How long will it take to complete my translations?  

Depending on my availability at the time, shorter “standard” documents (ie. driver licences, birth certificates, police certificates, some selective translations, etc.) can usually be completed within 2-3 working days. Larger projects containing multiple documents or greater volumes of content may take longer. Payment will also need to be made in advance, so the sooner you can provide confirmation of payment, the sooner I will start your translations. Urgent services (same-day delivery or 24-hour service) may also be available depending on my availability. Surcharges apply.

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 How much will my translations cost?  

Charges will vary depending on the type and quantity of documents you have.

Please refer to Pricing for further details.

 

 How can I receive my translations?  

Fortunately, most certified translations these days can be used in electronic format. Please check the relevant requirements carefully to see if your visa application or other documentation can be submitted online. If so, I can send you an electronic copy of your translation in PDF format by email. Alternatively, I can send you a physical printed translation. If you require both formats, an additional fee of $10.00 per translation would apply.

 

If you require physical translations, I can either send them to you by regular post ($5.00 within New Zealand) or by overnight courier ($10.00 within New Zealand). If you prefer to pick up your translations in person, I can provide you with a physical address for collection from my letterbox in Auckland, however please note that I do not have an office that is open to the public. Please contact me directly for overseas postage pricing options.

 

As per NZTA's translation requirements, high quality colour printouts of driver licence translations issued in PDF format can be used for both driving and licence conversion in New Zealand.

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 Will you need to sight my original documents?  

In most cases, no. For most translations, sighting original documents is no longer required. This makes it even easier and faster to request and receive your translations over the internet. Each translation will indicate the type of document as received by the translator (in most cases, a scanned or electronic copy is sufficient).

 

Certain government authorities in New Zealand may also ask you to submit your original documents or certified copies with your application. If this is the case, you would need to arrange this separately to the translation process and submit both the required format in addition to the translation (translations will also include a copy of your document in its original language, as part of the certified translation). Please check the requirements carefully for your own particular circumstances, and contact me if you have any specific needs.

 

Please also note that translators are not responsible for determining the validity or originality of documents, nor the exactitude of their contents. If you are based in New Zealand and need to obtain certified copies of your original documents, you can find a Justice of the Peace here.

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 What is the difference between a full translation and a selective translation and which type of translation will I need?  

A full translation will include the entire contents of the original document, whereas a selective translation will include only a selection of the most relevant details in line with the purpose of each translation. Some documents are more suited to selective translation and others will need to be translated in full.

Selective translations are typically used for standard documents such as birth, marriage, divorce and death certificates, identity cards and driver licences. This is standard practice throughout the translation industry in New Zealand. It enables the most relevant and important information to be concentrated into a format that is quick and easy for the end-user to read. It also lowers translation costs for clients because a minimum charge can be applied per document.

 

Longer documents or large volumes of repetitive content may also be suited to selective translation, especially if they contain a lot of superfluous information. An employment contract providing details of a person’s work history, a rental contract proving address details or de facto relationship, a bank statement showing proof of funds, or payslips showing employment history and income are all good examples of documents that usually only require selective translation.

 

Academic documents, declarations and police certificates are examples of documents I always provide full translations for. If you are unsure about what you need, feel free to upload your documents so that I can take a look at them, or contact me directly to discuss your options.

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 My document is really short, why do you still have a minimum charge?  

In addition to the administrative work and time involved in each translation project, you are also receiving an official service backed by years of training and credentials, expertise and industry knowledge. The same thing applies if you engage the services of a plumber, for example. If you have a large number of documents, a discount may be given depending on the type of documents and content.

 

 I don’t have a bank account in New Zealand. How can I pay for the translations?  

If you are a tourist or you have only recently arrived in New Zealand and haven’t yet set up a bank account, you can pay by cash deposit at any ASB bank branch in the country, or online using platforms such as Wise (formerly TransferWise) or Revolut using my local bank account details (bank details provided by email following project confirmation). I can also send you a payment link via PayPal so that you can pay using your debit or credit card, even if you don't have a PayPal account. Contact me directly for my bank account details or if you have any further questions.