Interpreters and Translations
If either of you cannot understand the marriage process or the ceremony clearly in English, an interpreter may be needed.
If your documents are not in English, a translation will usually be needed as well.
Document translations
If your birth certificate, divorce papers, death certificate, or other supporting documents are not in English, plan to provide a translation.
The safest option is to use a NAATI-certified translator.
Interpreters at the marriage
If there is any doubt about whether a person understands the ceremony and the meaning of marriage, we may require an interpreter before we proceed.
That helps protect real consent and makes the process clear for everyone.
Practical tips
- organise translations early
- send us copies before the day if you can
- do not rely on Google Translate or other machine translation tools
- ask early if you are unsure whether an interpreter will be needed
A note about witnesses
Under the celebrant guidelines, an interpreter and a witness can technically be the same person, but it is usually better to keep those roles separate.
Read next
Get started online
Book first, pay the fee, then prepare your Notice of Intended Marriage with NOIM Easy. Once we receive your paperwork, we confirm the next available date, time, and place.