If you are coming to live and work in Australia, you will be asked for your, and your family’s, birth certificates, to prove your identity and age. If they are not in English, you will need to get certified English translations of the birth certificates provided by a qualified NAATI translator. The agencies in Australia that require you to do this include:

• Australian Universities.
• Department of Immigration & Border Protection (DIBP).
• an Australian passport application.

When you are looking for a translator to undertake your translation of your birth certificate you will need to find one who has NAATI certification as this proves their proficiency in translation.  Also, government agencies in Australia require that only NAATI-certified translators can provide translations of legal documents like birth certificates.

NAATI means National Accreditation Authority for Translators & Interpreters. It is the body that is responsible for certifying translators and interpreters within Australia and helps to ensure everybody shares common standards. It is the organization that is authorized by all states in Australia to provide credentials for interpreters and translators who wish to offer a professional language translation service within Australia. They issue credentials to practitioners of common languages. English is the only language in Australia that is the official language so birth certificates in other languages will be translated into English if they are for official use in Australia.

When a translated birth certificate is required

There are several situations in which a translated birth certificate may be required.

• One of these situations is immigration into Australia. The DIBP needs to be sure you are who you say you are and one way of doing this is providing a certified translation of a birth certificate translated by a NAATI-certified translator who has certified the translation as well.
• A second situation is when you have arrived to live in Australia, and you need to get a driver’s license. The state Department of Transport will require several forms of ID before issuing you with a driver’s license and one of those is a certified translation of your birth certificate.
• If you intend to send your children to school when you arrive in Australia you will need to provide certified translations of their birth certificates so that the school not only knows the names of your children but also their dates of birth so they get put in the right class to suit their age groups. .
• When you get married you will be issued with a marriage certificate. Still, the registry of births, deaths, and marriages in the Australian state or territory you got married in may ask you for a certified translation of your birth certificate.

Other situations when a translated birth certificate may be required are:

• Submitting an application for a college or university place.
• Filing for a divorce.
• Registering with a sports club when you are not old enough for a driver’s license.
• Applying for an Australian passport.
• Applying for a state pension.
• Applying for a seniors’ card.
• Applying for a bank loan.
• A certified translation of a birth certificate is a requirement when involved in any migration matters including any type of visa.

General points about translating a birth certificate

• The typical price for a certified translated birth certificate into English by a NAATI-certified translator is approximately Aus$69.00.
• Digital delivery takes approximately 3 business days. Hard copies are generally available at an extra cost.
• Some translation services may offer a 24-hour turnaround at an additional cost.

When it comes to NAATI birth certificate translation services, you can typically find translations available in the 64 languages for which NAATI offers translator credentials. However, for the less commonly spoken languages, NAATI may not provide accreditation or certified translation services.

Ordering a certified translated birth certificate

Most translation services have an inquiry form on their websites. Complete this form and you should get a reply within just a few minutes which will include the cost of the translation and the method of payment. You will then be asked to send a scan of your birth certificate. As soon as this has been received a qualified translator who has been NAATI certified will perform the translation from the language on the birth certificate into English.

When this has been completed, the translation of the birth certificate will be sent to you by email for you to review and approve. Once you have signaled your approval you will be emailed a NAATI-certified translation which should include the translator’s signature and NAATI stamp and certifying statement included at the bottom of the translated birth certificate. For the cost of the postage through Australia Post most translation services will provide a hard copy of the translation with the certification included.

Choosing the right translator for your birth certificate translation

It is especially important to select an excellent translator to perform your birth certificate translation. Bad translations can cause delays in processing applications whether it is for immigration purposes, job applications, or university places. Delays can mean lost opportunities for you and your family. To ensure your translated birth certificate fits Australian requirements it must include the following:

• your full name;
• birth dates for you and your mother and father;
• birthplace for you and your mother and father;
• the seal of the birth certificate issuing authority.

One key thing to remember is that getting your birth certificate translated by a NAATI-accredited translator is an investment as it can be used as a form of identity when several forms are requested to confirm your identity. Once you have that certified translation you can make copies of it which can be signed as valid by a Justice of the Peace who are available throughout the outback and towns and cities throughout Australia. Once you have taken the plunge and completed that birth translation, keep it in a safe place when you need it. You will not regret doing this as you cannot use a birth certificate in any language except English in Australia, even in an emergency.