Subclass 820/801, 309/100, 300
NAATI certified translations for Australian partner visas (820/801, 309/100, 300)
Partner visa files are read more closely than almost any other category because the relationship itself must be evidenced. Identity documents, civil registration records and joint financial material are examined together, so gaps or inconsistencies between them draw attention quickly.
Short answer
Every document in a partner visa application that is not in English must be lodged with an English translation. Translations prepared inside Australia should be produced by a NAATI certified translator in that language direction; translations prepared overseas must show the translator's full name, address, contact details and qualifications. Translate whole documents — including reverse sides and annotations — rather than selected passages.
Who this applies to
- Onshore partner applicants (subclass 820 leading to 801)
- Offshore partner applicants (subclass 309 leading to 100)
- Prospective marriage applicants (subclass 300)
- Applicants including children under 18 in the same application
- Sponsors gathering supporting civil records issued outside Australia
Documents that usually need translating
| Group | Typical documents | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | Birth certificate, national identity card, household or family registration, name-change certificate | Names must match the passport spelling used on the application form. |
| Relationship status | Marriage certificate, divorce decree or judgment, death certificate of a former spouse | A previous marriage must be shown as properly ended before the current relationship is assessed. |
| Shared life evidence | Joint lease or property documents, joint bank statements, utility accounts, insurance policies | Translate full statements rather than a single highlighted line. |
| Character | Police clearance certificates from each country of residence | These usually have a limited validity window; check the issue date before ordering translation. |
| Children | Birth certificates, custody or guardianship orders, consent to travel documents | Court documents should be translated in full, including recitals and orders. |
How the work runs
- 1
List the documents the case officer will actually read
Start from the document checklist published for partner and prospective marriage 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.
- Translating only the marriage certificate while leaving supporting registration extracts untranslated.
- Using a police clearance issued outside the validity window the department accepts.
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 partner 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.
Do joint bank statements really need translating?
If they are in a language other than English and you are relying on them as relationship evidence, yes. Translate the complete statement pages you intend to submit so the figures, dates and account holders are all visible in English.
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
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Reviewed July 2026. General document-preparation information only, not immigration assistance. We are not a registered migration agent (OMARA).