If you are seeking review of a visa or other government decision, the Administrative Review Tribunal expects documents that are not in English to come with an English translation.
Last reviewed 30 October 2026 against official sources.
The Attorney-General’s Department says the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) commenced on 14 October 2024, replacing the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT). It says the AAT has ceased operations, with all current matters transferred to the ART, and that if you applied to the AAT for review of a decision, you do not need to submit a new application to the ART.
The ART was established by the Administrative Review Tribunal Act 2024. It reviews many kinds of government decisions, including migration and protection visa decisions.
The Tribunal’s Common Procedures Practice Direction is direct. Paragraph 2.15A says that any document lodged with the Tribunal that is not in English must be accompanied by a NAATI certified translation into English.
Paragraph 6.2 repeats the point for evidence: in general, all evidence relevant to a matter must be in English, or accompanied by a NAATI certified translation into English, and it adds: “The Tribunal may not accept any evidence that is not in English without a certified translation.”
The Tribunal’s migration application information says that you should provide both the English translation and the original document (or a certified copy).
Paragraph 6.2A of the practice direction says that, unless a direction is made that a different time period applies, documents a party intends to rely on at a hearing or other Tribunal case event must be provided to the Tribunal not less than 7 calendar days before that event. Translations take time, so order them well before that deadline. If your hearing date is close, tell us when you enquire.
Upload a clear scan or photo of every page of each document, including the back of any page with a stamp, seal or handwritten note. Group the documents the way you intend to lodge them, and tell us your Tribunal file number if you want it shown on the translations. If names appear in more than one script, give us the spellings used in your passport and visa application, so the translations match the rest of your file.
If your representative has already prepared an index of documents, send it with your upload. It helps us label each translation to match the index, which makes it easier for the Tribunal member to find the original that each translation belongs to.
For anything lodged with the Tribunal, choose certified. It is translated and certified by a NAATI certified translator, which is what the practice direction calls for. A professional translation (non-certified) is suitable for reading a document or discussing it with your representative, but not for lodging.
We are translators, not migration agents or lawyers, and we cannot advise on your review. Check the Tribunal’s current practice directions, or ask your representative, before you order. See our immigration and tribunal document translation page, or upload your documents for a quote.
We translate what your documents say. We do not advise on their legal effect, and we cannot confirm whether a particular court or agency will accept them. Please check requirements with the receiving body or your lawyer.
The Attorney-General's Department says the ART commenced on 14 October 2024, replacing the AAT, and that matters before the AAT were transferred to the ART.
The Tribunal's Common Procedures Practice Direction says any document lodged that is not in English must be accompanied by a NAATI certified translation into English.
The practice direction says documents you intend to rely on must be provided at least 7 calendar days before the hearing, unless the Tribunal directs otherwise. Order translations well before that.
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