Partner Visa Document Prep: NAATI Translations, Name Matching and Police Certificates (2026)
Yes — every non-English document in a partner visa application needs an English translation, and what the translator must show depends on where you are when you apply: if you are in Australia you include the translator's NAATI practitioner number, and if you are outside Australia you include the translator's full name, address, phone number and their qualifications in the language they are translating. Names must be spelt exactly as in the passport you are applying with, and every name you have been known by should be listed. Police certificates should be obtained before you apply, and the Department accepts certificates issued in the 12 months before the application. This reflects the Australian Department of Home Affairs' official "Check twice, submit once" page, as at October 2026.
Where the in-Australia / outside-Australia translation rule actually bites
The rule is not written per visa subclass. It is written by location at the time of application.
If you are applying from inside Australia
Include the translator's National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) practitioner number with the translation. The Department points applicants to NAATI as the accreditation body.
If you are applying from outside Australia
Include the translator's full name, address, phone number, and their qualifications in the language they are translating. There is no NAATI number requirement stated for this case.
This matters most for partner visa applicants because couples commonly lodge onshore (subclass 820/801) or offshore (subclass 309/100), and the two streams sit on opposite sides of that line. Assume the distinction follows where you physically are when you lodge, not where the relationship began.
Which documents usually trigger the translation rule
Think in terms of "anything not already in English". In a partner visa context that typically means:
- marriage or relationship registration certificates, divorce or death certificates from a previous marriage
- household registration, family record or civil status documents used as relationship evidence
- identity documents, birth records and name-change records
- police certificates issued in a language other than English
- non-English statements, tenancy records, correspondence or other relationship evidence
The translation should cover the whole document, and the translator details belong with the translation itself so a case officer can verify them without coming back to you.
Does my name have to match my passport exactly?
Yes. Check the spelling against the passport you are using to apply, and watch for autocorrect when you fill in the online form.
The same section of guidance also says to list all names you have been known by. That covers:
- maiden names and names from a previous marriage
- anglicised or shortened versions you have used on other documents
- different romanisations of the same name across passports or IDs
- name changes recorded by deed poll, marriage or administrative correction
If a name appears in one document but not the passport, that is a discrepancy worth an explanation rather than a silent omission. Suppose an applicant's marriage certificate shows a maiden name that never appears in the passport: declaring it under "other names" is the mechanism the form provides, and leaving it out is what creates a mismatch later.
Police certificates: when to get them and the 12-month window
Get police certificates before you apply. The Department accepts certificates issued in the 12 months before the application, so a certificate that is older than that is outside the window it describes.
Practical sequencing, one step at a time:
- List every country you have lived in that will require a certificate.
- Check the issue date on each certificate you already hold.
- Apply for new ones for any country where the certificate is outside 12 months.
- Upload them with the application rather than waiting to be asked.
If a country will not issue a certificate within a reasonable time, the guidance is to say so and explain why, rather than leave the gap unexplained.
Health checks, biometrics and ImmiAccount
Most visa applications require a health examination, and the Department notes you may be able to complete it before you apply using the My Health Declarations service, reached through the "when to have health examinations" guidance.
Once you have lodged, check your ImmiAccount inbox regularly. When the Department asks for more information, respond quickly — waiting on information delays processing, and if you do not have what is asked, say so and explain why. Biometric data should be collected quickly once requested.
One timing point worth repeating: the Department suggests booking flights after the visa is granted, so lodge well ahead of when you want to travel.
If a child under 18 is included
The guidance for applicants under 18 is to submit a copy of their passport, their birth certificate, and each parent's passport. Where those documents are not in English, the same translation rules above apply to them.
How to check the document list yourself
The Department's instructions are simply:
- Go to the Department of Home Affairs website.
- Enter the visa subclass number in the search bar — for example, Partner (subclass 820).
- Open the page for that subclass.
- Click the "step by step" tab.
- Go to "gather your documents", click "show steps", and work through the "see how" options.
That is the authoritative list for the subclass you are lodging. This article is general information only and is not personalised advice; if your situation involves unusual documents, an unobtainable certificate, or conflicting records, rely on the official page and on advice from a registered professional rather than on a summary like this one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a NAATI-certified translation if I apply from overseas?
No NAATI number is required for that case. The requirement is the translator's full name, address, phone number, and qualifications in the language they are translating.
Is the translator's NAATI number required for onshore partner visa applications?
Yes. If you are in Australia, include the translator's NAATI practitioner number with the translation.
How recent does a police certificate need to be?
The Department accepts police certificates issued in the 12 months before you apply for your visa.
What if my name is spelt differently on my marriage certificate and my passport?
Spell your name as it appears in the passport you are using to apply, and list all names you have been known by so the difference is declared rather than hidden.
Should I wait for a case officer to ask for more documents?
No. The guidance is to submit everything at the time of application, then check ImmiAccount regularly and respond quickly to any further request.
Do health checks have to wait until after I lodge?
Not always. The Department notes you may be able to complete your health check before you apply through the My Health Declarations service.
When should I book flights?
After the visa is granted, according to the Department's guidance, and you should lodge well ahead of when you want to travel.