NAATI Translation vs Embassy Legalisation: Which One Does Your Document Need?
Applicants often buy the wrong service because both routes are described as 'certified'. They are not interchangeable: one is a translator credential recognised in Australia, the other is a chain of government stamps used almost everywhere else.
In short
Use a NAATI-certified translator for anything filed with an Australian (and most New Zealand) authority: one step, translator stamp and CPN number, 5-7 working days. Use MFA legalisation plus the destination embassy for documents filed in other countries: translation, then the Department of Consular Affairs, then the embassy, typically 7-21 working days.
Side-by-side comparison
| Criterion | NAATI certified translation | MFA + embassy legalisation |
|---|---|---|
| Who accepts it | Department of Home Affairs, Australian universities, skills assessors | Most other governments, employers and courts worldwide |
| Who certifies | A translator credentialed by NAATI, stamping with their CPN number | Department of Consular Affairs, then the destination embassy |
| Number of steps | One | Three: translate, legalise at MFA, stamp at the embassy |
| Typical turnaround | 5-7 working days | 7-21 working days depending on the embassy |
| Government fee | None (translator fee only, 1,300-2,500 THB per document) | 200 THB per document at MFA, 400 THB express, plus embassy fees |
| Original document needed | A clear scan is normally enough | Original or a certified copy is mandatory |
| Accepted for Australian visas | Yes, filed directly | Not required and often unnecessary |
| Accepted in Europe or the Middle East | Rarely on its own | Yes, this is the standard route |
Choose NAATI certified translation when
- Any Australian visa subclass: student, partner, skilled, visitor or work
- University admission or credential assessment in Australia or New Zealand
- Skills assessment with Engineers Australia, ACS, VETASSESS or AHPRA
- Converting a Thai driving licence for use in an Australian state
Choose MFA + embassy legalisation when
- Documents filed in Europe, the Middle East, Japan, Korea, China or the Americas
- Marriage, adoption or inheritance files handled by a foreign registry
- Company documents used to open a branch or bank account abroad
- Anything where the receiving office asks for 'legalised' or 'authenticated' papers
Frequently asked questions
- Can one translation satisfy both routes?
- No. A NAATI translation carries a translator credential, while legalisation requires a translation the Department of Consular Affairs will accept and then stamp. Send us the receiving authority's instructions and we will prepare the correct version first time.
- Does NAATI certify translation agencies?
- NAATI credentials individual translators, not companies. Your file is prepared by a NAATI-certified translator whose stamp shows their name and CPN number.
- What changes when Apostille starts in Thailand?
- Thailand's accession takes effect on 28 February 2027. From that date, documents going to other Hague Convention countries need a single apostille instead of the embassy step, but the MFA stage remains.
- How do I start?
- Send clear scans by LINE @NAATI or email and state the country and authority receiving the document. You will get a written quote and timeline before any work begins.
Not sure which route your document needs?
Send scans and the receiving authority's checklist on LINE @NYC168 or by email, and our team will confirm the correct route and a written quote before any work starts.