NAATI
NAATI Translation vs Certified Translation: What Is the Difference?
Is a NAATI translation the same as a certified translation? Learn the difference, plus notarised and ordinary translations, and which one you need.
27 October 2026 5 min read
In Australia the two terms overlap. A "NAATI translation" is a certified translation done by a translator who holds a NAATI credential, and when an Australian organisation asks for a "certified translation", this is usually what it means. But "certified translation" is a broader term, used differently by different organisations and countries, so the safest approach is to read exactly what the organisation asks for.
What "certified translation" means in general
The term isn't defined in the same way everywhere. In its simplest form, a certified translation comes with a signed statement from the translator confirming that the translation is complete and accurate. What counts as acceptable certification, and who is allowed to give it, depends on the country and the organisation receiving the document.
What "NAATI translation" means
NAATI, the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters, certifies individual translators and interpreters. It doesn't translate documents itself. A NAATI translation is one completed by a translator who holds a NAATI credential and who marks the translation with their NAATI stamp, either a physical ink stamp or a digital stamp with a QR code. The stamp shows the translator's practitioner number, the type of credential and a date, so the organisation receiving the translation can check who is responsible for it. Our article on what a NAATI certified translation is explains the details.
How Home Affairs puts it
Home Affairs asks applicants to translate all non-English documents into English. The rule depends on where you are:
- In Australia, you need to include the translator's NAATI practitioner number.
- Outside Australia, you need to include the translator's full name, address, phone number and qualifications in the language they are translating.
So the word "NAATI" carries more weight for a translation done in Australia. Other organisations, such as universities, employers and courts, make their own rules, and they are the ones who decide.
Two NAATI credentials
The term "NAATI translation" also covers two different credentials. A Certified Translator has passed a NAATI test. A Recognised Practising Translator has met the prerequisites and has recent, regular experience, but hasn't been tested by NAATI. DFAT's staff guidance treats translations by either as acceptable for its purposes, but another organisation might ask for one in particular, so check.
Other types you may be asked for
Notarised translation. Legal Aid NSW describes a public notary's role as including verifying a person's identity and witnessing their signature. For a translation, notarisation therefore confirms who signed the translator's statement. It isn't an assessment of whether the translation is accurate, and by itself it doesn't tell the receiving organisation that the translator holds a NAATI credential. Some organisations, particularly overseas, ask for it as an extra step.
Affidavit translation. Some courts want the translator to swear to the translation. For example, the Family Court of Western Australia's guidance says a document that isn't in English must be translated, and that the document and the translation must be attached to an Affidavit of Translation sworn or affirmed by the translator before an authorised witness. That page was last updated in 2020, and other courts have their own rules, so ask the court for its current requirement.
Sworn translation. In some other countries, translators are officially appointed and "sworn" translations are the standard. It isn't the usual term in Australia, but you may see it in requests from overseas authorities.
Apostilled or legalised documents. If your original carries an apostille or a similar official stamp, ask the receiving organisation whether the stamp needs to be translated as well.
Ordinary translation
An ordinary translation is fine for personal understanding, such as reading a letter. It doesn't meet requirements that call for a certified translation. A machine translation tool can't produce a certified translation, because certification means a qualified person takes responsibility for the result.
Three hypothetical requests
- "Please provide a certified English translation" for a visa application you are lodging from Australia. Home Affairs asks for the translator's NAATI practitioner number, so a NAATI translation fits.
- "The translation must be attached to an affidavit" in a court matter. Ask the court for its form. The translator will need to swear or affirm before an authorised witness.
- "A notarised translation" requested by an authority overseas. Ask the authority whether it also wants a particular credential from the translator, because notarisation and certification are separate steps.
Next step
Read the instructions from the organisation that asked for your translation, and look for the exact words it uses. If you have questions about how ordering with CertifiedWords works, contact us. We can explain our process, but we aren't lawyers or migration agents, and the organisation receiving your translation decides what it accepts. When you are ready, you can check prices and order online.