Subclass 500, 590
NAATI certified translations for Australian student visas (500) and guardian visas (590)
Student files are assessed by two audiences: the education provider that issues the offer and the department that decides the visa. Both read the same academic records, and a mismatch between the name on the transcript and the name on the passport can delay enrolment as well as the visa.
Short answer
Academic documents, financial evidence and guardianship records that are not in English must be lodged with an English translation. Universities and colleges typically want a certified translation attached to the certified copy of the original, and the department applies the NAATI standard to translations produced inside Australia.
Who this applies to
- Applicants for subclass 500 across all sectors, including ELICOS and higher education
- Parents or nominated relatives applying for a subclass 590 guardian visa
- Students transferring providers who must resubmit academic records
- Applicants including school-aged dependants
Documents that usually need translating
| Group | Typical documents | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Academic records | Degree certificate, academic transcript, school completion certificate, grading scale explanation | Include the reverse side where the grading system and stamps appear. |
| Identity and civil status | Birth certificate, household registration, name-change certificate, marriage certificate | Required where a dependant is included or the name differs across records. |
| Financial capacity | Bank statements, income and tax documents, sponsorship letters, employment letters | Full statements, not screenshots or partial pages. |
| Guardianship (subclass 590) | Birth certificate of the student, custody documents, consent from the non-accompanying parent | Court or notarial documents should be translated in full. |
How the work runs
- 1
List the documents the case officer will actually read
Start from the document checklist published for student and student guardian 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 the degree certificate but not the transcript, when the provider asks for both.
- Rendering the institution or qualification name differently from the English name the institution itself publishes.
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 student 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.
Does the university need a different format from the department?
Sometimes. Many providers ask for a certified copy of the original alongside the certified translation, while online visa lodgement generally accepts scanned PDFs. Tell us both destinations and we prepare the file so it satisfies each one.
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).