If you're submitting a certified English translation for immigration, court, academic, or professional purposes in Australia, you might wonder:
Does a NAATI-certified translation expire? What happens if the translator’s certification later lapses?
This post clears up common misconceptions and explains what really determines a translation’s validity.
📅 Translation Date vs Certification Expiry Date
A certified translation typically includes:
- The translation completion date
- The translator’s name and NAATI ID
- A certification statement
- A NAATI stamp — either physical or digital
Clients often notice dates on the stamp and worry whether they affect the translation’s “validity.”
🧾 Physical vs Digital NAATI Stamps
🔹 Traditional Physical Stamps
Older physical stamps usually show the expiry date of the translator’s NAATI certification. Translators are also required to sign and date the translation manually. This often draws unnecessary attention to the certification expiry date — even though it's not critical to the translation’s acceptance.
🔹 New Digital Stamps
With NAATI’s newer digital stamp system, the expiry date has been intentionally downplayed. The stamp only shows the generation date, not the translator’s certification expiry. This design choice reflects a key principle:
➡️ A translation is valid as long as the translator was NAATI-certified at the time of completion — regardless of whether their certification expires later.
Digital stamps also include a QR code or link, allowing users to verify the translator’s credentials and current certification status directly on the NAATI website.
✅ What Really Matters: Certification at Time of Translation
As long as the translator was NAATI-certified when the translation was completed, the document is considered valid. The translator’s current certification status doesn’t affect the standing of a translation that was completed during an active certification period.
⚠️ When You Might Need a New Translation
While translations technically do not expire, some institutions may request a more recent version if:
- The translation is more than 6–12 months old
- The document is time-sensitive (e.g. medical or police records)
- The format or terminology has changed since the original was done
It’s always best to check with the receiving institution.
🔍 How to Verify NAATI Credentials
- Ask the translator for their NAATI ID
- Visit: https://www.naati.com.au
- Use the "Verify a Credential" tool on the homepage
- For full contact details, use the NAATI Online Directory
📝 Summary
- A translation is valid as long as the translator was certified at the time of completion
- Expiry dates on stamps (especially digital) are not critical
- You can verify a translator’s credentials via QR code or the NAATI website
- Always confirm requirements with the requesting body if your translation is over a year old
📩 Need Help?
As a NAATI-certified English ⇄ Chinese translator, I offer fast, official translations with secure digital stamps, accepted by Australian authorities.
If you need a certified translation or have questions about document validity, feel free to reach out — I’m here to help.
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