Question 1

Does the Department of Home Affairs accept NAATI translations done in Thailand?

Accepted Answer

Yes. What matters is the translator's current NAATI certification and practitioner number, not the country the work is produced in. The stamp, signature, direction (Thai into English) and expiry must be legible on every page.

Question 2

How do I verify the translator is genuinely certified?

Accepted Answer

Search the practitioner number in the NAATI online directory. It shows the language pair, direction and certification expiry. We print the number on the certification page so a case officer can check it in seconds.

Question 3

Can you translate from a scan, or do you need the original document?

Accepted Answer

A clear 300 dpi colour scan or phone photo of the full page is enough for the translation itself. Some authorities separately ask to sight the original or a certified copy — that is a document-verification step, not a translation step.

Question 4

What is a realistic turnaround?

Accepted Answer

Standard civil documents are usually 1–3 business days; transcripts, contracts and court papers 3–5. A same-day or 24-hour priority lane is available at a surcharge, subject to translator availability.

Question 5

Is a NAATI translation enough, or do I also need an apostille?

Accepted Answer

For documents lodged with Australian or New Zealand authorities, a NAATI certified translation is normally sufficient on its own. An apostille or consular legalisation applies to the underlying Thai document when a non-Australian authority is the ultimate recipient.

Question 6

Do New Zealand (INZ) applications accept NAATI?

Accepted Answer

Immigration New Zealand accepts translations from reputable, qualified translators, and NAATI-certified work meets that description in practice. INZ also accepts other recognised providers, so check your specific instruction letter.

Question 7

How are Thai Buddhist-era (B.E.) dates handled?

Accepted Answer

We convert B.E. to C.E. in the body of the translation and add a translator's note explaining the conversion, so a case officer never has to do the arithmetic or query the date.

Question 8

What about name spellings that differ across my documents?

Accepted Answer

We follow the spelling on your passport as the primary form and add a translator's note recording variants seen on the source documents. That single note prevents most identity-mismatch queries.

Question 9

Are digital PDF deliveries accepted for online lodgement?

Accepted Answer

For ImmiAccount and most online portals, a scanned or digitally signed certified translation is uploaded as a PDF. We supply the PDF first and post hard copies afterwards if your pathway requires paper.

Question 10

How long does a certified translation stay usable?

Accepted Answer

The translation itself does not expire, but the source document may. Static records (birth, degree) are usually reusable; status documents such as house registration, bank statements and police clearances are normally re-issued and re-translated within 3–6 months of lodgement.

Question 11

How is my personal data handled?

Accepted Answer

Files are stored encrypted, access is limited to the assigned translator and reviewer, and documents are deleted after the retention period unless you ask us to keep them. NDAs are available for corporate matters.

Question 12

What happens if a translation is queried or rejected?

Accepted Answer

Send us the officer's comment. If the issue stems from our translation or certification page, we correct and re-issue at no charge. Approval of the underlying application always remains the authority's decision.

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NAATI Certified Translation — Frequently Asked Questions