The Free Translating Service
Permanent residents and some temporary or provisional visa holders can have up to 10 personal documents translated into English for free, within two years of their eligible visa being granted. TIS National delivers the service for the Department of Home Affairs through an online portal, and its time frame is 30 calendar days from when an application is approved.
Dotto is not a registered migration agent or lawyer, does not give immigration assistance or advice, and does not refer anyone to an agent. This is general information, not advice. TIS National’s eligibility page and its visa checker have the final word on whether you qualify.
- Gate
- 03
- Allowance
- Up to 10 documents
- Window
- 2 years from the visa grant
- Language out
- English
Seat 3AWhat it is for
The service is for people settling permanently in Australia, and it exists to help with work, study and taking part in the community. TIS National explains why: personal documents are often needed to use government services and programs, and free translations make that easier for new migrants.
Before 1 July 2025 a different provider delivered it; TIS National has run it since.
Seat 3BWho can use it
TIS National lists these conditions. All of them have to be true.
- You hold a visa whose subclass is on TIS National’s list of eligible subclasses. The list can change without notice.
- The visa was granted in the past 2 years and is still valid, not cancelled or expired.
- You are in Australia.
- You have had fewer than 10 documents translated.
- You haven’t used the service before on another visa granted more than 2 years ago.
Tourist visa holders, working holiday visa holders and Australian citizens can’t use it. Some subclasses have extra requirements, which are checked during the application. The eligibility page has a checker: you enter your visa subclass and the date your visa was granted.
Your visa grant notice has the three details you need: the subclass, the grant number and the grant date. You can also check your visa through VEVO, explained in Gate 01: checking a visa with VEVO.
Seat 3CWhich documents count
A document must name you, belong to you, be mainly about you, and be issued by an official authority. It is translated from its original language into English, and it has to help with employment, education or community engagement.
- birth, marriage, divorce and change of name records
- academic transcripts and education records
- employment evidence, such as references and pay slips
- driver or motorcycle licences
- identity documents, such as national identity cards
- police clearances and immunisation records
- translations needed for a visa or citizenship application
- documents issued by private citizens
- translator affidavits for the family court or other legal purposes
- certified copies, or black-and-white copies
- international driving permits
Both lists are a selection from TIS National’s eligibility page, which gives every document type and its fine print. A type that isn’t listed may still be accepted if you can show it will help with employment, education or the community.
Seat 3DWhat to have ready
- an Australian phone number and a valid email address
- the applicant’s passport or ImmiCard number, which TIS National’s automated checker uses to decide eligibility
- photos or colour files of the original documents
The application is in English only, and the person submitting it must be 18 or older. Someone else can apply on your behalf, but everyone, family members included, needs their own application. Applying for a child under 18 needs extra supporting documents, which TIS National lists.
Seat 3EFrom upload to download
- Create an account in the Free Translating Service portal and accept the terms and conditions.
- Submit the documents in the portal, and wait for confirmation that the application was successful.
- Wait up to 30 calendar days after approval. TIS National says it is often quicker, there is no rush option, and it may contact you for more information, which can cause a delay.
- Download the translation from your account. Accounts last up to 2 years, and documents can be downloaded more than once in that time.
- Check it within 30 days. If there is a mistake, such as a misspelling or a wrong date, request a correction in the portal within 30 days of receiving the document; if TIS National approves it, the fix is free and done within 7 days.
Seat 3FWhat the translation looks like
Most translations are an extract summary of up to 100 words, which TIS National says suits most official purposes in Australia. Some documents, such as medical records and academic transcripts, get longer summaries.
If you can show reasonable evidence that you need a full translation, such as a letter or email from the institution asking for one, you can ask TIS National for it. A full translation counts as one document for every 5 pages. TIS National says its translators are credentialed by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) where that is available.
Seat 3GIf you aren’t eligible, or need help in your language
If you can’t use the service, TIS National suggests the NAATI directory to find a certified translator, and confirming the translation requirements with whoever asked for your documents first. In New South Wales, a foreign-language driver licence must be translated by either the Free Translating Service or Multicultural NSW Language Services when you apply for a NSW licence.
To ask about the service through an interpreter, call TIS National on 131 450, say which language you need, and ask to be put through to the Translating Services team. Questions in English can go through TIS National’s online form.
TIS National provides interpreting as well as translating. And Humanitarian Settlement Program providers can help eligible clients who can’t apply online to lodge a Free Translating Service application; the program is in Gate 04: settlement services.