NAATI certified police clearance certificate translation
Police clearance certificates are time sensitive. Australian visa applications generally expect a certificate issued within the last twelve months, so the translation should be ordered as soon as the certificate is issued rather than months later.
In short
Applicants are generally asked to provide a police certificate from each country where they have lived for twelve months or more in the last ten years, since turning sixteen. Certificates not in English must be lodged with an English translation; a NAATI certified translation is the format Australian authorities recognise most readily.
When this document is required
- Character requirements for permanent and provisional visas
- Partner, parent and family visa applications
- Skilled migration and employer sponsored applications
- Working with children and professional registration checks in Australia
- Australian citizenship applications
Which original to send
- The police certificate as issued, including any QR code, verification reference or security features
- Any covering letter from the issuing authority that explains the scope of the check
- Passport photo page for consistent name spelling
Checklist before you send scans
- Check the issue date and confirm it will still be within validity when you lodge
- Scan the full page — do not crop the verification code or the issuing officer's block
- Provide the passport spelling of the name exactly as it appears in the travel document
- Note any aliases or former names that appear on the certificate
- Keep the digitally signed original file; do not print and re-scan it
Common reasons a translation is questioned
- Ordering the translation long after issue, so the certificate expires before lodgement
- Losing the verification QR code through cropping or compression
- Not disclosing former names, causing an inconsistency with other documents
- Assuming one country's certificate covers residence in another
Frequently asked questions
How long is a police certificate valid for an Australian visa?
Certificates are generally treated as valid for twelve months from issue, but the deciding officer may ask for a newer one. Check the current guidance on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before lodging.
Do I need a certificate from every country I have visited?
Short visits do not usually trigger the requirement. It generally applies to countries where you have lived for a cumulative twelve months or more in the last ten years since turning sixteen.
The certificate says 'no record found'. Is a translation still needed?
Yes. The whole document, including the finding, letterhead and signature block, must be rendered in English.
Can the translation be delivered digitally?
Yes. We deliver a digitally signed certified PDF by email, and can courier a printed copy with a physical stamp when a body insists on hard copy.
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.