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Translation of foreign documents
All supporting documents that are not in English must be accompanied by an official translation by one of the approved translators below. This includes documents such as foreign birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates, name change certificates and court orders. Please note that both the original foreign language documents AND the original translations must be submitted with your application.
Translations performed in the United States
Translations in the United States must be performed by a translator who is a current Active Member of the American Translators Association (ATA). Go to www.atanet.org to find an Active Member. Please note that we cannot accept translations from companies who have Corporate or Institutional membership of the ATA, unless the individual translator who performed the translation is also an Active Member of the ATA. No other types of ATA membership are acceptable – only Active Members of the ATA.
The membership details of the translator should be clearly specified in the translation paperwork. Your original translation will be certified by the passport office so that you can use the same translation for future applications.
Translations performed in Australia
Translations in Australia must be performed by a translator who is accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters Ltd (NAATI). Only NAATI-accredited translations will be accepted. See www.naati.com.au for further information.
Translations performed in other countries
Translations performed in countries other than Australia or the United States must be done by a translator who is approved by the Australian embassy/consulate in the country where the translation is performed. For example, a translation performed in Mexico must be done by a translator who is approved by the Australian Embassy in Mexico City. Please contact the Australian embassy or consulate in that country directly for a list of their approved translators.
Once the translation has been performed by an approved translator, the original translation must be certified by the Australian embassy or consulate in the country where the translation was performed. For example, if your translation was performed in Chile, the original translation must be certified by the Australian Embassy in Chile.
If you do not have a translation certified by the Australian embassy or consulate in the country where the translation was prepared, you must obtain a new translation from an approved translator in the United States (an Active Member of the ATA). Your new translation will be certified by the passport office so that you can use the same translation for future applications.
N.B. Only translations that meet the above requirements can be accepted as part of your passport application. This is the case even if non-approved translations were accepted for applications you lodged in the past.