NAATI Translation and Document Attestation for Study in Australia

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An Australian study file needs two different things: certified copies of your documents, and an official English translation of anything written in Arabic. Universities accept certified copies from specific authorities and reject plain scans, and Australian government agencies expect translations from a NAATI-certified translator. Here is how the process fits together.

Certified copy, certified translation, attestation: what is the difference?

• A certified copy is a photocopy of your original document stamped and signed by an authorised person. UTS defines it as "a photocopy of your original document that has been officially stamped and signed by an authorised person" and states that simple scans or standard photocopies are not accepted, per UTS.
• A certified translation is an English rendering produced by a certified translator, carrying their stamp and signature. Most government agencies in Australia require documents to be translated by someone who holds NAATI certification, if a certified translator is available in the relevant language, per NAATI.
• Attestation (تصديق) is the stamp from a foreign ministry or cultural mission that gives your document legal standing outside the country that issued it.

They do not substitute for one another, and much of the delay in student files comes from preparing one and assuming it covers the rest.

Which documents need attestation or translation?

Body	What it asks for	Source
Australian university (UTS example)	Certified copies of transcripts and English test result, plus an official English translation with the original for any non-English document	UTS
Australian university (UQ example)	Certified copies of complete academic transcripts and testamurs for non-UQ study, passport or national ID, and evidence of English	UQ
Saudi Ministry of Education, Safeer system (سفير)	Valid passport copy, qualification certificate with an equivalency decision (قرار المعادلة) if earned outside Saudi Arabia, the official unconditional offer letter, and the academic transcript	Ministry of Education
Saudi Cultural Mission in Australia (الملحقية الثقافية)	Original degree certificate, completion letter, original academic transcript and the electronic attestation form	Saudi Cultural Mission

For the student visa, documents follow the Department of Home Affairs checklist; Study Australia points applicants to the "Gather your documents" section and notes that applicants must show at least AUD 29,710 in living costs, per Study Australia.

What is NAATI and why is it asked for?

NAATI is Australia’s National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters. It awards the Certified Translator credential after training and testing, and, in languages with no test available, the Recognised Practising Translator credential based on documented work experience, per NAATI. Every credential issued under the current system carries a three-year validity period and an expiry date, per NAATI.

What must appear on a certified translation?

A clear benchmark comes from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT): since 1 July 2018 DFAT accepts only translations completed by translators with NAATI certification, and the translator’s stamp must appear on every translated page showing the practitioner ID, the language and certification type, the translator’s name, the date of translation, and a signature — or "Digitally Authenticated by NAATI" on a digital stamp. The translation must also be accompanied by the original document or a copy of it signed or stamped by the translator, per NAATI.

Those rules are DFAT’s, but they are a practical benchmark for what other bodies expect. Some organisations accept digital stamps while others will only accept stamped translations, so ask before you order, per NAATI.

How do you check that a translator really is certified?

NAATI publishes an online directory of all practitioners holding its certification or recognition, where you can confirm the credential and that it is still current, per NAATI. Ask for the practitioner ID before you pay, check it yourself, and confirm the credential has not expired.

Who can certify a copy of your document?

Per UTS, outside Australia your copy can be certified by an Australian embassy, a public notary, the institution that issued the document, or a university agent. Inside Australia: a bank manager, a police sergeant, or a Justice of the Peace.

Translations are accepted from a NAATI-certified translator, a translation company, the issuing institution, or a university agent, provided the translation carries an official seal and the translator’s signature, per UTS. Note that Australian and New Zealand transcripts can be shared through My eQuals instead of paper copies, per UQ.

How to get Saudi documents attested for use in Australia

1. Obtain the academic transcript and certificate from your university, or your secondary certificate through the Noor system.
2. Have the document attested by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Its document attestation service gives documents "legal validity for use outside the borders of the issuing state", covers educational documents, and is submitted through the ministry portal with electronic payment via Sadad, or in person at the ministry, its branches, or Saudi missions abroad, per the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
3. Have the attested document translated into English by a NAATI-certified translator if the receiving body is Australian.
4. Keep the original: most bodies want the original, or a copy of it attached to the translation.
5. Upload files as PDFs, as universities request, and keep an organised digital set of every document.

The Ministry publishes 920011114 as its contact number for the attestation service, per the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

What about attesting your Australian degree after graduation?

Here the direction reverses. The Saudi Cultural Mission in Australia attests your degree after verifying it with the university. You need the electronic attestation form, the original certificate, the completion letter and the original academic transcript, sent by registered mail to the published post office box in Dickson, ACT. The Mission requires a scholarship decision, prior approval of the study, study at a recommended institution, and full-time on-campus enrolment rather than distance study. Processing takes five working days from the date the mail is received, per the Saudi Cultural Mission in Australia.

Non-Saudi applicants must first have the certificate attested by a notary and then by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; the Mission describes the service as free of any charges, per the Saudi Cultural Mission.

Common mistakes that delay a file

• Sending a plain scan instead of a certified copy, which some universities reject outright.
• A translation with no stamp or signature, or a stamp on the first page only where every page is required.
• Using a translator whose credential has expired; credentials last three years.
• Translating before attesting, which forces a second translation once the attestation stamps are added.
• Forgetting the equivalency decision for a qualification earned outside Saudi Arabia, which the Safeer system requires, per the Ministry of Education.

Who pays for attestation and translation?

Costs vary with page count and provider, so ask for the price before you send anything. On our side, KD International’s listed services include certified translation accredited by NAATI and document attestation, and we announced in a tweet dated 10 March 2021 free attestation of documents for students holding a conditional offer; that announcement carries its date, so confirm the current terms when you contact us. We help you order the documents and convert a conditional offer into an unconditional one.

Your next step

Work in this order: issue the document, attest it, have it translated by a certified translator, make certified copies, then upload PDFs. Start at least a month before your application deadline, because attestation and registered mail both take days. If you want your document list reviewed before you send it, contact us or start with the application form.

Frequently asked questions

Official sources

• How to apply: international applicants (certified copies and translations) — University of Technology Sydney
• Submit your application: documents and certified copies — The University of Queensland
• NAATI Certification System — NAATI
• Frequently Asked Questions (stamps, directory, validity) — NAATI
• DFAT Requirements for Translators — NAATI
• خدمة تصديق الوثائق — وزارة الخارجية السعودية
• تصديق الشهادات — الملحقية الثقافية السعودية في أستراليا (وزارة التعليم)
• تعبئة النموذج في نظام سفير – المستندات المطلوبة — وزارة التعليم السعودية
• How to apply for your visa – documents and financial capacity — Study Australia (Australian Government)

Last updated: 14 September 2026. Fees and requirements change; always confirm with the official source before deciding.