What scan quality is required?
Colour, at least 300 dpi, all four page edges visible, no glare or cropped corners, and every side carrying a stamp, signature or endorsement — including the reverse of the page.
24 checks before you send documents for NAATI translation
Before sending documents to a translator, check five things: scan quality, completeness of the set, name spelling against your passport, the receiving body’s own requirements, and the translated file itself before you upload it. Checking in advance reduces requests for further documents and avoids waiting time. Content last reviewed: August 2026.
Your progress0/24 (0%)
1. Scan quality
2. Completeness of the set
3. Names and personal details
4. Receiving-body requirements
5. Before you upload
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to post the original hard-copy documents?
In most cases no. A clear, complete scan is enough to prepare the translation and issue the certification, unless the receiving body specifically requires sighting of originals.
Can I scan with a phone?
Yes, if the shot is square-on, evenly lit, shows all four edges and stays readable when zoomed. A document-scanning mode usually produces a straighter image with automatic edge cropping.
My birth certificate spells my name differently from my passport. What now?
Tell us before work starts. The translation must reflect what the original says, but a translator's note can record the discrepancy, and you should be ready to explain it in your application.
Should I send all documents at once?
Sending the full set together lets the team check names and dates for consistency across documents and usually produces a firmer delivery date.
I forgot a page. Can it still be added?
Tell us as soon as you notice. If translation has not started, it joins the same batch; if it has, it is handled as an additional item.
The authority asked for more documents after I submitted. What should I do?
Send us the exact wording of the request so we can identify which documents need translating and what form of certification is being asked for.
Continue reading
Once your set is checked, send it through and the team will run a second completeness check before work starts.
Official sources you can verify
The information on this page is based on the official sources below. Reviewed August 2026. Requirements change — always confirm with the receiving authority before lodging.
- NAATI — Find a Translator (naati.com.au)Official register for verifying the certification status of a translator or interpreter.
- Department of Home Affairs — documents and translationsDocument and translation requirements for Australian visa applications.
- Department of Consular Affairs, MFA ThailandRules and procedures for legalisation of documents in Thailand.
Document preparation questions
Reviewed August 2026. Requirements change — confirm with the receiving authority before lodging.
Why do you ask for my passport bio page?
So every name on the translation matches the identity document the receiving body already holds. Name mismatches are the most common cause of a document being sent back.
Photos from a phone or a flatbed scan?
A scan is safer. If you only have a phone, shoot flat under even light with the page filling the frame and no fingers or shadows over text.
Should I send every page of a multi-page document?
Yes, including blank sides that carry a page number or a stamp. Partial sets force a re-quote and can make a certified translation incomplete for the receiving body.
What should I tell you along with the files?
The body receiving the documents, the country and language direction, whether digital or wet-stamped copies are required, and the lodgement date you are working to.
What should I check before sending documents for translation?
That every page is present and legible including reverse sides, that names match your passport, that the record is inside any recency window, that you know the receiving body, and that you know your lodgement deadline. Those five checks prevent most rework.
How do I scan documents properly with a phone?
Flat surface, even light, no shadow across the page, all four edges inside the frame, and one page per image at full resolution. Avoid angled shots and avoid filters that alter contrast, because they can obscure a seal.
What should I check on the delivered translation before lodging?
Name spelling against your passport, dates and numbers, page count against the original, and that the certification page is attached and readable. Report anything wrong before lodging — corrections caused by our error are made at no charge.