Answers written by the NAATI-certified translators and notarial attorneys who work with Thai documents for Australian and New Zealand submissions. Scope, price and timing are confirmed after the files and receiving authority requirements are reviewed.
What should I check before submitting a Thailand-made NAATI translation to DHA?
Answer: Check the current DHA instructions for the application and language direction. The practitioner’s certification status, number and required certification details should be verifiable before filing; the receiving authority makes the final assessment.
How do I verify the translator is genuinely certified?
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.
Can you translate from a scan, or do you need the original document?
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.
What is a realistic turnaround?
Answer: Timing depends on page count, legibility, subject matter, certification format and translator availability. We confirm an estimated delivery window after reviewing the files.
Is a NAATI translation enough, or do I also need an apostille?
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.
Do New Zealand (INZ) applications accept NAATI?
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.
How are Thai Buddhist-era (B.E.) dates handled?
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.
What about name spellings that differ across my documents?
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.
Are digital PDF deliveries accepted for online lodgement?
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.
How long does a certified translation stay usable?
Answer: There is no single validity period for every translation. Check the receiving authority’s rules for the source-document date, practitioner status and application type before reusing an older set.
How is my personal data handled?
Answer: Access to client files is limited to the assigned team. Applicable retention, deletion and confidentiality arrangements are confirmed for the engagement.
What happens if a translation is queried or rejected?
Answer: Send us the officer's comment. If the issue stems from our translation or certification page, the correction process follows the agreed engagement terms. Approval of the underlying application always remains the authority's decision.
Still unsure which document needs certifying?
Send a scan and we will confirm scope, price and lead time before any work starts.