If you need a document translated into English or another language, you can organise the translation yourself or use the Department of Internal Affairs Translation Service.
Translating documents into English
Get a document translated into English so you can use it in NZ.
You can organise the translation yourself or use the Department of Internal Affairs Translation Service.
You might be able to get a basic translation from the Translation Service – they will translate only the information that is needed by the NZ organisation. This is called a selective translation. It costs $75 for each document.
You can get a selective translation for a:
- birth certificate
- marriage certificate
- divorce certificate
- death certificate
- police clearance
- name change certificate
- driver licence.
If you are applying for NZ citizenship, you can use the same translation you used for your immigration visa application. You don’t need to get a new translation of the document.
Submit your form
You can send your application and documents by email, post or courier or bring them to 1 of the Translation Service’s offices. You don’t need to send the original documents — a copy is fine.
This is the detailed information for each way of document submission.
Email: translate@dia.govt.nz
Post
Translation Service
Department of Internal Affairs
PO Box 805
Wellington 6140
Courier
Translation Service
Level 5, 120 Victoria Street
Wellington 6011
In person
Wellington
Lower Ground Level, National Library
70 Molesworth Street
Wellington
Auckland
Level 6, AA Building
99 Albert Street
Auckland Central
Manukau
7 Ronwood Avenue
Manukau 2104
Christchurch
Level 1, BNZ Centre
120 Hereford Street
Christchurch Central
Pay the fee
You need to include payment information when you send your documents. You can pay by:
- Visa, MasterCard or American Express — include your card details when you send your documents or include a phone number if you want to give your card details over the phone
- cheque made out to the Department of Internal Affairs
- money order
- EFTPOS or cash if you order your translation in person.
If you’re a company
Companies ordering translations can choose to be invoiced after the translation is done. If you want to be invoiced, include:
- your postal address or the email address for your finance department
- any reference you’d like on the invoice.
How long it takes
Selective translations will be returned to you after 2 to 4 working days. Other documents may take longer.
You can pay $90 to have your documents translated urgently.
Get a translation to use in another country
When you need to use an NZ document in another country, you might be asked to get the document apostilled or authenticated. You might also be asked to get the document translated.
The Department of Internal Affairs Translation Service can do the translation as part of your application for an apostille or authentication, or you can organise your own translation.
Use the Translation Service
It costs $85 for each standard translation by the Translation Service. They will tell you if the fee is different for your translation.
On the application form for an apostille or authentication, say which language you want your documents translated into and spell all the names you want on the translation.
Organise your own translation
If you organise your own translation, you need to get it notarised by a New Zealand notary public.
