Certification
NAATI certifies only practitioners who meet its standards for language proficiency and translation or interpreting skill, at levels such as Certified Translator and Certified Advanced Translator.
NAATI certified translation services
Official translations for your Australian application
Are you looking for a certified translation company to help with an immigration, legal, academic or professional application? You are in the right place. When you submit documents in another language, most countries and embassies ask for official translations, and working out exactly what they need can be confusing.
AGATO has a team of highly qualified translators who know the specific requirements of different organisations and deliver precise, accurate translations. Our services include certified, NAATI certified, legal and professional translations with international acceptance.
What is a certified translation?
A certified translation converts a document from one language to another and comes with an official certification attesting to its accuracy. The certification usually includes the translator’s signature, a statement of their competence or qualification, and a seal or stamp. The exact details vary with the requirements of the receiving organisation.
NAATI, a general introduction
What NAATI is and why its certification matters
NAATI, the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters, is the national standards and certifying body for translators and interpreters in Australia. It tests translators and interpreters to maintain and promote high standards of translation and interpreting.
Professionalism
NAATI certified translations are highly regarded, and many Australian government agencies prefer or require NAATI certified translators and interpreters.
Ethical guidelines
NAATI certified practitioners follow a code of ethics that includes confidentiality, impartiality and professionalism.
Recognition
NAATI certification is the recognised standard across Australia and is respected by organisations beyond it that deal with Australian matters.
Areas where you need NAATI certified translators
When a NAATI certified translation is required
NAATI certified translation is needed in many official and professional contexts in Australia. Details vary by organisation, but official documents generally must be translated by a NAATI certified translator.
Immigration
To support visa and residency applications, immigration authorities ask for NAATI certified translations of birth and marriage certificates, passports and academic transcripts.
Education
International students applying to Australian institutions need their diplomas, transcripts and certificates translated into English and NAATI certified.
Government and employment
Agencies require NAATI certified translations of driving licences, tax records and identity documents, and employers ask for translated CVs, employment contracts and reference letters.
Legal proceedings
Court documents, contracts, affidavits and other legal papers presented to agencies, courts and legal advisers are translated precisely by NAATI certified translators.
Personal records
Divorce certificates, name change certificates, adoption records and similar documents need NAATI certified translation when used officially.
Health
Medical reports, prescriptions and certificates for treatment in Australia or health-related visa requirements.
The benefits of AGATO’s NAATI certified translation
- Peace of mind that trained, certified professionals handle your documents
- Legal contracts, government applications and immigration papers translated to NAATI’s strict standards of accuracy and quality
- Translations that are culturally sensitive as well as linguistically correct
- Faster paperwork with agencies and institutions across Australia
- Consistent terminology and style for clarity
- A recognised certification that improves the chance of acceptance
The certification
What a NAATI certified translation looks like
NAATI certification belongs to the translator, not to a company or a country. What makes a translation “NAATI certified” is that a translator holding a current NAATI credential in that language pair has produced it and endorsed it with their NAATI stamp. That is why a NAATI certified translation prepared in Dubai carries exactly the same standing in Australia as one prepared in Sydney.
The endorsement is what the receiving officer checks first. It identifies the translator, the credential they hold and the direction they are certified to translate in, and it ties that person to the document in front of them. A translation without it — however accurate — is simply a translation.
Checking a translator’s credential
NAATI publishes an online directory of certified practitioners, searchable by name or practitioner number. Most certified translators are listed, and the number on the stamp is what links the document to the listing. If an authority or your migration agent wants to confirm the credential, that is where they look, and we are happy to point them to it.
Applying from outside Australia
Australian authorities set their own rules for translations, and they change. The Department of Home Affairs, for example, has distinguished between applications made inside and outside Australia in what it accepts. A NAATI certified translation satisfies the stricter standard either way, which is why most applicants in the UAE choose it rather than risk a request for further information. Always check the current requirements for your specific visa or application before you submit.
What the NAATI endorsement shows
- The translator’s full name
- Their NAATI practitioner number
- The credential held, such as Certified Translator
- The language direction they are certified in
- A statement that the translation is accurate and complete
- The translator’s signature and the date
The endorsement appears on every page or is clearly linked to the whole document, so pages cannot be separated and reused.
Who asks for it
Australian organisations that commonly require NAATI translations
Requirements are set by each organisation, so confirm with the one you are applying to. These are the requests we see most often from clients in the UAE.
| Organisation | Typical purpose | Documents usually translated |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Home Affairs | Partner, skilled, student and visitor visas; citizenship | Birth and marriage certificates, police clearances, passports, name change records |
| Universities and TAFEs | Admission and credit for prior study | Degrees, diplomas, academic transcripts, course outlines |
| Skills assessing authorities | Skills assessment for skilled migration | Qualifications, employment references, payslips, contracts |
| Health practitioner and professional boards | Registration to practise in Australia | Qualifications, registration certificates, certificates of good standing |
| State and territory road authorities | Converting an overseas driving licence | Driving licences and driving history records |
| Courts, tribunals and lawyers | Family law, property and estate matters | Divorce decrees, custody orders, wills, contracts, affidavits |
Documents going to a UAE court or ministry instead need Ministry of Justice certified translation, which we also provide.
Documents
Documents we provide NAATI certified translations for
Certified documents are mostly used for official or legal purposes. We certify every kind of document; these are the most common.
Contracts and agreements
Contracts, agreements, affidavits and court documents, translated for legal accuracy and validity, with apostille assistance for international use.
Passports and immigration documents
Passports, birth and marriage certificates and related documents for visa and citizenship applications.
Business and financial documents
Business contracts, annual reports and financial statements for international expansion and foreign investment.
Academic records
Transcripts, diplomas and certificates that support study and careers in Australia.
Government documents
Tax records, permits, licences and citizenship applications for government agencies and public sector jobs.
Medical documents
Medical reports, prescriptions and certificates for treatment or health-related visas in Australia.
Wills and probate documents
Wills, probate and identity documents for international inheritance and beneficiaries.
Marketing and advertising
Marketing materials, product descriptions and advertisements that carry your brand message to a new audience.
How it works
Getting a NAATI certified translation from Dubai
You do not need to be in Australia, and you do not need to visit our office. Most applications are handled entirely online.
Send your documents
A clear scan or photo of every page, front and back, including stamps and handwritten notes.
Tell us the purpose
Which authority, which visa or application, and the spelling of every name as it appears in your passport.
Translation
A NAATI certified translator in your language pair translates the document in full, including seals and annotations.
Review and endorsement
The translation is checked against the original, then endorsed with the translator’s NAATI stamp.
Delivery
A certified PDF for online lodgement, with a hard copy by courier if your organisation asks for one.
Avoid the common reasons for a request for more information
- Send every page, including the back of cards and certificates
- Give us the passport spelling of every name, so the translation matches your application
- Include stamps, seals and handwritten annotations — they must be translated too
- Keep the original: authorities can ask to see it alongside the translation
Working with a migration agent?
Many of our NAATI clients apply through a registered migration agent or lawyer. We can deliver the translations directly to them, match their file naming, and translate a whole family’s documents together so names and dates stay consistent across every application.
Why AGATO
The UAE’s only NAATI certified translation company
Experienced NAATI certified translators
More than two decades in the industry, and translators who know the formalities of visas, passports, citizenship and divorce applications.
Linguistic expertise
Language professionals who understand cultural context and nuance, preserving the essence and intent of the original.
Annual translator review
Every year we review our NAATI certified translators’ performance, verify their certification status and support their professional development.
Quality control
Multiple rounds of review and proofreading, because a small mistake in an official document can have serious consequences.
Cultural sensitivity matters. Our translators understand the cultural norms behind the documents they translate, so your message is not only accurate but culturally appropriate for Australian readers.
FAQ
NAATI translation questions, answered
Are your translators NAATI certified?
Yes. The translators who provide our NAATI translation services are all certified by NAATI in their respective languages.
What is NAATI certification and what role does it play in translation?
NAATI, the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters, is the national standards and certifying body for translators and interpreters in Australia. Its certification sets high standards of language proficiency and ethical conduct, which is why NAATI certified translations are accepted for official and legal purposes in Australia.
What is the difference between a regular translation and a NAATI certified translation?
A NAATI certified translation is produced by a translator certified by NAATI, follows strict quality and ethical standards, and carries a certification statement, stamp and the translator’s details for official and legal use. A regular translation simply converts text from one language to another.
How would I know if I need a NAATI certified translation?
You need one if you are submitting documents to Australian authorities, government agencies, educational institutions, courts or immigration advisers. Requirements vary between organisations, so check what yours asks for, or tell us and we will advise.
Can I get NAATI certified translation in Dubai?
Yes. NAATI certification is associated with Australia, but you can get NAATI certified translations in Dubai for any documents going to Australian authorities, universities, courts or immigration processes. AGATO is the only NAATI certified translation company in the UAE.
Are your NAATI certified translations suitable for visa and immigration applications?
Yes. Our NAATI certified translations are suitable for Australian visa and immigration applications and widely accepted for them.
Which documents do NAATI certified translators handle?
Translations across legal, medical, business, education and immigration fields. The most common are birth, marriage and death certificates, passports, academic certificates and transcripts, driving licences, financial statements, legal contracts, insurance claims, wills and probate documents.
Is a NAATI certified translation done in Dubai accepted in Australia?
Yes. NAATI certification belongs to the translator, not to a location. A translation produced and endorsed by a translator holding a current NAATI credential carries the same standing wherever that translator is based, so you do not need to use a translator in Australia.
How can an authority check that the translator is NAATI certified?
The NAATI endorsement on the translation shows the translator’s name and NAATI practitioner number. NAATI publishes an online directory of certified practitioners, and most are listed there, so the credential can be confirmed from the number on the stamp.
Do stamps and handwritten notes on my document need translating?
Yes. A certified translation must be complete, so official stamps, seals, signatures and handwritten annotations are translated or described as well as the printed text. Leaving them out is a common reason an authority asks for the documents again.
In which languages do you offer NAATI certified translation?
We provide NAATI certified translation in more than 120 languages, most commonly Arabic, English and Spanish. Contact us to confirm availability for your language pair.
Do you offer urgent NAATI certified translations?
Yes, we offer urgent NAATI certified translations. Contact us by email, phone or WhatsApp with your deadline.
How long does a NAATI certified translation take?
Turnaround depends on the volume and complexity of the documents. It generally takes a few business days, and rush orders can be arranged when you need them sooner.
What are the rates for NAATI certified translation?
The price depends on the number and length of documents, the language pair, their complexity and the type of service required. Request a quote for an exact price.
Do you provide only digital copies of NAATI certified translations?
No. We provide digital copies and hard copies, depending on what the receiving organisation requires.
How do I order a NAATI certified translation?
Fill out the quotation form with your documents. You receive an initial estimate, and we then contact you to guide you through the process and make sure the translation is accurate and certified for your purpose.
Related
More certified translation services
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Legal translationMOJ certified translation for UAE courts and authorities.
Birth certificate translationCertified translations for residency and visas.
Marriage certificate translationFor partner visas and name changes.
Medical translationMedical reports, records and licensing documents.
Document translationBusiness, corporate and technical documents.