A NAATI-certified translation is completed by a translator who holds a relevant credential from Australia’s National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters. It includes the translator’s declaration and certification details and is commonly used for Australian immigration, licensing, court, education and banking matters. Best Fanyi charges A$30–80 for common standard documents and normally delivers them within 24 business hours after payment.
What is a NAATI-certified translation?
A NAATI-certified translation is completed by a translator who holds current NAATI certification for the relevant language pair and direction. The final translation includes a translator’s declaration and the practitioner’s NAATI certification details.
NAATI is the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters. It is Australia’s national standards and certification authority for translators and interpreters. Certification applies to a specific practitioner, language combination and direction—for example, Chinese to English—not to a translation company as a general licence.
A complete NAATI-certified translation normally contains:
- The translated document: the source document is translated fully and presented in a clear format;
- A translator’s declaration: the translator takes responsibility for the translation and states their name and Certified Practitioner Number (CPN);
- A NAATI digital stamp: the stamp contains a QR code that can be used to check the practitioner’s certification.
Is a NAATI translation the former “Level 3 translation”?
Yes. “NAATI Level 3 translator” was the older name used before NAATI’s 2018 certification-system changes. Its current equivalent is Certified Translator.
Before 2018, NAATI credentials were described by levels, including Professional Translator (Level 3) and Paraprofessional Translator (Level 2). Many people therefore called a translation produced by a Level 3 translator a “Level 3 translation.” NAATI later moved to the current Certified credential system.
When an older checklist or adviser refers to a “NAATI Level 3 translation,” it generally means a translation completed by a practitioner holding the current equivalent Certified Translator credential. See our NAATI translation services for document-specific ordering information.
What does a NAATI translation include, and how can you verify it?
Use the official NAATI directory to search the CPN shown on the translation. Check that the practitioner, credential status, language pair and direction match the translation.
A verifiable PDF or paper NAATI translation normally has three identifying features:
1. Certified Practitioner Number
The CPN is printed with the translator’s declaration. It identifies an individual practitioner and can be checked publicly.
2. NAATI digital stamp
The digital stamp includes a QR code linked to NAATI verification details, including the practitioner and certification status.
3. Translator’s declaration
The translator declares responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of the translation and includes the relevant signing or issue details.
If no searchable CPN is supplied, or the credential and language direction do not match the document, ask the provider for clarification before submitting the translation.
When is a NAATI-certified translation needed?
A NAATI-certified translation is commonly requested when a non-English document is submitted to an Australian government body, court, educational institution, professional authority, bank or other organisation.
| Use | Receiving organisation | Common requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Visa, migration or citizenship | Department of Home Affairs | Certified English translation of non-English documents |
| Driver licence matters | State or territory road authority | Requirements differ by jurisdiction; follow the authority’s instructions |
| Court documents and affidavits | Australian courts | Certified translation; some matters require additional declarations or witnessing |
| Study and skills assessment | Universities and assessing authorities | Certified translations are commonly requested |
| Banking and lending | Banks and financial institutions | Certified translations are commonly accepted |
| Internal business or personal reference | — | Certification may not be required |
Check the receiving organisation’s current document list before ordering. This avoids delays where a particular translation format, paper copy or additional certification is required.
How do you order, and what do you need to provide?
For standard documents, the process is completed online: upload a clear image → confirm and pay → translation and checking → receive the digitally stamped PDF. Common documents are normally delivered within 24 business hours after payment.
What to provide
- A clear photograph or scan of the complete document
- Confirmed name spelling, preferably matching the passport
- The intended use, such as visa, licence, court or study
Ordering steps
- 1. Choose the relevant document service
- 2. Upload the document and complete payment
- 3. A suitably certified translator translates and checks it
- 4. Receive the PDF with the translator’s declaration and digital stamp
Delivery options
- PDF: suitable for many online submissions, including ImmiAccount
- Paper copy: standard Australian postage is included for many services; express delivery costs extra
How much does a NAATI translation cost?
Best Fanyi charges A$30–80 for many common standard documents, with normal delivery within 24 business hours after payment.
| Document | Fixed price | Normal turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Mainland Chinese or Taiwan driver licence | A$30 each | Within 24 business hours after payment |
| Mainland Chinese household register | A$30 per translated page | Within 24 business hours after payment |
| Mainland Chinese ID card, birth certificate or marriage certificate | A$50 each | Within 24 business hours after payment |
| Taiwan birth certificate or national ID card | A$50 each | Within 24 business hours after payment |
| Mainland Chinese police clearance | A$55 each | Within 24 business hours after payment |
| Taiwan discharge certificate | A$65 each | Within 24 business hours after payment |
| Australian birth or death certificate into Chinese | A$80 each | Normally within 24 hours |
| Marriage-certificate translation with court affidavit | A$155 per set | Confirmed with the order |
These prices include translation by a suitably NAATI-certified translator, the translator’s declaration, NAATI digital stamp and PDF delivery. Medical records, contracts, academic transcripts and other complex or multi-page documents are quoted after review. See the document translation price list.
What is the difference between a NAATI translation, notarisation and an Apostille?
They perform different functions: a NAATI-certified translation makes a document readable in another language, notarisation verifies documents, copies or signatures, and an Apostille authenticates an Australian public document for use in another Hague Convention country.
| NAATI-certified translation | Notarisation | Apostille | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Translates the document into the required language | A Notary Public verifies a document, copy, signature or act | DFAT authenticates an Australian public document for overseas use |
| Issued by | A translator with the relevant NAATI certification | An Australian Notary Public | Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade |
| Common use | Migration, licensing, education, courts and banking | Powers of attorney, declarations and certified copies | Australian documents submitted in another Hague Convention country |
| Interchangeable? | No. If a notarised translation is requested, translation and notarisation are separate steps. | ||
China joined the Apostille Convention in November 2023. An Australian document for use in China may therefore require notarisation followed by a DFAT Apostille, depending on the receiving organisation’s instructions. A translation does not replace those steps.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a NAATI-certified translation cost?
Common standard documents cost A$30–80: driver licences A$30, identity cards, birth certificates and marriage certificates A$50, police clearances A$55, Taiwan discharge certificates A$65, and Australian certificates translated into Chinese A$80. The price includes translation by a suitably NAATI-certified translator, a translator’s declaration, a NAATI digital stamp and PDF delivery. Complex or non-standard documents are quoted after review. See our document translation price list.
How long does a NAATI translation take?
Common standard documents are normally delivered as a PDF within 24 business hours after payment. Urgent service may be available for some documents when confirmed before payment. Paper-delivery time is additional; standard Australian postage is included for many services, while express delivery costs extra. Complex documents such as medical records, contracts and academic transcripts are scheduled when quoted.
Does a NAATI-certified translation expire?
There is no standard expiry date for a translation completed while the translator held the relevant NAATI certification. However, a receiving organisation may require the source document or translation to have been issued recently, often within 3–12 months. Follow the organisation’s current instructions and arrange a new translation if required.
Can I use a NAATI-stamped PDF or print it myself?
Yes. A PDF bearing a NAATI digital stamp can be uploaded to systems such as ImmiAccount, and a clear self-printed copy is accepted in many situations because the QR code can be checked. If the receiving organisation specifically requests an original paper translation or physical stamp, choose paper delivery when ordering.
How can I verify a NAATI translator’s certification?
Open the official NAATI directory at directory.naati.com.au and enter the CPN shown on the translation. Confirm that the practitioner’s name, credential status, language pair and direction match the document. Do not use a translation if the credential cannot be found or does not cover the required direction.
Can Best Fanyi arrange languages other than Chinese and English?
Yes. Chinese–English translation is our main service, and we can also arrange suitably certified practitioners for other languages, including Japanese, Korean and Malay documents. Price and turnaround are confirmed after the document and language direction are reviewed.
Related services and guides
- Where to order a NAATI translation and how to verify it →
- Do NAATI translations expire? →
- How much does a NAATI translation cost in Australia? →
- Document translation prices and turnaround →
- NAATI translation services for common documents →
- Chinese driver licence translation →
- NAATI translation FAQs →
- Contact us for a custom quote →
Last updated: 20 August 2026 ｜ Reviewed by the Best Fanyi NAATI-certified translator team