Two requirements come up in almost every Australian visa application regardless of subclass: certified copies and translations of non-English documents. Get them wrong and your application can stall while the Department asks you to resubmit — a delay that's entirely avoidable. This guide explains when you need a certified copy, who's allowed to certify one, and when a document must be translated by a NAATI-certified translator.
Certified copy or original — which does the Department want?
For online applications lodged through ImmiAccount, you generally upload high-quality colour scans of your original documents — you don't post originals. Certified copies matter most when you're scanning a copy rather than the original itself, or when a specific document or a case officer's request calls for certification. When in doubt, scan the original in colour; if you can only scan a photocopy, have that copy certified first.
Who can certify a document in Australia
A certified copy is a photocopy that an authorised person has confirmed is a true copy of the original. In Australia, people authorised to certify include:
- A Justice of the Peace (JP)
- A legal practitioner or notary public
- A current, appropriately qualified pharmacist, medical practitioner, dentist, or accountant (as commonly accepted)
- A police officer or a postal manager at an Australia Post outlet offering the service
Overseas, the equivalent authorities include a notary public, a court official, or an Australian diplomatic or consular officer. Always confirm the currently accepted list for your document against the Department of Home Affairs guidance, as it varies by document and country.
How to certify a copy correctly
- The authorised person writes or stamps 'This is a true copy of the original' on the copy
- They sign and date it, and include their name, and their qualification or registration (for example 'Justice of the Peace, Reg No…')
- Every page is certified — not just the first page of a multi-page document
When you need a NAATI translation
Any document that isn't in English needs an accompanying English translation. The key rules that catch people out:
- Translations prepared in Australia must be done by a translator accredited by NAATI (the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters)
- Translations prepared outside Australia must include the translator's full name, address, qualifications, and evidence they're officially accredited in that country
- Submit the translation alongside the original-language document — never in place of it
- Translate the whole document, including stamps and seals, not just the main body of text
The single most common translation mistake is uploading only the English translation and leaving out the original-language document. The Department needs both, matched together — the original establishes authenticity, the translation makes it readable.
A VisaPacks checklist flags which of your documents typically need translation for your visa, and lets you upload the original and its translation against the same item so the pair stays together in your export.
Do I need certified copies or original documents for an online visa application?
For applications lodged online through ImmiAccount you generally upload high-quality colour scans of your originals rather than posting anything. Certification matters mainly when you're scanning a photocopy instead of the original, or when a document or case officer specifically requests a certified copy. Confirm the requirement for your specific document with the Department of Home Affairs.
Who can certify documents for an Australian visa?
In Australia, authorised certifiers commonly include a Justice of the Peace, a legal practitioner or notary public, and certain professionals such as pharmacists, medical practitioners, dentists and accountants, as well as some Australia Post outlets. Overseas, a notary public or Australian consular officer can certify. Always check the currently accepted list for your document.
Do I have to translate every non-English document?
Yes — any document not in English needs an accompanying English translation, submitted together with the original-language version, not instead of it. Translate the whole document, including stamps and seals.
Does the translation have to be NAATI certified?
If the translation is prepared in Australia, it must be done by a NAATI-accredited translator. If prepared overseas, it must show the translator's name, address, qualifications and evidence of official accreditation in that country.