NAATI certified Thai national ID card translation
The Thai national identification card is often requested alongside the passport, especially when the spelling of a name differs between documents or when an authority wants to confirm the national identification number and registered address.
In short
A document not written in English must be lodged with an English translation. Inside Australia the translation must come from a translator certified by NAATI for that language direction; outside Australia the translation must state the translator's full name, address, contact details and qualifications. Both the front and the reverse of the card are translated, because the reverse carries the issuing details and a machine-readable reference.
Key facts for this document
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Issuing authority | District registration office (Department of Provincial Administration) |
| Must the whole document be translated? | Both sides of the card, including issuing data on the reverse |
| Most common reason for rejection | Front-only scan; expired card used as current identity evidence |
| Typical translation turnaround | 1–2 business days |
Turnaround covers translation work in business days only; it excludes processing time at the issuing office or the receiving body. Confirm current requirements before lodging.
When this document is required
- Identity evidence attached to Australian visa applications
- Explaining a difference in name spelling between Thai documents and the passport
- Skills assessment and employment files that ask for photo identification
- Banking, tenancy or contract matters that require translated identity documents
Which original to send
- A current, unexpired card scanned on both sides
- The passport photo page, so the English spelling used on the translation is consistent
- If the card is lost or expired, obtain a replacement or ask the registrar for a civil registration record instead
Checklist before you send scans
- Scan in colour at 300 dpi or higher with all four edges visible and no glare
- Always include the reverse side — it carries issuing data the authority may check
- Confirm the 13-digit identification number, issue date and expiry date are legible
- Give us the passport spelling of the name before translation starts
Common reasons a translation is questioned
- Sending only the front, so the translation does not cover the whole document
- Phone photographs taken at an angle, which distort text and invite doubt about authenticity
- Relying on an expired card as primary identity evidence
- Name spelling on the translation that does not match the passport
Frequently asked questions
The card already shows my name in English — is a translation still needed?
Partly in English is not the same as in English. Address, issue date and issuing office remain in Thai, so receiving authorities normally ask for a full translation. Confirm the requirement with the body you are lodging with.
Can an expired card be translated?
It can be translated exactly as it appears, but the receiving authority may not accept an expired card as current identity evidence. Renew it first if it is being used to prove present identity.
Does the translation need consular legalisation as well?
For most Australian lodgements a certified translation is enough. If the receiving body asks for legalisation, get that requirement in writing before arranging it, and follow the Department of Consular Affairs' published procedure.
Other document guides
Reviewed July 2026. General information for document preparation only, not immigration assistance; we are not a registered migration agent (OMARA). Confirm current requirements with the receiving body — see immi.homeaffairs.gov.au and naati.com.au.