Trades Recognition Australia (TRA)
NAATI certified translations for a Trades Recognition Australia assessment
TRA assesses trade occupations through pathways that combine documentary evidence with, in some programs, a practical assessment. Trade certificates, apprenticeship records and detailed employment evidence carry the file, and photographic or workplace evidence is often submitted alongside them.
Short answer
Trade certificates, apprenticeship or training records and employment evidence that are not in English must be lodged with an English translation and a copy of the original. Employment letters should state the tools, tasks and hours, because trade assessments focus on demonstrated practical work rather than job titles.
Who this applies to
- Applicants in construction, automotive, electrical and engineering trades
- Applicants under an offshore skills assessment program
- Tradespeople with apprenticeship records issued overseas
- Employer sponsored trade workers needing a skills assessment
Documents that usually need translating
| Group | Typical documents | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Trade qualifications | Trade certificate, vocational diploma, training records, competency statements | Training hours and units should be visible on the source. |
| Employment | Reference letters describing tasks, tools and equipment, contracts, service records | Task-level detail matters more than the job title. |
| Payment evidence | Payslips, tax records, salary bank credits | Used to corroborate the claimed employment periods. |
| Identity | Passport photo page, name-change certificate | Names must match across trade and employment records. |
How the work runs
- 1
Read the current TRA document rules before ordering
Each authority publishes its own translation and certification format, and those rules change. Open the current document checklist on the TRA site and tell us which format is required — digital PDF, printed wet stamp, or both.
- 2
Collect complete originals, both sides of every page
Scan in colour at 300 dpi or better with all four edges visible. Include reverse sides carrying grading scales, stamps, endorsements or signatures; a complete translation must render every stamp that appears on the source.
- 3
Confirm name spellings against the passport
Send the passport photo page for every person named. The translation follows passport spelling so the assessment file, the visa application and the qualification records all agree.
- 4
Translation by a translator certified in that direction
NAATI certification is granted per language pair and direction. Work is assigned to a practitioner certified in the exact direction your documents require, and the certification page states the practitioner's name and CPN.
- 5
Independent verification against the source
A second reviewer checks document numbers, dates, issuing institution names and page order against the original, then sends you a draft for review before the final certified file is issued.
- 6
Delivery in the format the authority accepts
A digitally certified PDF suits online portals; a printed copy with a physical stamp suits authorities that require mail submission. Tell us your lodgement date so the file is ready in time.
Why document sets get returned
- Name spelling that differs from the passport — the most common reason a document set is returned.
- Sending only the first page of a transcript and omitting the grading-scale page on the reverse.
- Translating an institution or qualification name differently from the official English name the institution itself publishes.
- Submitting the translation without a copy of the source document, when both are required side by side.
- Reusing an old translation after the source document was reissued or amended.
- Assuming consular legalisation is required, when most Australian authorities ask only for a properly certified translation.
Frequently asked questions
Does TRA require a NAATI certified translation?
Translations produced inside Australia are generally expected to come from a translator certified by NAATI in that language direction. Translations produced overseas are commonly accepted where they state the translator's full name, address, contact details and qualifications. TRA sets its own conditions, so check its current requirements page before ordering.
Do I submit the source document as well as the translation?
Almost always, yes. The assessor compares document numbers, stamps and signatures against the source, so a translation on its own is rarely sufficient.
Is a digitally stamped PDF accepted?
Most online portals accept a PDF carrying the translator's digital stamp and signature, which can be validated. If the authority asks for a printed copy by mail we issue a wet-stamped hard copy instead.
Does a translation expire?
The translation itself has no fixed expiry, but source documents such as freshly issued registry extracts or registration status letters often do. Check the validity of the source before lodging.
Do you serve clients outside Australia?
Yes — the service is online worldwide, in every language pair where a certified practitioner exists. Send scans, receive the certified file by email, and request a printed copy to any address.
Can you tell me whether my qualification will be assessed positively?
No. Assessment outcomes rest with the authority, and immigration advice is the work of a registered migration agent (OMARA). We prepare and certify translations and explain document formatting requirements.
Official sources
Have your files checked first
Send your scans on LINE with the assessing authority and your nominated occupation. We confirm the language pair, certification format and working-day turnaround in writing before any work starts.
Ask on LINE @NAATIRelated document guides
Related visa groups
Other assessing authorities
Reviewed July 2026. General document-preparation information only, not immigration assistance. We are not a registered migration agent (OMARA).