Permanent Residency Visa (Subclass 186) Translation Requirements
The Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa is one of the most sought-after pathways to permanent residency in Australia. It allows skilled workers who have been nominated by an Australian employer to live and work permanently in the country. If your supporting documents are not in English, you will need NAATI-certified translation to meet the Department of Home Affairs' strict requirements.
Understanding the Subclass 186 Visa Streams
The Subclass 186 visa has three streams: the Temporary Residence Transition stream, the Direct Entry stream, and the Agreement stream. Each stream has its own eligibility criteria, but all require applicants to submit supporting documents in English. When your original documents are in a language other than English, the Department of Home Affairs mandates that you provide a NAATI-certified translation alongside the originals.
Documents That Commonly Require Translation
- Qualification certificates and academic transcripts from overseas institutions
- Skills assessment documents from relevant assessing authorities
- Employment references and contracts verifying work experience
- Police clearance certificates from countries where you have lived
- Identity documents including birth certificates and passports
- Marriage and relationship evidence if applicable
Why NAATI Certification Matters
The National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) sets professional standards for translators in Australia. A NAATI-certified translation carries an official stamp and certification statement confirming accuracy and completeness. Using a translator who is not NAATI-certified puts your application at risk of rejection.
Skills Assessment Translation Requirements
Before lodging your Subclass 186 visa application under the Direct Entry stream, you typically need a positive skills assessment. Bodies such as Engineers Australia, the Australian Computer Society, VETASSESS, and Trades Recognition Australia each have their own documentation requirements, but all accept NAATI-certified translations of non-English documents.
Police Check and Character Requirements
You must provide police clearance certificates from every country where you have lived for 12 months or more in the last 10 years. Many of our clients in Melbourne come from countries where police checks are issued in languages such as Mandarin, Vietnamese, Arabic, Hindi, and many others. Our team covers over 60 languages.
How Melbourne Translation Supports Applicants
Located in Melbourne, our team serves clients from every corner of the city, from the CBD to suburbs like Box Hill, Footscray, Clayton, Springvale, and Dandenong. We offer fast turnaround times, guaranteed NAATI certification, competitive pricing, and secure document handling.
