NAATI certified translation of a Thai name change certificate
Where a name differs between a birth certificate, an ID card and a passport, the change of name certificate is the document that links them. Without it, an authority sees two different people.
In short
Certificates of change of given name and of surname are issued by the district registrar. They are translated in full and lodged together with the documents that show the old and the new name, so the receiving authority can trace the change in a single chain.
Key facts for this document
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Issuing authority | District registrar (change of given name / surname) |
| Must the whole document be translated? | Every certificate in the chain of changes |
| Most common reason for rejection | A link in the name chain is missing |
| 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
- Reconciling names across visa, education and employment documents
- Marriage and divorce files where a surname changed
- Skills assessments where the qualification is in a former name
Which original to send
- The certificate of change of given name or of surname issued by the district registrar
- Documents showing the former name, so the chain is complete
- The passport photo page showing the current name
Checklist before you send scans
- Send every certificate where a name changed more than once
- Provide the passport spelling used for both the former and the current name
- Scan stamps, reference numbers and the registrar's signature clearly
- List for us every other document in the set that carries the old name
Common reasons a translation is questioned
- Explaining the change in a covering letter instead of lodging the certificate
- Leaving one link out of the chain where the name changed twice
- Different English spellings of the same Thai name across the set
Frequently asked questions
Do I need the certificate if only the English spelling changed?
If the Thai name is unchanged and only the romanisation differs, a translator's note plus the passport can often explain it. If the registered name itself changed, the certificate is required.
My qualification is in my former name — what do I do?
Lodge the translated name change certificate alongside the qualification so the assessing body can match the documents to one person.
Can the translation use my new name throughout?
No. A translation reproduces the source faithfully. The old name stays where the source shows it, and the change certificate supplies the link.
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.