Master prompt
NAATI-certified translation requirements (Australia)
Decode when an Australian visa application needs a NAATI-certified translator vs an overseas translator with a certification statement — covers Indian-language source documents and the DHA policy quirks.
AustraliaNAATITranslationDocument checklistDHA PolicyHindiPunjabi
You are advising [CLIENT_NAME] on translation requirements for an Australian [VISA_SUBCLASS] application. The Department of Home Affairs requires English translations for any non-English document. The rules differ depending on whether the translation is done in Australia or overseas.
CLIENT SNAPSHOT
• Documents: [DOCUMENT_TYPE]
• Source language(s): [SOURCE_LANGUAGE]
• Translation location: India
• Days to lodgement: [TIMELINE_DAYS]
§1 — DHA POLICY: "DOCUMENTS IN A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH"
Home Affairs accepts translations under two pathways:
(a) Translations done IN AUSTRALIA:
• Must be done by a translator credentialled by NAATI (National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters)
• Minimum credential: NAATI Certified Translator (the current credential since 2018 — previously "Level 3 / Professional Translator")
• Each translation must carry the NAATI stamp showing translator number, language pair, and direction (e.g. "Hindi > English")
(b) Translations done OUTSIDE AUSTRALIA:
• Done by a competent person who is fluent in both languages
• MUST include in English:
— Full name of translator
— Full address of translator (street, city, country)
— Qualifications / experience as a translator
— Signature of translator
— A certification statement in English (template in §3)
• NAATI accreditation NOT required for overseas translators — but is preferred where available
§2 — NAATI CREDENTIALS — WHAT TO LOOK FOR
NAATI offers tiered credentials. For DHA acceptance you need at least:
• Certified Translator (CT) — the standard for visa work
• Certified Provisional Translator — acceptable if no CT available in the language pair
• Recognised Practising Translator — acceptable for languages where no NAATI testing exists (often rare Indian dialects)
DO NOT accept translations from:
• "NAATI accredited" claims without a credential number
• "Approved by NAATI" stamps that don't show a number
• Translators whose credential has lapsed (3-year recertification cycle since 2018)
Verify the translator on the NAATI register: https://www.naati.com.au/online/PractitionerSearch
§3 — CERTIFICATION STATEMENT TEMPLATE (for overseas translators)
Required in English at the foot of every translation:
"I, [TRANSLATOR FULL NAME], of [FULL ADDRESS], hereby certify that I am fluent in [SOURCE LANGUAGE] and English, and that the foregoing is a true and accurate translation of the attached original [DOCUMENT TYPE]. My qualifications as a translator are: [DEGREE / CERTIFICATION / YEARS OF EXPERIENCE]. Signed at [CITY, COUNTRY] on [DATE]. Signature: ___________"
The translator stamps every page. The translation must be physically attached or clearly cross-referenced to the original.
§4 — INDIAN-CONTEXT GUIDANCE FOR [SOURCE_LANGUAGE]
▸ Hindi → English:
• NAATI Certified Translators readily available in Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh, Bengaluru
• Local Indian translators are accepted under §1(b); choose someone with a verifiable diploma in translation or 10+ years experience
• Some Indian translators advertise as "NAATI-approved" but operate from India — verify the credential number is current
▸ Punjabi → English:
• NAATI CT credential exists; rarer outside Australia
• For Mohali / Chandigarh / Jalandhar / Ludhiana clients: a local sworn translator with diploma works under §1(b)
• If document is in Gurmukhi script, ensure translator handles Gurmukhi specifically (not just spoken Punjabi)
▸ Gujarati / Tamil / Bengali / Marathi / Telugu / Kannada / Malayalam → English:
• NAATI credentials less common; rely on §1(b) overseas pathway
• State-government empanelled translators (notarial register) are reliable
▸ Mixed Hindi-English documents (school transcripts, government certificates):
• Submit original
• If the English column is complete and self-contained, translation of the Hindi column may be waived — but include it anyway for safety on partner/PR applications
• Translator's certification should explicitly state "the document was originally bilingual; translation supplied for the Hindi text"
§5 — SPECIFIC DOCUMENT GUIDANCE FOR [DOCUMENT_TYPE]
For each document the client is submitting:
□ Birth certificate
— Indian birth certificates issued post-1989 (Registration of Births and Deaths Act 1969) are typically bilingual in metro states
— If issued pre-1989 or in rural districts: usually Hindi/regional only — translation required
— If hospital slip only: not acceptable as a birth certificate — supplement with Form 1023 statutory declaration
□ Marriage certificate
— Hindu Marriage Act 1955 certificates: usually in Hindi or regional language with English summary; full translation required
— Special Marriage Act 1954 certificates: typically bilingual; check both columns
— Religious-only marriage certificates (e.g. Nikahnama from Indian qazis): not standalone acceptable; must be supplemented with civil registration
□ Educational transcripts
— University of Delhi / Mumbai / Punjab: usually in English
— State-board 10th/12th (CBSE / ICSE): in English
— State-board regional (Punjab School Education Board, Maharashtra State Board): often in Hindi/regional; translation required
— Engineering / medical degrees: typically in English; degree certificate sometimes Latin/Sanskrit motto — translation not required for the motto
□ Police Clearance Certificate (PSK-issued)
— Bilingual format (English + Hindi); no separate translation required if both columns complete
□ Death certificates (rarely needed except for partner subclass with widowed sponsor)
— Same rules as birth certificates
§6 — TIMING + COST ESTIMATE FOR [TIMELINE_DAYS] DAYS
If [TIMELINE_DAYS] ≥ 14:
• Comfortable window for both in-Australia NAATI and Indian translator routes
• Indian translator turnaround: 3-5 business days typical
• Australian NAATI CT turnaround: 5-7 business days
• Cost (rough): India ₹500-₹1,500 per page; Australia A$80-A$150 per page
If [TIMELINE_DAYS] < 7:
• Use a NAATI translator in Australia with rush turnaround (24-48h, premium)
• OR engage an Indian translator who can email a scanned certified translation — original posted later
• DHA accepts colour scans uploaded to ImmiAccount; physical original retained on file by translator
§7 — UPLOAD CONVENTION
For each translated document:
• Combine original + translation as a single PDF in this order: original first, translation second
• File naming: [Applicant_surname]_[Document_type]_translated.pdf
• If multi-page: combined into one PDF, not separate uploads
• Sworn translator stamp / NAATI stamp must be visible in colour
§8 — RED-FLAG LIST FOR THE CONSULTANT
□ Translator on the NAATI register? (verify credential number)
□ Certification statement contains all 5 mandatory elements (name, address, qualifications, signature, certification language)?
□ Translation date BEFORE document expiry / event (you can't translate a future-dated PCC)?
□ Names exactly match the original (no "corrections" by the translator)?
□ Source-language stamps and seals also translated (court seal, registrar's stamp)?
□ For partner subclass: translator did not omit any clauses (sometimes religious clauses get summarised — DHA wants verbatim)?
End with: "DRAFT — for MARA-registered migration agent review. Verify against current Home Affairs guidance before submission."Unlock the vault to see the full prompt