In short
- For residence and most other visas, Immigration New Zealand accepts certified translations from reputable private or official translation businesses.
- A certified translation should be on letterhead where possible, certified as correct, and stamped or signed by the translator or business.
- INZ does not accept translations by you, a family member or your immigration adviser, and police and medical certificates always need certified translations.
- Other bodies set their own rules: NZQA asks for a recognised official translation service, and driver licences have a separate list of approved translators.
If you are applying for a New Zealand visa, every supporting document that isn't in English needs an English translation. Immigration New Zealand (INZ) is clear about who can provide one and what it must show, and the rules differ slightly between visitor visas and everything else.
This guide explains those rules, and what to check if your documents come from Greece, Cyprus, Albania, Kosovo or a French-speaking country.
Visitor visas, residence and other visas
INZ sets out two levels of requirement.
Visitor visas. INZ says translations for a visitor visa "can be completed by anyone" except you, a family member or the adviser helping with your application. They generally don't need to be certified, with one exception: medical and police certificates. You need to give the translator's full name, address and phone number, plus information about their qualifications and experience showing they understand both languages.
Residence and all other visas. INZ asks for certified translations completed by reputable private or official translation businesses, or by people in the community known for accurate translations.
If you're not sure which applies, a certified translation from a professional translator meets both.
What a certified translation must show
According to INZ, a certified translation should:
- be on the translation business's letterhead, if possible
- be certified as correct by the translator
- be stamped or signed by the translator or translation business
INZ also says it will "not accept translations" completed by you, a family member, or the immigration adviser on your application.
Police and medical certificates
INZ says: "You must provide us with certified English translations of all medical and police certificates." That applies to every visa type, including visitor visas.
If you have lived in Albania, Greece or France, the police certificate you'll most likely need is the Albanian Dëshmi penaliteti, the Greek Αντίγραφο Ποινικού Μητρώου or the French extrait de casier judiciaire. Each one needs a certified English translation.
Documents commonly translated for New Zealand
What you need depends on your visa, but these come up most often:
| Document | Greece | Albania | France |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birth certificate | Ληξιαρχική Πράξη Γέννησης | Certifikatë lindjeje | Acte de naissance |
| Marriage certificate | Ληξιαρχική Πράξη Γάμου | Certifikatë martese | Acte de mariage |
| Police certificate | Αντίγραφο Ποινικού Μητρώου | Dëshmi penaliteti | Extrait de casier judiciaire |
| Degree certificate | Πτυχίο | Diplomë | Diplôme |
Partner and family visas often rely on marriage and birth certificates, while work and residence visas often add police certificates and qualifications. Our guides to the Greek family status certificate, Albanian birth and family certificates and the French acte de naissance explain what each civil document shows.
Make the names match your passport
INZ asks applicants to have the translator use the spelling of their name from their passport. If a document uses a different spelling, you list it in the "other names" section of the application form. Tell your translator how your name appears in your passport before they start. Our guide to Greek, Albanian and French names in English explains why spellings differ.
Qualifications and driver licences
Two other New Zealand bodies set their own translation rules:
- NZQA, which assesses overseas qualifications, says you must provide "an English translation by a recognised official translation service" for each document that isn't in English. Check with NZQA if you're unsure whether your translator qualifies.
- Driver licences are a special case. The NZ Transport Agency keeps its own list of approved translators, and the Department of Internal Affairs says its translations of licences are approved by the agency. Use one of them for a licence conversion.
How Lexiveris prepares translations for New Zealand
Choose Immigration New Zealand in the order form. Your translation comes on Lexiveris letterhead, certified as correct and signed by the translator, with the translator's name and contact details. For visitor visas, we add the translator's qualifications and experience, as INZ asks.
Prices are in pounds or US dollars, and your bank converts the amount if you pay with a New Zealand card.
What it costs
- Civil certificates (birth, marriage, family and police certificates): £15.88 or $24 a page.
- Academic documents: £15.88 or $30 a page.
- Legal and financial documents: £41 or $40 a page.
For example, a one-page police certificate and a one-page birth certificate cost £31.76 or $48 in total. Express delivery within 24 hours adds 50%. You can price your documents online and see the total before you pay.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a NAATI translator for New Zealand?
NAATI is the Australian accreditation body. INZ's guidance on translations asks for certified translations from reputable translation businesses, and doesn't mention NAATI.
Can my immigration adviser translate my documents?
Not if they are the adviser on your application: INZ won't accept that. INZ does accept translations from a licensed immigration adviser who isn't advising on your application, provided they are known for accurate translations.
How long does it take, given the time difference?
New Zealand is around 11 to 13 hours ahead of the UK, depending on the time of year. Standard orders usually arrive within 2–3 UK working days, and express orders within 24 hours, any day of the week.
Do I need a notarised translation?
INZ asks for certified translations, signed or stamped by the translator. Notarisation isn't part of its requirements. Our guide to certified, notarised and sworn translation explains the difference.
Sources
- Immigration New Zealand: Providing English translations of supporting documents
- NZQA: Requirements for evidence and documents
- Department of Internal Affairs: Translation of driver licences
This article is general information based on published guidance as of 4 November 2026. It is not legal or immigration advice, and requirements can change. Always check the current requirements with the office handling your case. Lexiveris Translations provides translation services only and is not affiliated with any government agency.