A partner visa application usually involves a lot of documents, and many couples have at least some that are not in English. The Department of Home Affairs is clear that these must be translated, and it sets rules about who can do the translation. This guide explains those rules and how to prepare your documents so they are easy to assess.
This is general information only, not migration advice. Always check the official Home Affairs page for your visa, or speak to a registered migration agent about your situation.
What Home Affairs requires
On the partner visa pages (subclasses 820/801 in Australia and 309/100 outside Australia), Home Affairs asks you to:
- have all documents not in English translated into English
- provide both the original document and the English translation in your application
Who can translate your documents
Translations done in Australia
Translators in Australia must be accredited by NAATI (the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters). A translation by a friend, family member or anyone without NAATI credentials, if done in Australia, does not meet this requirement.
Translations done outside Australia
Translators outside Australia do not have to be NAATI accredited. However, on each translation they must include, in English, their:
- full name
- address and telephone number
- qualifications and experience in the language they are translating
The rule depends on where the translation is made, not where you lodge. If you are unsure, using a NAATI certified translator is the simplest way to meet the requirement either way.
What to translate
Translate the whole document, not just the parts you think are important. A good translation covers everything on the page, including stamps, seals, handwritten notes and annotations on the back. Leaving parts out can raise questions during assessment.
Common documents that need translating
The documents you need depend on your circumstances, but Home Affairs lists items such as:
- Identity documents: a birth certificate showing both parents' names (or an accepted alternative), national identity card, and proof of any change of name
- Marriage certificate, if you are married, or evidence of a registered relationship if relevant
- Former relationships: divorce documents, death certificates or separation documents
- Police certificates from each country where you spent a total of 12 months or more in the last 10 years since turning 16
- Relationship evidence: joint leases or mortgages, joint bank statements, household bills, and correspondence addressed to you both
- Documents for dependent children, such as birth certificates and custody or consent documents
Use the partner document checklist and your visa page to confirm what applies to you.
You do not need to translate every message or photo in a large bundle of relationship evidence. Focus on documents that carry weight, and check with your migration agent if you are unsure which items to translate.
Tips for a smoother application
- Keep name spellings consistent. Names can be romanised in different ways. Give your translator the spelling used in your passport so it matches across every document.
- Upload the original and translation together. Home Affairs says multi-page documents should be saved as one file. Many applicants combine the original and its translation in a single PDF so the case officer sees both at once.
- Scan in colour. Home Affairs asks for clear colour scans or photos of all documents, English and non-English.
- Label clearly. Name each file so its contents are obvious, for example "Marriage certificate with English translation".
- Allow time. Police certificates and some overseas documents can take weeks to obtain, and you will need translation time on top of that.
Home Affairs also notes you do not need to have documents certified for these applications, so plain colour scans are fine.
Getting your translations done
Espoken can provide NAATI certified translations of marriage certificates, birth certificates, divorce documents, police certificates and other documents for partner visa applications. Each translation carries the translator's NAATI stamp, ready to upload alongside your original.
General information only, current at the time of writing. Always check the official source for your situation.