Work Visa Document Checklist — documents that may need certified translation
Temporary work applications sit on two files at once: the employer's, and yours. Your job is to prove the occupation, the skills behind it and a clean personal record — while the sponsor proves the position is genuine. Always check homeaffairs.gov.au for the latest requirements specific to your visa.
Important
This checklist is general guidance only. Not all documents listed will be required for every application. Requirements vary depending on your individual circumstances, the specific visa subclass, and the Department of Home Affairs' current requirements. Always verify the requirements at homeaffairs.gov.au before lodging your application.
What decision-makers focus on in Work applications
Occupation match
Duties in the contract and references must line up with the nominated occupation, not just the job title.
Verifiable experience
References that can be checked — with signatory details and payroll evidence behind them — are worth far more than a letterhead.
Sponsor obligations
Salary must meet the applicable income threshold and market rate for the role.
Timing and sequence cautions
- The nomination and visa application usually move together; a lapsed nomination stalls the visa.
- Licensing or registration must be in place before you can start work in regulated occupations.
- Police certificates and health examinations both have limited validity — sequence them near lodgement.
Common mistakes in Work files
- A position description that copies the occupation list wording instead of the real job.
- Reference letters with no contact details or signatory position.
- Experience claimed in years that payslips and tax records cannot support.
- Foreign employment references and payslips uploaded without certified translations.
Which Documents May Need NAATI-Certified Translation?
Work applications lean on overseas employment references, payslips, tax records and trade qualifications. These are the documents most often issued in another language, and each needs a certified English translation before an assessor or sponsor can rely on it.
- Signed employment contract with occupation code and salary
- Position description matching the nominated occupation
- Evidence of registration or licensing where the occupation requires it
- Employment references confirming duties, dates and hours
- Payslips or tax records evidencing claimed experience
- Qualifications and trade certificates
- Skills assessment where the visa stream requires one
- Birth certificate or national identity card
- Change-of-name records
- Marriage certificate or de facto evidence
- Children's birth certificates
- Custody or consent documents for children
- Police clearances for each country of long-term residence
- Military service records where applicable
- Court documents for any disclosed matter
Trans Lingo provides NAATI-certified translations from $59 per page, delivered within 24 hours.
Save or Print This Checklist
You can print this page or save it to your device to help you prepare your documents.
Related Guides
Work Visas overview
Full category guide and document list.
Subclass 417 — Working Holiday
Working holiday for eligible passports.
Subclass 462 — Work and Holiday
Work and holiday for additional eligible countries.
Birth Certificate Translation
NAATI-certified, from $59.
Frequently Asked Questions
This checklist is general guidance for documents commonly used in Work applications. Not every document will apply to every applicant. Always check homeaffairs.gov.au for the latest requirements.
Section A — The position
- Signed employment contract with occupation code and salaryTranslation required
- Position description matching the nominated occupationTranslation required
- Nomination approval or reference from the sponsorNot usually required
- Evidence of registration or licensing where the occupation requires itTranslation required
Section B — Skills and experience
- Employment references confirming duties, dates and hoursTranslation required
- Payslips or tax records evidencing claimed experienceTranslation required
- Qualifications and trade certificatesTranslation required
- Skills assessment where the visa stream requires oneTranslation required
Section C — English and identity
- English test results or a passport-based exemptionNot usually required
- Passport bio-data pageMay need translation
- Birth certificate or national identity cardTranslation required
- Change-of-name recordsTranslation required
Section D — Accompanying family
- Marriage certificate or de facto evidenceTranslation required
- Children's birth certificatesTranslation required
- Custody or consent documents for childrenTranslation required
- School enrolment evidence where required by the stateMay need translation
Section E — Character and health
- Police clearances for each country of long-term residenceTranslation required
- Military service records where applicableTranslation required
- Health examinations after referralNot usually required
- Court documents for any disclosed matterTranslation required
This checklist is general guidance only and is not legal advice. Requirements vary by visa subclass and individual circumstances. Always verify the current requirements at homeaffairs.gov.au before lodging your application.