What is a national identity card?
A national identity card is a government-issued document carrying the holder's full name, photograph, date of birth, nationality, and a unique national identification number. The name and issuing authority vary across many countries:
- Argentina — DNI (Documento Nacional de Identidad), issued by RENAPER.
- Mexico — CURP (Clave Única de Registro de Población), the INE voter card (Credencial para Votar), or the Cédula Profesional.
- Spain — DNI (Documento Nacional de Identidad), issued by the Ministerio del Interior.
- Colombia — Cédula de Ciudadanía (adults) or Tarjeta de Identidad (minors), issued by the Registraduría Nacional del Estado Civil.
- Chile — Cédula de Identidad, issued by the Registro Civil e Identificación.
- Peru — DNI, issued by RENIEC.
- Venezuela — Cédula de Identidad, issued by SAIME.
- Uruguay and Ecuador — Cédula de Identidad / Cédula de Ciudadanía, issued by the national civil registry.
When do you need a translation?
A NAATI-certified translation of a national identity card may be required when the card is submitted as supporting documentation in:
- Visa applications where the identity card supplements the passport to verify date of birth, nationality, or the spelling of names.
- Partner and family visas where identity reconciliation across multiple documents is part of the evidence package.
- Skilled migration applications where the assessing authority requests additional identity documentation.
- Citizenship and identity verification matters where the passport alone does not capture all identity fields.
- Study applications where the educational institution requests proof of identity for enrolment.
For the primary travel document, see our passport translation guide. For supporting identity evidence, the birth certificate is also commonly requested alongside the national ID.
What must the translation include?
A NAATI-certified national identity card translation covers all text on both sides of the card, including:
- Full name exactly as printed, preserving both surnames where applicable.
- Date of birth and place of birth.
- National identification number (DNI, CURP, Cédula or equivalent).
- Nationality and, where shown, civil status.
- Date of issue and date of expiry if present.
- Any additional fields on the card — blood type, address, voting precinct, or biometric reference.
- A description of the issuing authority, security features, and any stamps or signatures.
How to get a certified translation
Trans Lingo provides NAATI-certified national identity card translations from $59 per page, with 24-hour standard delivery. Upload a clear colour scan of both sides of the card as a single PDF or as two images. The translation is returned as a digital PDF formatted to mirror the layout of the original card, with the NAATI certification statement and translator stamp on each page.