Every Question About
Certified Translation in NZ.

A certified translation is a translated document accompanied by a signed Certificate of Accuracy — a formal declaration from the translator confirming the translation is complete and accurate. NZ government agencies cannot verify the accuracy of foreign-language documents without a qualified, independent translator attesting to the content. INZ, DIA, NZQA, and NZ Courts generally require certified translations for any document not originally in English.

A Certificate of Accuracy generally includes: the translator's full name and professional qualifications; a declaration that the translation is a true and accurate representation of the original; the translator's contact details; the date completed; and a certified copy of the original document attached. INZ checks for all of these. A missing or incomplete Certificate of Accuracy is one of the most common reasons a document is queried or returned.

INZ asks for translations from a qualified translator from a recognised private or official translation service. Translations cannot be produced by family members or friends, immigration advisers acting for the applicant, unqualified bilingual individuals, or machine and AI translation tools. Our translators are NZSTI-aligned and meet the standard INZ case officers are trained to check for.

No. INZ, DIA, and NZQA do not accept machine translations. A certified translation must be completed by a qualified human translator with a signed Certificate of Accuracy.

Certified: a signed Certificate of Accuracy from the translator — generally what INZ, DIA, NZQA and NZTA ask for. Court Ready: a certified translation carrying a Translator's Affirmation sworn before a New Zealand Justice of the Peace — what NZ courts and tribunals generally ask for. Notarised: a certified translation signed and sealed by a New Zealand Notary Public — mainly for documents going overseas. Apostilled: a notarised translation plus an apostille certificate issued by DIA, for use in countries party to the Hague Convention.

New Zealand does not run a sworn-translator system the way Spain, France, Germany and many other countries do — no NZ authority appoints or swears in translators. If you have been asked for a “sworn translation”, what is almost always meant is a certified translation the receiving organisation will accept, sometimes with a JP affirmation or a notary's seal on top. Tell us who the document is going to and we will tell you which one you actually need.

No — and this catches a lot of people out. If the receiving agency has asked for a certified copy rather than the original, get the copy certified first by a Justice of the Peace or a lawyer, and then send that certified copy for translation. The translation has to match the document the agency actually asked for. Translating the original instead is a common reason a submission gets sent back. If you are not sure which one your agency wants, ask them before you order — and send us the answer with your document.

Standard delivery is 3–5 working days and is included in the price. Express within 24 hours and Urgent within 12 hours are available for tight deadlines, and same-day by 6pm NZT can often be arranged. Most single-page documents are completed in 1–2 days even on standard service. We work 7 days a week including weekends and most public holidays.

A certified translation for INZ, DIA, NZQA or NZTA starts at $49 per document, GST inclusive, including the Certificate of Accuracy. Court Ready starts at $99, and Notarised — for use overseas — starts at $149, with an apostille a further $50. Turnaround is charged separately: standard is included, Express adds $20, Urgent adds $50. Starting prices vary by document type; each service page shows its own. Prices last reviewed: 14 September 2026.

Standard delivery is by email as a print-ready PDF. Physical hard copy posted by courier is available as an add-on. Notarised and apostilled translations always include hard copy delivery, as the receiving authority needs the original physical document.

Yes. All documents are handled under strict NZSTI confidentiality protocols. Only the assigned translator and one quality reviewer access your document. Files are permanently deleted after delivery. Formal NDAs are available on request for law firms and corporate clients.

If INZ, DIA, NZQA or a court comes back with a query on a translation we produced, we revise and reissue it at no extra cost. Simply forward the correspondence to us and we resolve it. Acceptance is always the agency's decision, so we cannot promise an outcome — but a query never costs you.

Certified translations are generally required for non-English documents supporting a Skilled Migrant Category visa, Resident from Work visa, Partner and Family visas, Student visas, Work visas, and Resident visas. From 26 May 2025, visitor visa applications no longer require a certified translation, though an English translation identifying the translator and their qualifications is still required. Requirements can change — confirm current requirements with Immigration New Zealand before you apply. Last checked: 14 September 2026.

The most common documents: birth certificates, marriage certificates, police clearance certificates (generally translated in full), academic transcripts, bank statements and financial evidence, employment contracts and references, divorce certificates, and death certificates for family applications.

Generally yes. For most visa applications INZ accepts selective translations — covering name, date of birth, place of birth, parents' names, registration authority, and date of registration. A full translation is not usually required for most visa types. We confirm which format applies to your specific visa category before starting.

A clear scan or high-quality photograph is generally sufficient for INZ applications. We produce the certified translation from your scan and attach a certified copy of the document image. You do not usually need to send the physical original for a visa application.

Generally yes. If any part of your document is in a language other than English, INZ asks for the whole document to be certified translated, including the English portions, so that the translation is a complete representation of the original.

No. INZ requires the translator to be independent of the applicant, so an immigration adviser cannot produce certified translations for their own clients — and neither can you or a family member.

For online INZ applications: upload the translation PDF directly to the Immigration Online portal with your application. For postal applications: include printed translations alongside the originals. The Certificate of Accuracy must be included — either on the same page as the translation or as a separate signed page attached to it.

INZ asks for translations from a recognised private or official translation service — one that uses qualified, credentialled translators who are independent of the visa applicant. NZ Translations meets this standard, and our translators hold NZSTI-aligned credentials.

If INZ raises a query about a translation we produced, we resolve it free of charge. Forward the INZ correspondence to us. We address the specific issue — whether it is a missing credential, a format question, or a content query — and provide a corrected version if needed.

DIA typically requires certified translations of: birth certificate, marriage or civil union certificate (if relevant), divorce certificate (if applicable), name change certificate, and death certificate (for deceased parent applications). Confirm the current document list with DIA before you order. Last checked: 14 September 2026.

Generally yes — this is the key difference from INZ. For NZ citizenship applications, DIA usually requires the certified translation to be produced from the original document, not a scan or photocopy. Our Certificate of Accuracy for DIA applications notes this explicitly.

A selective translation covers only the fields the authority needs. DIA generally accepts selective translations for most personal documents — name, date and place of birth, parents' names, and registration details.

Not always. INZ generally accepts translations produced from scans; DIA generally requires translations produced from originals. If you translated a birth certificate from a scan for INZ, you may need a new translation from the original for DIA. Contact us and we advise whether your existing translation is suitable.

Most single-page personal documents are translated in 1–3 working days. If you have a DIA appointment or deadline, tell us when you contact us and we build the timeline around it.

Generally no — unless DIA has specifically requested a certified translation as part of your passport or citizenship application. If they have, we produce it to the format DIA asks for.

We handle all calendar conversions: Islamic Hijri, Ethiopian, Nepali Bikram Sambat, Thai Buddhist Era, Persian Solar Hijri. Both the original date and the Gregorian equivalent are included with a clear conversion note, so the date can be matched against your other identity documents.

Contact us and DIA directly. DIA has processes for applicants who cannot obtain original documents — including statutory declarations and alternative documentary evidence. We translate whatever documents you have and advise on what DIA may accept.

Generally yes. NZQA asks for certified English translations of academic documents not in English, including degree certificates, transcripts, diplomas, and academic records. Unlike INZ, NZQA usually requires full translations — every field translated, including the grading scale, subject names, credit values, and institutional footnotes. Confirm current requirements with NZQA before you order. Last checked: 14 September 2026.

Degree and diploma certificates, full academic transcripts showing all subjects and grades, grading scale or academic legend documents, institutional accreditation certificates, school leaving certificates, and professional qualification certificates. We recommend translating the grading scale alongside your transcript.

Generally no. NZQA usually requires full translations of academic documents — every field, subject, and institutional detail. A selective translation covering only your name and qualification title will not normally be sufficient for a credential assessment.

Generally yes. NZQA usually asks for translations produced from your original document rather than a scan. If you do not have your original, contact your institution to request a certified copy. We can advise on this process.

All major NZ universities — University of Auckland, AUT, Victoria University Wellington, University of Canterbury, University of Otago, Massey, Waikato, and Lincoln — ask for certified translations of overseas academic records. We produce translations formatted for academic submission.

Yes. These are some of our most common academic translation sources. Our academic translators have subject-matter expertise and translate course names into accurate NZ academic terminology equivalents — not word-for-word guesses.

Multi-page academic transcripts typically take 3–5 working days on standard service. Express is available. If you have a NZQA submission or university enrolment deadline, tell us and we confirm whether your timeline is achievable before you order.

Contact us with the correspondence. NZQA sometimes requests additional information or a specific format change. We review the reason and produce a corrected or supplementary translation free of charge where the issue is with our original work.

Two ways: upload it through our secure order form on this website, or email a photo or PDF to info@nztranslations.co.nz. A clear phone photo in good light is sufficient for most documents. Physical originals are generally only needed for DIA citizenship and NZQA submissions.

Within 30 minutes (7 days a week), we review the document, confirm the correct translation type for your authority, and send a fixed price quote with an exact delivery date. You confirm and pay, we assign the document to the right translator, and deliver by the confirmed date. No work begins until you approve the quotation.

JPG, JPEG, PNG, PDF, DOC, and DOCX. All text, stamps, and handwriting must be clearly readable. If a document is too damaged or unclear to translate accurately, we will tell you before accepting the order.

Standard is 3–5 working days and is included in the price — most single-page documents are completed in 1–2 days in practice. Express is within 24 hours of payment and document receipt and adds $20. Urgent is within 12 hours, available 7 days a week, and adds $50. Same-day by 6pm NZT is priced on enquiry. Turnaround applies to any tier, so a court-ready or notarised translation can still be rushed.

Standard delivery is by email as a print-ready PDF. Physical hard copy by courier is available as an add-on. Notarised and apostilled translations always include hard copy courier delivery.

Yes. We work 7 days a week. Express and urgent turnaround is available on Saturdays, Sundays, and most NZ public holidays. Email is the fastest way to reach us outside business hours.

Once translation work has begun, a full refund is not possible as the translator's time is committed. If you need to cancel before work begins, contact us immediately by email. If there is a quality issue with the completed translation, we fix it free of charge — no exceptions.

Contact us immediately by email. If your deadline has moved forward, we do our best to expedite — we can often upgrade to express or urgent turnaround even after an order has started.

We price per document, not per word — and by where the translation is going, not by how fast you need it. Certified (for INZ, DIA, NZQA, NZTA) starts at $49. Court Ready, with a Translator's Affirmation before a NZ JP, starts at $99. Notarised, for use overseas, starts at $149. Turnaround is a separate add-on. Multi-page or non-standard documents are quoted individually. We always quote the total fixed price before starting. Prices last reviewed: 14 September 2026.

Yes. All prices include GST. There are no additional taxes or charges added to your invoice. What we quote is what you pay.

They are starting prices. We review your document first, then send you a written quotation with the final fixed price and delivery date. No work begins until you approve that quotation — so there is never an unexpected charge.

Yes. If you need three or more documents translated together — for example, a birth certificate, police certificate, and marriage certificate for a skilled migrant visa — we offer package pricing. Contact us with the full document list and we provide a combined quote.

Bank transfer (NZ bank accounts), credit card, and debit card. Payment is required before translation work begins. For returning clients and law firms with regular volume, invoice-based billing can be arranged.

Yes. Express, within 24 hours, adds $20 per document. Urgent, within 12 hours, adds $50. Same-day is priced on enquiry. The add-on reflects the translator being available outside standard hours and prioritising your document above the queue. It applies to any tier.

Yes. Send your document via the order form or email and we provide a fixed quote within 30 minutes at no obligation. You only pay when you confirm you want to proceed.

Yes. A GST tax invoice is provided for every order. If you need an invoice in a specific business name or with a purchase order reference, advise us when placing your order.

No. There is no minimum order. A single-page birth certificate starts at $49. We translate single documents just as readily as multi-document packages.

Notarisation is where a New Zealand Notary Public signs and seals the translation. It is mainly for documents going overseas — a notary's signature is what DIA authenticates before issuing an apostille. It is not usually required for INZ, DIA citizenship, NZQA or NZTA work; a certified translation is generally the standard for those.

No, and the difference matters. A Justice of the Peace witnesses documents used inside New Zealand — a Translator's Affirmation before a JP is what NZ courts and tribunals generally ask for. A Notary Public is a senior lawyer whose signature is recognised overseas, and DIA will only authenticate a notary's signature when issuing an apostille. A JP cannot be used in place of a notary for overseas documents.

An apostille is an international certificate issued by New Zealand's Department of Internal Affairs under the 1961 Hague Convention. It makes a NZ document recognised in countries party to the Convention. The list keeps growing — China joined in November 2023 and the Algeria more recently — so check your destination country's current status with DIA before you order. Last checked: 14 September 2026.

An apostille is for countries party to the Hague Convention — issued by DIA, faster and simpler. Legalisation is for countries outside the Convention and requires notarisation plus submission to the relevant embassy or consulate in New Zealand. We handle both processes. Because countries keep joining the Convention, confirm your destination's current status before ordering.

DIA generally processes apostille applications within 3–5 working days. Combined with translation time, the full process typically takes 7–10 working days. We manage the DIA application on your behalf — you do not need to visit DIA.

India is party to the Hague Convention, so you need the NZ birth certificate with an apostille issued by DIA. If the certificate also needs translating into the local language, we provide the translation and arrange the apostille. We manage both steps.

Yes. Documents going overseas usually need all three steps — certified translation, then notarisation by a NZ Notary Public, then an apostille from DIA. We coordinate all three. Contact us with your destination country and purpose.

Countries outside the Hague Convention — which currently include Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nigeria among others — require consular legalisation instead. This list changes as countries join: China, for instance, joined the Convention in November 2023 and now takes an apostille. Contact us with your destination country and we confirm the current route.

Yes. We submit the apostille application to DIA on your behalf and coordinate the full process. You receive the apostilled document by courier once DIA processes it. You do not need to visit any government office.

We translate from and into 160+ languages. Most common for NZ immigration: Mandarin Chinese, Hindi, Punjabi, Tagalog/Filipino, Korean, Samoan, Tongan, Arabic, Japanese, Spanish, Vietnamese, Amharic, Bengali, Nepali, Urdu, Sinhala, Thai, French, German, Russian, and Afrikaans. Email us if your language is not listed.

Yes. We handle Islamic Hijri, Thai Buddhist Era (BE), Nepali Bikram Sambat, Ethiopian calendar, and Persian Solar Hijri. Both the original date and the Gregorian equivalent are included with a clear conversion note — which INZ needs to match dates on your passport.

Yes. INZ generally asks for police clearances to be translated in full — every field, stamp, and seal with explanatory notes. We regularly translate NBI (Philippines), state police (India), PSB (China), Korean National Police, and other formats from countries whose citizens commonly apply for NZ visas.

Yes. We translate full academic transcripts including all subjects, grades, credit values, and the grading scale. Our academic translators have subject-matter expertise and translate course names into accurate NZ academic terminology equivalents.

Yes. We translate contracts, court orders, affidavits, statutory declarations, power of attorney documents, and property deeds. Court Ready translations, carrying a Translator's Affirmation sworn before a NZ JP, are available for NZ Court submissions. Notarised and apostilled translations are also available for documents going overseas.

Yes. We translate medical records, discharge summaries, specialist referrals, pathology reports, and clinical documents. Our medical translators have healthcare backgrounds and translate clinical terminology accurately.

All stamps, official seals, and handwritten annotations are included in the translation with explanatory descriptions — for example, a note reading Official Seal: Civil Registry of Maharashtra, India. INZ generally asks for this on police certificates and court documents. Documents with illegible handwriting are flagged before translation begins.

Yes. We translate foreign driver licences for NZTA conversion via the AA. Translations are delivered electronically and can be printed for your AA visit. Most driver licence translations are completed within 24 hours even on standard turnaround. Confirm current requirements with NZTA before your appointment.

Yes — these are our most common source countries. We have deep expertise in Philippine PSA certificates (including annotated documents), Indian state civil registration certificates, Chinese PRC hukou and civil registry documents, Korean family relationship and basic certificates, and Samoan and Tongan civil registry and church-issued documents.