VETASSESS translation rule: What the official guidance actually says

If your documents are not in English, VETASSESS requires a translation. Your submission must include copies of both the original documents and their translations. The main requirements for translations are as follows:

• Translation must be performed by a translator or agency registered or licensed by the relevant authority in the country where the translation is performed.
• If you are applying within Australia, the translator must be a member of NAATI.
• If you are applying from outside Australia, such as the UAE, you may use any registered and professional translator or translation company.
• You cannot use machine translation or documents translated by friends and family, even if they are fluent in English.

This rule applies to everyone, whether you are applying under a professional occupation pathway, a trade occupation, a DAMA (Designated Area Migration Agreement) application, or the Qualification Comparison Service.​

What does “Registered Translation Service” mean if you’re in the UAE?

If you are in the UAE, a registered translation service is one that’s authorised by the UAE Ministry of Justice (MOJ) to translate documents for official purposes. An agency may work with translators licensed by the MOJ, or you can use independent MOJ-approved translators. Note: VETASSESS does not clearly say you must use MOJ-approved translators. You may be able to use another translation agency, provided it is registered and approved in its country.​

Which documents in your VETASSESS bundle may need translation​?

Country-specific extras beyond translation

If your qualifications were obtained from Europe, Pakistan, Nigeria, the Philippines, or the People’s Republic of China, you must provide additional documentation.​

• China: Qualifications must undergo VETASSESS’s Chinese Qualifications Verification (CQV) service before or alongside the skills assessment. Academic transcripts must be issued in both Chinese and English, endorsed by the awarding institution’s central student administration or archiving office. CQV is a separate paid service that must be lodged separately from the skills assessment application.

• Europe: If you have European qualifications, supply Diploma Supplements if available. These are usually issued by educational institutions in countries that joined the Bologna Process. A Diploma Supplement can replace an award certificate and transcript if it contains all the required information.​

• Philippines: You must supply Evidence of passing the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Licensure Examinations, where applicable to your qualification.​

• Lebanon: Qualifications from University Colleges and Institutes generally need evidence of approval by the Equivalence Committee of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.

• Pakistan and Nigeria: Pakistani or Nigerian applicants no longer need to provide verified copies of qualifications. However, the VETASSES authorities may ask you to provide verified copies if an assessor determines that an assessment is necessary.​

The consistency rule: Why small errors kill applications

VETASSESS cross-checks every document against what you entered in the online application form. Inconsistencies in information can delay applications or lead to negative outcomes. Some common errors you should watch out for include:

• Names must match exactly across your passport, qualification, employment references, and translation, including how a name is transliterated from Arabic or another script.
• Employment dates must line up across reference letters, payslips, and the application form.
• The job title in the translation must match, or clearly correspond to, the relevant ANZSCO occupation description.

Note: VETASSESS is under no obligation to return your request for clarification and may make a decision based solely on the evidence submitted. If any inconsistency is left unchecked, it can delay the entire application.

The transliteration issue deserves particular attention for Arabic-script names, where there’s often more than one valid way to render a name in English. A UAE MOJ-licensed translator who works regularly with migration documents will check the transliteration against your passport bio page before finalising the translation to eliminate issues that can become a problem later.

Common mistakes that delay or sink VETASSESS applications

Using a general online translation service or a machine translation tool violates the VETASSES requirements. You should use a registered translation agency and confirm they have experience translating documents for the VETASSES assessment.​

• Submitting only the translation: VETASSES requires a scanned copy of the original document and its translation when submitting your application. If you submit only the translation, the assessors will pause your application and request additional documents before proceeding.​

• Sending original documents by post: VETASSESS only accepts scanned digital uploads of your documents and translations. You don’t need to send the original documents by post; they won’t be returned to you.​

• Submitting low-resolution scans: The online document upload must be in colour, with a minimum of 150 dpi, for the original and translation. Ensure you follow this requirement and avoid submitting any scanned document that doesn’t fully meet the specification.

• Relying solely on a statutory declaration: VETASSESS explicitly cannot accept it without supporting third-party documentation for employment evidence. The employment evidence must also be within the five-year window set by VETASSES.​

How LegalTranslators UAE helps with VETASSESS applications

We are a UAE Ministry of Justice (MOJ) licensed translation service. Our translators are experienced in Arabic, Urdu, Hindi, and other languages often seen in VETASSESS applications. We have a review system that checks name transliteration against your passport before finalising, helping avoid common errors. Common documents we translate for VETASSES include degree certificates, transcripts, employment reference letters, and passports. We deliver both the original and the translation in the correct format for VETASSESS upload within 12-24 hours, with pricing starting at AED 71.55 per page. If you have a question, our customer support teams are available 24/7 to help you.

Request a free quote and turnaround estimate.