Short answer
Yes, in most cases. Immigration New Zealand does not ask for NAATI by name. It asks for a certified translation from a competent, independent translator, and a NAATI certified translation from a professional provider fits that rule for visitor, work and residence visas.
Thousands of people cross the Tasman every year with paperwork that started life in another language. Many of them already hold an Australian translation and wonder if they must pay for a second one in New Zealand.
The good news is that New Zealand cares more about who did the work than which badge they hold. This guide explains the actual rule, then walks through four common cases so you can see where your own application sits.
What Immigration New Zealand Actually Asks For
New Zealand sets its translation rules in section A13.5 of the Immigration New Zealand operational manual. The manual says a certified translation must meet six conditions.
- The applicant, a family member or the immigration adviser on the file must not prepare it
- It must come with the original document or a certified copy, unless a clear copy is enough
- The applicant pays for it
- A person familiar with both languages and competent in translation work must certify it as correct
- It must carry the stamp or signature of the translator or translation business
- It should sit on the business letterhead where one exists
The manual lists who may do the work: the Department of Internal Affairs Translation Service, embassies, reputable community translators and any other private or official translation business. NAATI is an Australian body, so it never appears on that list. A NAATI certified translator working through a translation business still ticks every box above.
NAATI, NZSTI and Other Translators Compared
| Translator type | Where the credential comes from | Accepted by New Zealand | Accepted by Australia |
|---|---|---|---|
| NAATI certified translator | Australia | Yes, as a competent independent translator | Yes, the standard Home Affairs expects |
| NZSTI member | New Zealand | Yes | Usually not without NAATI |
| DIA Translation Service | New Zealand government | Yes, named in the rules | Usually not without NAATI |
| Bilingual friend | None | Visitor visa only, with translator details | No |
| You or a relative | None | No | No |
The pattern is clear. NAATI work travels east across the Tasman far more easily than New Zealand credentials travel west, which matters if you might apply in both countries.
Case by Case: Which Visa Are You Applying For?
Case 1: A visitor visa for a family holiday
Visitor visas got easier on 26 May 2025. Most documents, like bank statements, leave letters and a Chinese hukou, no longer need certified translations. Each translation must still list the translator's name, contact details and their language skills.
Police and medical certificates are the exception. Those still need a certified translation, even when the police certificate shows no convictions.
Case 2: A work visa through an accredited employer
Temporary work visas follow the same core rule. You must certify police and medical certificates, and an officer can ask for certified versions of anything else. Many applicants translate the full set up front because a request for more papers can stall a job offer for weeks.
Case 3: Partner or skilled residence
Residence is where New Zealand gets strict. Every supporting document that is not in English needs a certified English translation. That covers birth and marriage records, joint lease papers, employment letters and the rest of your evidence.
Case 4: An Australian based family moving to New Zealand
Families who migrated to Australia first often hold a full set of NAATI translations already. Before you pay again, check that each one is complete, still legible and shows the translator's signature or stamp. If it does, it should satisfy New Zealand as well.
Moving between the two countries is common. Thousands of trans Tasman movers make the same move every year, and our NAATI certified translation clients regularly reuse one set of papers for both governments.
Translation Rules by Visa Type at a Glance
| Visa type | Police and medical certificates | Other documents |
|---|---|---|
| Visitor | Certified translation required | Full translation with translator details, no certification needed |
| Work and student | Certified translation required | Translation advised, certified if an officer asks |
| Residence | Certified translation required | Certified translation required for every document |
Why a Police Certificate Needs Extra Care
Police certificates appear on almost every New Zealand visa checklist, and they always need certification. A missing stamp, an unclear seal or a name spelt differently from the passport can send the file back to you.
We see this often with certificates from China, India and the Middle East, where the layout carries official seals on every page. Our police clearance translation service reproduces each seal note and keeps names identical to your passport, so one translation can go to Wellington and Canberra without changes.
Keep in mind that a police certificate has a shelf life. New Zealand usually wants one issued in the last six months, so order the translation once the certificate arrives, not months earlier.
Where New Zealand May Want Something Different
Immigration is only one part of a move. Courts, the Department of Internal Affairs for citizenship, and professional registration boards can set their own rules. Some ask for a translation from an NZSTI member or a sworn statement from the translator.
Ask the receiving body in writing before you order. A two line email can save you paying twice.
Document Checklist for New Zealand
| Document | What to check before you upload |
|---|---|
| Birth certificate | Parents' names match other records, every stamp is translated |
| Marriage certificate | Date and place match your relationship evidence |
| Police certificate | Issued recently, certified translation attached |
| Academic records | Grades and course titles translated in full, not summarised |
| Bank statements | Full translation, since partial ones may be refused |
Five Mistakes That Slow Down New Zealand Applications
- Uploading a translation without a copy of the original document
- Asking the immigration adviser to translate, which the rules forbid
- Translating only the first page of a bank statement
- Leaving out the translator's contact details on a visitor visa translation
- Assuming an old police certificate translation still counts after a new certificate is issued
Before You Upload to Immigration New Zealand
Read the official page on providing English translations of supporting documents one last time, since rules can shift with little notice. Then run through this list.
- Each translation is complete and matches the original page for page
- The translator's name, signature or stamp and contact details appear on it
- Names match your passport exactly
- The original or a certified copy sits beside each translation
- Police and medical certificates carry a certified translation
Studying across the Tasman? Our document translation guide for international students covers transcripts, offer letters and enrolment papers in more detail.