be uploaded to several online portals at once, but any authority that wants a printed set and keeps it needs its own hard copy, so count sets by the number of bodies that retain documents.

Yes. The person ordering need not be the document holder, though you should lawfully hold the document, and the provider must protect the personal data under its professional confidentiality duty.

Ask for the reason in writing first, then work out whether the problem lies with the translation, the source document, or the authority's own requirement, and fix only what the stated reason calls for.

Files are normally retained for the period stated in the provider's privacy policy, and you can request additional printed sets of the same job while the file still exists and the signer's credential remains traceable.

Seven checks: all pages present, the stamp's language direction correct, the credential not expired, name spellings matching the passport, dates converted correctly, seal annotations complete, and the file format matching what the authority asks for.

Most assessing authorities call for a NAATI-certified translator, or an equivalently qualified translator overseas, and require the translation to be lodged together with a copy of the source document.

Tell the practitioner, point to the exact line, and attach the source evidence such as the passport page. They reissue a corrected version, freshly signed and stamped. Never edit the file yourself — doing so voids the certification.

Yes, if the image is sharp, shows the full page, and is free of shadow and skew. A scan at 300 dpi or better is far preferable, especially for seals and signatures.

Pick a provider that (1) lists NAATI Certified translators with CPN and expiry, (2) shows a real sample of their translator's stamp, (3) delivers both PDF and hard copy with tracking, and (4) offers free revisions if DHA requests a correction.

Three checks: (1) the stamp must include a 5-digit CPN, the level ('Certified Translator'), and the expiry date; (2) enter the CPN at naati.com.au/online-directory and match the translator's name; (3) if the provider lists the translator, call them directly — a real provider allows this.

Go to naati.com.au → 'Online Directory' → search by CPN, name, or language pair. Results show status (Current/Expired), certification level, language pair, and the translator's city.

NAATI doesn't mandate a stamp colour — translators use blue or black. What matters is that it's a wet stamp (not a scanned print) with CPN and expiry visible. Blue is most common because it's easy to distinguish from a photocopy.

A Certified Translator has passed NAATI's exam in that language pair. Recognised Practising status exists only for pairs NAATI does not test, and is based on documented work experience. Thai–English is a tested pair, so insist on a Certified Translator.

NAATI's current scheme covers Recognised Practising, Certified and Certified Specialist for translators, plus Provisional, Certified and Conference tiers for interpreters. Certified Translator is sufficient for standard official documents.

NAATI credentials are direction-specific. A Thai document translated into English must carry a Thai-into-English credential; the reverse direction can be rejected by the receiving agency.

Follow the passport spelling as the reference, and have the translator add a note wherever the source document spells it differently, confirming the same person.

Report it to the provider immediately with the specific point and the source document. The translator issues a corrected, freshly stamped version. Never edit the file yourself — that voids the certification.

No. Even with language qualifications, agencies require the translator to be an independent third party, not the applicant or a family member.

Yes. A certified translation must cover all text on the page, including stamps and handwritten notes, with bracketed labels showing what is a seal and what is handwriting.

The main causes are incomplete coverage of the page, name spellings that differ from the passport, missing verifiable translator details, the wrong credential direction, and illegible copies.

The current stamp shows the practitioner's name, the certification type, the language pair and direction, the CPN, an expiry date, and a security feature that can be checked back against NAATI's register.

NAATI credentials are directional, for example Thai into English. A one-direction holder cannot certify work in the reverse direction, so if the job does not match the direction printed on the stamp, the authority has grounds to reject it outright.

The translator must mark the passage as illegible rather than guess at it. Supplying text that is not in the source breaches professional ethics and undermines the document's credibility.

The convention is to convert to the Gregorian year by subtracting 543 while also showing the Buddhist-era year, so the reader can reconcile the translation against the original without doing the arithmetic.

Always follow the passport spelling, even where a standard transliteration scheme would produce something different, because the receiving body matches names against the travel document first.

Authorities check the credential of whoever signs the translation, not the provider's business structure. The real differences lie in scheduling, second-pass review, and coverage across multiple language directions.

Not pixel for pixel, but the structure and order of information must be easy to line up against the original, including notes marking where seals, signatures, and tables appear.

The credential holder is accountable for every word they certify. Signing work they have not thoroughly checked breaches their professional obligations and puts the credential itself at risk.

It must match the passport. Send the passport bio page with the job so the translator adopts that spelling instead of the Royal Institute romanisation system, which frequently produces a different result.

Five things: name spelling against the passport, dates and figures against the source, the language direction on the stamp, the credential expiry date, and that the page count matches the original.

Name spellings that differ from the passport, incomplete page coverage or omitted seals, the wrong direction on the stamp, an expired credential, and lodging a translation without a copy of the source document.

A practitioner is answerable for every word they sign. Certifying output that has not been fully revised runs against the professional code and invites the kind of errors that get documents rejected.

They must be accounted for, normally as a bracketed note stating that a seal or signature appears at that position, with any legible text on the seal translated. Omitting them is not acceptable.

Yes for 90% of cases — DHA ImmiAccount, VETASSESS, AHPRA, universities, and the Family Court all accept NAATI PDFs with a digital signature. Hard copy is needed at some state BDM offices (VIC/NSW specific centres) and certain court hearings.

Worldwide. Thailand EMS THB 80, DHL Express Australia THB 1,200 (2–3 days), UK/EU 1,500 (3–4 days), US/Canada 1,500 (3–5 days), Asia/ME 1,200, ROW 1,800. Includes tracking + insurance.

DHL Express Bangkok → Australia is 2–3 business days (Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane 2 days, Perth 3 days). THB 1,200 including tracking + THB 10,000 insurance. Business or residential delivery.

Online lodgement systems such as ImmiAccount accept scanned or PDF translations bearing the translator's stamp and signature. A digital signature adds file-integrity assurance but is not universally mandatory.

Usually a digital file for online lodgement plus at least two hard copies — one for any agency that wants paper and one for your own records.

Standard civil documents usually take a few business days. Delays come from poor scans, handwritten content, high page counts, and name-spelling changes mid-job.

Many Australian government agencies provide interpreters free through the federal TIS National service, so you usually need not hire one. Private appointments and specialised proceedings are the exception.

Date, time and duration; the venue or online platform; the subject matter and any specialist terminology; the number of participants; and whether consecutive or simultaneous mode is required.

Short standard documents such as a birth certificate or house registration can usually be delivered as a file within one business day. The caution is that rush work compresses the revision stage, so always reserve time to check it before lodging.

The NAATI translation itself never expires, but Home Affairs and state BDM offices reject source documents older than 3–12 months (police checks 3 months, some birth certificates 3 years). When the source expires, you re-issue and re-translate.

The translation itself does not expire, but it remains usable only while the source document's facts are unchanged and the receiving agency imposes no age limit on the original.

In principle the translation reflects the practitioner's status on the signing date, so if the credential was current then it was produced by a certified practitioner. Some authorities, however, ask for translations produced within a recent window.

Keep both the digital files and printed sets, along with a note of the production date, the signer's name, and the credential number, because a citizenship application may come years later and may reference the same documents.

Yes, provided the source document has not changed. A certified translation does not expire on its own, but the receiving body may cap the age of the underlying document — for example a registry extract issued within the last three or six months.