How does NAATI accreditation relate to migration requirements?

Australian Immigration Regulations currently recognise NAATI accreditation as a one–way or two–way Translator and/or Interpreter as being sufficient for the Skilled Occupation category; OR for the Community Language Fluency category. The occupations of Translator and Interpreter are currently included on the Australian Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs’ Skilled Occupations List. If you nominate your occupation as a Translator or Interpreter, you must have your qualifications assessed by NAATI.

What test should I do to qualify for the Occupational Skill Category?

You will need to obtain NAATI accreditation as a Translator or Interpreter. You may do this by sitting for a NAATI Test. NAATI suggests that candidates sit for the Translator test, from their ‘B’ language into their ‘A’ language. The greatest likelihood of success is for this direction. This means that if your first language is Spanish (A) and your next acquired language is English (B), you should sit for the one–way Translator test: English into Spanish. NAATI recommends that candidates should not sit for tests from their C language into either their A or B languages.

If you are NOT a translator but rather an interpreter, you should sit for the Interpreter test.

What is meant by the terms ‘A’ Language, ‘B’ Language, and ‘C’ Language?

NAATI uses the definitions provided by the Association Internationale des Interpretes de Conference (AIIC). The working languages of interpreters are classified under the categories A, B and C, defined as follows:

Active Language

A Language: the Translator’s or Interpreter’s first language (or another language strictly equivalent to a first language), into which they work from all their other languages.

B Language: a language other than the Translator’s or Interpreter’s first language, of which they have a perfect command and into which they work from one or more of their other languages.

Passive Languages

C Language: a language or languages, of which the Translator or Interpreter has a complete understanding and from which he or she works.

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What should I do to qualify for the Community Language Fluency Category?

NAATI accreditation as Translator and/or Interpreter (the first professional level) also currently meets the requirements for the Community Language Bonus Points. If you obtain NAATI accreditation you may claim points for both the Occupational Skills and Community Language Fluency. Recognition of fluency in a community language for the purpose of gaining bonus points for migration to Australia may be achieved in one of two ways:

1. by completing a qualification (of equivalent standard to an Australian degree) gained from a university where the language of instruction was the same as the language for which you are claiming fluency. If this is your situation you only need to submit to the Department of Immigration, a certified copy of your degree or diploma with your application for migration, claiming the five (5) bonus points on this basis. You may need to obtain a statement from the university verifying that the language of instruction was the community language for which you are claiming fluency.
2. by obtaining NAATI accreditation as a Translator and/or Interpreter in your Community Language and English. Note that this accreditation will qualify a person for 60 points under the skilled occupation category AND the five (5) bonus points for language fluency. NAATI accreditation may be obtained by sitting for an examination which permits entry to a profession and as such, represents a much higher level of skill than simple language fluency. It requires near native fluency and comprehension in both English and your other language. If you do not qualify under (a) above and wish to pursue the testing option, please refer to information about NAATI testing.

Community Languages and Bonus Points for Migration