NAATI vs NZQA in 2026: What Immigration and Universities Actually Require

Updated November 2026.

NAATI and NZQA solve two different problems. NAATI certifies that a translation faithfully renders your original document into English. NZQA assesses whether the qualification itself sits at a level comparable to a New Zealand award. Most study and skilled migration files need both, in that order, and confusion between the two is one of the most common reasons a New Zealand application stalls at the document review stage.

NZQA processed close to 8,000 International Qualifications Assessments in the 2024/25 year according to its published performance reporting. A large share of those files were delayed at intake because the supporting translations were not certified to a standard NZQA accepts, and the applicants had assumed a NAATI stamp alone would carry the file through both processes.

What Each Body Actually Does

The table below sets the two side by side so the roles stop overlapping in your head.

What NAATI Actually Certifies

A NAATI certified translation comes from a translator listed on the NAATI public register with an active credential in a specific language pair and direction. The certification statement confirms the English text is a true and accurate rendering of the source. It says nothing about the value, level or authenticity of the qualification itself. Immigration New Zealand and NZQA both accept NAATI translations as the English version of a foreign language document.

You need NAATI whenever a source document is not in English. That covers degree certificates, academic transcripts, birth records, marriage records, police certificates and identity documents. Full details of the NAATI certification framework sit on the NAATI certification page.

What NZQA Actually Assesses

NZQA runs the International Qualifications Assessment, known as an IQA. Assessors compare your overseas award against the ten level New Zealand Qualifications Framework and issue a written report that states the closest equivalent NZ qualification and level. Immigration New Zealand uses that report to award points under the Skilled Migrant Category and to confirm study history for certain work visa categories. Universities use it, or a similar internal check, when you apply for postgraduate study.

The IQA reviews the qualification itself, not the paper it is printed on. Your NAATI translations feed into the IQA as the English version of the source award, and NZQA accepts them as long as the translator is credentialed on a recognised register.

Which One Do I Need for My Situation

Work through the pathway below to see what your file needs.

• Visitor visa. NAATI translation of passport bio page and any supporting civil records. No NZQA.
• Student visa for undergraduate study. NAATI translations of transcripts and completion certificates. NZQA usually not required because the university does its own admission check.
• Student visa for postgraduate study. NAATI translations plus, in many cases, a Pre Assessment Result issued by NZQA to confirm the undergraduate award meets NZ level 7 or above.
• Accredited Employer Work Visa. NAATI translations of qualifications and reference letters. NZQA IQA is not compulsory but strengthens files where the role sits at ANZSCO skill level 1 or 2.
• Skilled Migrant Category resident visa. NAATI translations plus a full NZQA IQA for any qualification claimed for points.
• Partner and family visas. NAATI translations of civil records. No NZQA unless the partner is separately claiming skilled points.

The right combination depends on the visa category and, for study, the level of the programme. A recent Filipino nursing applicant we assisted needed a NAATI academic transcript translation for her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, plus a full NZQA IQA to claim points under the Skilled Migrant Category for her role as a registered nurse. Without either component the points claim would have failed at first review.

"The clients who get through fastest are the ones who order the NAATI translations first, then send everything to NZQA in a single tidy package. Piecemeal submissions are what drag files into extra months." Auckland based licensed immigration adviser, April 2026.

Common Confusion Points

• A NAATI stamp does not qualify your degree. It only qualifies the English translation of your degree.
• An NZQA assessment does not replace a translation. NZQA still needs an English version of every non English source.
• Immigration New Zealand can accept a NAATI translation without an NZQA report for many work and study visas, so do not pay for an IQA unless the visa category or points claim needs one.

Cost and Timing Snapshot

A typical Skilled Migrant Category file with one degree, one transcript, one marriage record and one police certificate lands in the range of $300 to $520 for all NAATI translations, plus the $746 IQA fee. Translations take a few days when ordered together. The IQA report takes roughly seven weeks in the current queue. Full IQA process steps and fees are published on the NZQA international qualifications page.

Ordering translations first, waiting for the certified files, then lodging the IQA is the sequence that reliably compresses the timeline. For a wider view of how the translation layer fits into a New Zealand residency file, see our guide to translation of documents for New Zealand residency applications.

Short FAQ

Can NZQA translate my documents for me

No. NZQA assesses qualifications and does not provide translation services. You supply certified translations with your IQA application.

Will Immigration New Zealand accept a translation done by NZQA

NZQA does not issue translations, so the question does not arise. INZ accepts translations from NAATI credentialed practitioners and other recognised professional translators.

Do I need an IQA for a student visa

Not for most undergraduate courses. Postgraduate study often benefits from a Pre Assessment Result, which is a shorter and cheaper NZQA product than a full IQA.

How long is an IQA valid

An IQA does not expire. The same report can support multiple visa lodgements and job applications for the same qualification.

Final Word

NAATI and NZQA sit at different layers of your New Zealand application. NAATI takes care of language. NZQA takes care of qualification level. Get the translations right first, then feed a clean bundle into NZQA if your visa category or study pathway calls for an assessment. That order keeps your file moving and stops the two agencies from bouncing your paperwork back and forth.