The Australian Government’s General Skilled Migration programme

The Australian Government’s Skilled Migration programme is implemented through a partnership between government and industry.  The Department of Immigration and Citizenship and the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations work with industry, represented by professional migration assessing authorities, to ensure that policies and procedures for assessing the skills of prospective migrants are appropriate, transparent and do not pose unreasonable barriers to migration.

National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters Ltd (NAATI) has been specified by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship in accordance with the Migration Regulations 1994 as the assessing authority for the occupations of Translator (ASCO Code 2529-15) and Interpreter (ASCO Code 2529-13).

The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations supported this process through its role in approving migration assessing authorities. Approval is granted to professional bodies which meet established criteria, including a commitment to support of the objectives of the General Skilled Migration programme and the provision of an appropriate assessment service to prospective migrants.

If you wish to apply to migrate to Australia as a Translator or Interpreter under the General Skilled Migration visa categories, you will need to have your skills assessed by NAATI. NAATI will assess your skills as "suitable" or "not suitable" for your nominated occupation against the requirements it has established.

Your skills assessment must be included with your visa application to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC), and you must be prepared to show DIAC all the documentation you have relied upon when seeking a skills assessment.  You should keep a certified copy of your skills assessment and all other relevant documentation for your own records.

Successfully migrating to Australia as a Translator or Interpreter is no guarantee of membership of the Australian Institute for Interpreters and Translators (AUSIT), the national professional body, registration with the relevant authority or employment in Australia as a Translator or Interpreter.  Requirements additional to those for migration may need to be met.

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s Australian Skills Recognition Information website also provides information on working as a Translator or Interpreter in Australia - visit www.immi.gov.au/asri.

NAATI can only provide advice on applying for a skills assessment.  All other questions relating to migration should be directed to DIAC - visit www.immi.gov.au for information and contact details.

MIGRATION SKILLS ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

COMMUNITY LANGUAGE BONUS POINTS INFORMATION