VETASSESS document translations: degrees, transcripts and employment evidence explained

If you’re applying for a VETASSESS skills assessment, your documents carry most of the weight. The assessor needs to confirm two things: that your qualification matches your nominated occupation, and that your work experience is real, paid and relevant. If those documents aren’t in English, the translation becomes part of the evidence.

We’ve already compared the main Australian assessing bodies in another article. This one is more practical: what to translate for VETASSESS, how to prepare your order, and what usually goes wrong.

The VETASSESS translation rule in short

VETASSESS asks for two things for any document not issued in English:

1. A high-quality colour scan of the original document, in its original language.
2. An English translation from a registered or accredited translation service.

Both must be uploaded. A common mistake is to upload only the English translations, which can delay your application. The assessor compares the original with the translation, so they need to see both.

A NAATI-certified translation is the safest option. It’s required for most official uses inside Australia and is accepted by VETASSESS wherever you apply from.

1. Qualification documents

Degree or diploma certificate

This is the award document showing your name, the qualification title, the institution and the date of award. It needs a complete translation, including:

• the exact qualification title (for example “Licence en Économie” or “Bachelor of Engineering”), which the translator keeps close to the original rather than “upgrading” to an Australian equivalent
• the institution’s name and location
• dates, signatures, stamps and seals, which are described in the translation (for example “[Stamp: University of Lyon, Registrar’s Office]”)
• any notes on the back of the certificate

Academic transcripts

Transcripts are where VETASSESS checks whether your studies are highly relevant to your occupation, so they need to be translated in full: every subject, every year, credits or hours, and grades.

Some practical points:

• Subject names matter. The assessor uses them to judge relevance. A good translator renders them accurately rather than generically, so “Comptabilité analytique” becomes “Management Accounting”, not just “Accounting”.
• Grades are not converted. A mark of 14/20 stays 14/20. The grading scale is translated if it appears on the document, but the translator doesn’t convert it into Australian grades.
• Multi-year transcripts often run to several pages. Each page is translated, so count them before ordering.

Diploma supplements and other qualification documents

If your institution issued a diploma supplement (common in Europe), it’s often partly or fully bilingual. If the supplement is already fully in English, it doesn’t need translating. If only some sections are in English, the rest still needs a translation.

Qualifications from China

If your qualification was issued by a Chinese institution, VETASSESS requires it to be verified through an official, authorised Chinese verification service, and the verification report must come with an official English translation. Plan for this step early, as it adds time.

2. Employment evidence

This is usually the largest part of a VETASSESS translation order, and the part most applicants underestimate.

Statement of service

The statement of service (or employment reference) is the key document for each job you claim. It should be on company letterhead and signed by your direct supervisor or HR, and include:

• your job title and employment dates
• whether the job was full-time or part-time, and hours per week
• a detailed list of your duties
• your salary (in many cases)
• the signatory’s name, position and contact details

If your employer issued it in the local language, the whole letter is translated, including the letterhead, signature block and company stamp.

Tip: if your employer is willing, ask them to issue the statement directly in English, using the VETASSESS template. An official English document from your employer doesn’t need translating, which saves time and cost.

Payment evidence

VETASSESS asks for at least two examples of payment evidence for each position you claim, showing at least two salary payments. Typical documents include:

• payslips (ideally one from the start and one from the end of the employment period)
• tax documents such as annual income tax returns or employer tax certificates
• social security or pension records showing contributions linked to your employer
• bank statements showing salary transfers from your employer

For payslips, every line is translated: gross salary, deductions, contributions and net pay. Amounts stay in the original currency.

For bank statements, you don’t need to submit your whole account history. A page showing the salary credit, with your name and the bank’s details visible, is usually enough, and only the pages you submit need translating.

Contracts and other supporting evidence

If you can’t get a statement of service (for example if your employer has closed or won’t cooperate), VETASSESS may accept alternative evidence such as your employment contract, letters of promotion, payslips and tax documents. Each of these needs a translation if it isn’t in English.

Self-employment

If you were self-employed, expect to translate documents such as business registration certificates, tax returns, invoices to clients, and a statement from your accountant. These orders can grow quickly, so list everything before requesting a quote.

3. Identity and supporting documents

Your passport is usually already bilingual or in English. Other documents may need translating, for example:

• a birth certificate or national ID card, if used as identity evidence
• a marriage certificate or change-of-name document, if the name on your degree or payslips differs from your passport

That last point matters more than people think. If your degree is in your maiden name and your passport isn’t, the assessor needs evidence linking the two.

Example: a typical translation order

Here’s what a realistic order looks like for an applicant with a bachelor’s degree and two jobs:

At EzyTranslate, each document costs AU$69, plus AU$49 for each extra page in the same file. With each employer’s two payslips sent as one PDF, this order comes to AU$659. If both employers can issue their statements of service in English, it drops to 4 documents, or AU$472.

How to prepare your translation order

Most delays come from orders sent in pieces, or from documents that change after translation. To avoid that:

1. Collect everything first. Get all your statements of service and payment evidence before ordering, so the translations are done together and use consistent names and terms.
2. Check names and spellings. Tell your translator how your name appears in your passport. The translation should match it exactly across every document.
3. Send clear colour scans. Cropped edges, shadows or blurry stamps slow down translation and can cause questions from the assessor. These same scans are also what you’ll upload to VETASSESS.
4. Flag what’s already in English. If a document is fully in English, it doesn’t need translating. If it’s partly bilingual, say so and we’ll tell you what needs covering.
5. Ask employers for English versions where possible. It’s often the easiest way to reduce cost.
6. Keep originals and translations together. When uploading to VETASSESS, combine each original with its translation so the assessor can compare them easily.

Checklist

Qualifications

• Degree or diploma certificate
• Full academic transcripts (all years)
• Diploma supplement, if not fully in English
• Verification report for Chinese qualifications, if applicable

Employment (for each position)

• Statement of service on letterhead, signed
• At least two pieces of payment evidence (payslips, tax or pension records, bank statements)
• Contract or promotion letters, if used as supporting evidence

Self-employment (if applicable)

• Business registration
• Tax returns and invoices
• Accountant’s statement

Identity

• Birth certificate or ID card, if not in English
• Marriage or change-of-name certificate, if names differ across documents

Get a quote for your VETASSESS documents

Send us your documents and tell us your nominated occupation. We’ll confirm what needs translating, flag anything already in English, and give you a fixed price upfront for NAATI-certified translations accepted by VETASSESS and the Department of Home Affairs.

Start your order online: choose “Other document”, upload your documents and see the price before you pay.

Related guides

• Skills assessment for Australia: how EA, ACS, VETASSESS and TRA differ
• What documents you need for a skilled migration visa (189, 190, 491)

FAQ

Does VETASSESS require NAATI translations?
VETASSESS asks for translations from a registered or accredited translation service. A NAATI-certified translation meets that requirement and is also accepted by Home Affairs for your visa application.

Do I need to translate my whole transcript or just the relevant subjects?
Translate the whole transcript. VETASSESS assesses how relevant your studies are to your occupation, and a partial transcript can raise questions.

My statement of service is in English, but my payslips aren’t. What do I translate?
Only the payslips. Documents officially issued in English don’t need a translation.

How many payslips do I need to translate?
VETASSESS asks for at least two pieces of payment evidence per position. Translate the ones you submit; there’s no need to translate every payslip from your career.

Can I reuse my VETASSESS translations for my visa application?
Yes, if they’re NAATI-certified and the documents haven’t changed. Many applicants use the same translations for their skills assessment and their visa lodgement.