How to Verify a NAATI-Certified Chinese Translator – and Why It Matters - NAATI Certified Chinese Translation/Interpreting Services

If you’re submitting a translated document to the Department of Home Affairs, a court, or a university in Australia, you’ve probably been told it needs to be done by a NAATI-certified translator. But how do you actually verify that someone is certified? And why is it so important?

In this post, I’ll walk you through how to check a translator’s credentials and why it’s worth doing — especially for Chinese to English or English to Chinese translations.

✅ What Is NAATI and Why Is It Important?

NAATI stands for the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters. It’s the only organization in Australia that certifies translators and interpreters for official use. NAATI certification ensures that a translator has passed strict testing and adheres to ethical and professional standards.

Many Australian institutions only accept translations done by NAATI-certified professionals, especially when it comes to:

Immigration documents (Home Affairs)
Court submissions
Academic applications
Visa appeals and more

If your translation isn’t certified, your application may be delayed or rejected.

🔍 How to Check If a Translator Is NAATI-Certified

There are several steps you can take to verify whether a translator is genuinely NAATI-certified:

1. Ask for Their NAATI ID or Certification Number

Every certified translator has a unique NAATI ID. You can ask the translator directly:

“Could you please provide your NAATI certification number?”

You’ll use this number in the next step to verify their status.

2. Verify the Certification on the NAATI Website (Homepage Tool)

Go to the homepage of the NAATI website:
👉 https://www.naati.com.au

Scroll to the section titled "Verify credential".

Enter the translator’s NAATI ID or name
The system will confirm whether their certification is current and valid

3. Review the Certified Translation Document

A genuine NAATI-certified translation will include:

A certification statement
The translator’s full name and NAATI ID
A visible NAATI stamp (often digital)
The date of certification

Make sure the information matches what you found on the NAATI website.

4. When Using a Translation Agency, Take These Extra Steps

If your translation was arranged through an agency and you haven’t communicated with the translator directly:

Step 1: After receiving the translation, go to https://www.naati.com.au and use the “Verify credential” tool on the homepage to confirm that the translator listed is NAATI-certified.
Step 2: Then go to the NAATI Online Directory here:
👉 https://www.naati.com.au/online-directory/

In the search fields at the top:
- Select “I require”: Translator
- Select “From”: Chinese
- Select “To”: English (or the relevant language pair)
- Click “Submit”

Once the initial results load, use the left-hand filter panel:

In the “Surname Search” field, enter the translator’s last name
Click “Apply” to refine the results

You’ll see a list of certified translators matching your search. Locate the correct person and open their listing to view their official contact details (email, phone, location).
Contact the translator directly to confirm they personally completed the translation. A simple message like this works:

“Hi, I recently received a certified translation of [document] with your name and NAATI ID. May I confirm that you were the one who completed this translation?”

This extra step helps ensure your document hasn’t been misrepresented or forged — especially when using agencies you haven’t worked with before.

⚠️ Why Verification Matters

Unfortunately, there have been cases of forged NAATI stamps and fake translators offering cut-rate services online. If a translation is not actually certified, it may: