Prospective interpreters
In the interests of continuing to build and maintain a panel of high quality interpreters, new applicants will (except in exceptional circumstances) only be added to the panel once they have been assessed by Language Services Limited and have been security cleared.
Applying
At present we are recruiting for the following languages within the United Kingdom: Almara, Bahdini, Baluchi, Bhutani, Bilen, Burmese, Chechen, Fula/Fulbe, Korean, Kurdish Kirmanji, Malinke, Mongolian, Ndbele, Nepalese, Oroma, Patois, Pothwari, Quechua, Romany, Saho, Sherpa, Shona, Tibetan and Vietnamese, and Xhosa.
We are also looking for freelance interpreters in Wales in the following languages: Japanese, Kurdish-Sorani, Pushtu, Somali and Thai.
If you speak any of these languages and are interested in interpreting for the UK Border Agency, please complete and return the application form, or request a pack directly from the unit. Please note the unit will not accept CVs, unless accompanied by our application form (DOC 253K opens in a new window).
Interpreters who speak any other languages should contact the Central Interpreters Unit to find out if there is a specific need for your language or languages in your area.
If you live in Northern Ireland and you speak any of the following languages please contact us for an application form: Arabic (Algerian and Moroccan), Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), French, Ndebele, Portuguese (Brazilian dialect), Romanian, Russian and Shona.
Once you have completed and submitted an application to the unit it will be considered. If it is successful you will be added to a spreadsheet that will be sent to ports on a monthly basis so that they can identify which languages they have a need for.
Due to the large amount of applications received we are unable to respond to everyone. Therefore you will only be contacted if a need for your language is identified.
New applicants will only be added to the panel once they have met all the listed requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Are there any restrictions on who can apply?
There are few restrictions. The principal one is that overseas nationals applying to join the panel should not have any restriction on their stay in the United Kingdom. Please send your enquiries to the department for more information.
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What hours do interpreters work?
The work the Agency provides for interpreters is very much demand-led and can vary considerably.
There is no minimum or maximum requirement in terms of hours. We therefore welcome applications from those who may only be free to interpret at specific times such as evenings or weekends, as well as those who are available at any time. Clearly, as many airports and ports work 24 hours a day, we are in constant need of interpreting services.
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What type of work are interpreters required to do?
The majority of interpreting work is face-to-face interpreting. This may be in either arrival interviews or casework interviews where an individual as been booked in advance. In both cases you will be required to provide simultaneous translation. Phone interpreting is also occasionally required.
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Will every interpreter registered on the panel have to go through the assessment and training programme?
In order to maintain a high standard of interpreters we require interpreters to attend our training and assessment programme. This programme is conducted by Language Services Limited - a division of the Institute of Linguists. An individual is only exempt from the above, if he/she is a 'full status' member of the National Register of Public Service Interpreting (NRPSI) or already holds a Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (with law), or has passed the Independent Appellate Authorities (IAA) or a police force assessment in the last three years.
Each interpreter will be assessed in every language he/she is registered for unless he/she holds any of the above qualifications for that language. He/she will, however, only have to attend one training session.
If an individual is not successful in the above programme then he/she will be immediately removed from the panel for that language.
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Are there any minimum requirements?
In order to maintain a high standard of interpreters we require interpreters to attend our training and assessment programme. This programme is conducted by Language Services Limited - a division of the Institute of Linguists. An individual is only exempt from the above if he/she is a 'full status' member of the National Register of Public Service Interpreting (NRPSI) or already holds a Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (with law), or has passed the Independent Appellate Authorities (IAA) or a police force assessment in the last three years.
If an individual is not successful in the above programme he/she will be immediately removed from the panel.
If he/she is successful, he/she will receive a certificate specific to the UK Border Agency produced by Language Service Limited.
Contact
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Central Interpreters Unit
020 8760 3820
UK Border Agency Central Interpreters Unit, Whitgift Centre B Block, 12th Floor West Wing, 15 Wellesley Road, Croydon, CR9 1AT