If you have been asked for a "NAATI translation" or a "certified translation", you are not alone in wondering what that actually means. This guide explains what NAATI is, what a certified translation looks like, how to check a translator, and how it differs from getting a copy certified by a Justice of the Peace.
What is NAATI?
NAATI is the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters. It is the national standards and certification body for translators and interpreters in Australia, and the only organisation that issues these credentials here. NAATI is a not-for-profit company owned by Australian governments.
NAATI does not translate documents itself. It tests and certifies the people who do.
What does "certified" mean?
A NAATI certified translator has met NAATI's training requirements and passed its certification test for a specific language direction, for example Arabic into English. Certification must be renewed every three years, so a current credential shows the translator is still meeting NAATI's professional standards.
A NAATI certified translation is simply a translation produced by one of these translators and marked with their NAATI stamp.
What a certified translation contains
Every NAATI certified translator has a translator stamp, either physical or digital. Requirements vary between authorities, but NAATI's guidance shows a stamp typically includes:
- the translator's name
- their Certified Practitioner Number (CPN), a 9-character code starting with "CPN"
- the language pair and credential type
- a "valid to" date for the translator's credential
- on digital stamps, a QR code that can be scanned to verify the credential
The translation should also show the date it was completed. Some authorities have extra requirements. For example, NAATI's summary of DFAT requirements says stamp details must appear on every translated page.
Does a translation expire?
No. According to NAATI, a translation done while the translator held an active credential remains valid indefinitely. The "valid to" date on the stamp relates to the translator's credential, not to your document. Individual organisations can still set their own rules, so check if you are reusing an older translation.
How to verify a translator
You can check any translator in two ways:
- Enter their CPN in NAATI's Check a NAATI certification tool. It will show whether the credential is verified, verified but expired, or invalid.
- Scan the QR code on a digital stamp. NAATI says a digital stamp cannot be generated unless the credential was active on that date.
You can also search the NAATI Online Directory to find certified translators by language and location.
Where certified translations are required
NAATI notes that most government agencies in Australia require documents to be translated by someone with NAATI certification, where one is available for the language. Common examples include:
- Department of Home Affairs: translators in Australia must be NAATI accredited for visa and citizenship documents.
- Ahpra: for health practitioner registration, translations done in Australia must be by a NAATI accredited translator, and translations by relatives or friends are not accepted.
- DFAT: accepts translations from translators with NAATI certification issued under the current system.
Education providers, employers, courts and other organisations may have their own rules, so always check what the receiving organisation asks for. Some authorities also limit which providers they accept. For example, Service NSW lists specific translation providers for overseas driver licences.
Certified translation vs JP-certified or notarised copies
These are often confused, but they do different jobs:
- NAATI certified translation: a qualified translator confirms the English text accurately reflects the original document.
- JP-certified copy: a Justice of the Peace checks that a copy is a true copy of the original in front of them. A JP does not check whether a translation is accurate.
- Notarised document: a notary public witnesses or authenticates documents, often for use overseas. Notarisation is not a translation.
Sometimes you need more than one, for example a NAATI translation plus a certified copy of the original. Check the instructions from the organisation you are applying to.
Getting a certified translation
Espoken can provide NAATI certified translations of personal documents such as birth and marriage certificates, academic records, police certificates and medical documents. Each translation carries the translator's NAATI stamp, so the receiving authority can verify it.
General information only, current at the time of writing. Always check the official source for your situation.