Subclass 482, 186, 494
NAATI certified translations for Australian employer sponsored visas (482, 186, 494)
Employer sponsored applications sit on a nomination made by an Australian business, and the evidence must show that the nominated worker genuinely holds the skills claimed. Employment history documents carry most of the weight, and they are frequently the documents most in need of careful translation.
Short answer
Documents evidencing skills, employment history, qualifications and identity that are not in English must be lodged with an English translation. Reference letters should be translated in full, including letterhead, stamps and the signatory block, because the reviewer uses those elements to judge whether the letter is verifiable.
Who this applies to
- Nominated workers under subclass 482 in either stream
- Applicants for permanent residence through subclass 186
- Regional employer sponsored applicants under subclass 494
- Sponsoring employers assembling an overseas worker's evidence pack
Documents that usually need translating
| Group | Typical documents | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Employment history | Reference letters, contracts, service certificates, position descriptions, organisational charts | Duties, dates and hours must be visible; translate stamps and signatures too. |
| Qualifications and licences | Degree certificates, trade certificates, professional licences, safety or trade cards | Some occupations also require a mandatory licence in the state of employment. |
| Identity and family | Passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate, household registration | Accompanying family members need their own identity documents translated. |
| Character | Police clearance certificates from each country of residence | Check validity dates before ordering translation. |
How the work runs
- 1
List the documents the case officer will actually read
Start from the document checklist published for employer sponsored visas and mark every item that is not already in English. Only those items need a translation; sending extra material rarely helps and slows the file down.
- 2
Obtain clean, complete originals
Request freshly issued certified extracts where the registry offers them. Scan in colour at 300 dpi or better, both sides of every page, including pages that carry only a stamp or a signature.
- 3
Confirm name spellings against passports
Send the photo page of the passport for every person named in the documents. Passport spelling is the reference the translation follows so that names match the application form exactly.
- 4
Translation by a certified translator in that direction
NAATI certification is granted per language pair and direction, for example Thai to English. Work is assigned to a practitioner certified in the exact direction the document requires.
- 5
Independent check, then delivery in the required format
A second reviewer compares names, dates, document numbers and page order against the source. You then receive a digitally certified PDF for online lodgement, with a printed wet-stamped copy couriered if the receiving body asks for hard copy.
Why translations get questioned
- Name spelling differing from the passport — the single most common reason a translation is queried.
- Sending only the front page and omitting a reverse side that carries stamps, corrections or annotations.
- Translating an extract rather than the complete document, so the certification does not cover the whole page.
- Printing and re-scanning a digitally signed PDF, which destroys the signature validation the agency relies on.
- Lodging a translation without a copy of the source document; most bodies want both side by side.
- Assuming consular legalisation is always required — most Australian bodies ask only for a properly certified translation.
- Reference letters that omit contact details for verification, so the translated version is equally unverifiable.
- Translating a job title literally when the employer's own English materials use a different official title.
Frequently asked questions
Does the translation have to be NAATI certified?
For documents translated inside Australia, the Department of Home Affairs asks that translations be done by a NAATI accredited translator. For translations prepared outside Australia, the translator must state their full name, address, telephone number and details of their qualifications and experience in the language being translated. In practice, for employer sponsored visa applications, the NAATI certification format is the one Australian bodies recognise most readily.
Is a digitally certified PDF accepted for online lodgement?
NAATI certified translators may issue digitally certified translations carrying a digital stamp and signature, and online lodgement systems generally accept that PDF. Some registries, courts and embassies still want a printed copy with a physical stamp; tell us the receiving body and we issue the correct format.
Do I need to post my original documents?
No. A clear, complete scan is enough to produce the translation. Keep your originals — the receiving body may ask to sight them separately.
Do you work with clients outside Australia and Thailand?
Yes. The service is fully online worldwide, in every language pair where a certified practitioner exists. Send scans, receive the certified PDF by email, and request a printed copy to any address if one is needed.
Can you advise whether my application will succeed?
No. Decisions rest with the deciding authority, and immigration advice is the work of a registered migration agent (OMARA). We prepare and certify translations and explain document formatting requirements.
Can the sponsoring employer order the translation on my behalf?
Yes. Many employers send the document set directly. We still need passport spellings for every person named so the translated documents match the application forms.
Have your files checked first
Send your scans on LINE with the visa group and the receiving body. We confirm the language pair, stamp format and working-day turnaround in writing before any work starts.
Ask on LINE @NAATIRelated document guides
Other visa groups
Reviewed July 2026. General document-preparation information only, not immigration assistance. We are not a registered migration agent (OMARA).