Q1027. Do Thai employment reference letters need to be translated by a NAATI translator for work visas?

Answered by NAATI Certified Practitioner · NYC Visa & Translation

Thai-language employment reference letters submitted for an Australian work visa need English translations, but NAATI certification is not automatically compulsory for translations prepared outside Australia. Check the Department of Home Affairs instructions for your visa and, if relevant, the separate requirements of your skills assessing authority. A useful translation must accurately retain the employer’s details, signatory’s position, employment dates, job title, hours, pay and duties where these appear in the original. Supply all pages and any attachments referenced in the letter. Do not ask the translator to add missing duties or reshape the role to fit an occupation classification; obtain a corrected or supplementary letter from the employer instead.