Migrating to Australia
Whether you're planning the move or have just arrived, language skills turn up at every step: the English test for your visa, community language points, registration in your profession and, later, work as an interpreter. Practise the speaking parts out loud before they count.10 free practice minutes every month. No card needed.
A common pathway: find your visa's requirements, take an English test, sit the NAATI CCL, get NAATI certified as an interpreter, then work. XINGO helps you practise the middle three.
Step 1 of 5
Find your visa's requirements
Each visa sets its own English level and evidence. Start on Home Affairs.
Not everyone takes every step.
The journey at a glance
Not everyone takes every step, and the order varies. Use this as a map, then check the official page for each step.
Each visa sets its own requirements, including the level of English you need and how you prove it. Read the eligibility page for the visa you're considering, and get advice about your own situation from a registered migration agent.
Home Affairs: visas and requirementsRead the guide:Finding a registered migration agentThe points test explained
This step is yours and your agent's. XINGO doesn't give migration advice.
Home Affairs accepts results from a list of English tests, including IELTS Academic, IELTS General Training, OET and PTE Academic, taken at a secure test centre. The score you need depends on the visa. Speaking is the hardest part to practise on your own.
Home Affairs: accepted English testsRead the guide:English tests for Australian PRIELTS, PTE or OET?
Practise on XINGO
On points-tested skilled visas, a credentialled community language can add points. Most people use NAATI's Credentialed Community Language (CCL) test: two dialogues you interpret between English and your other language.
NAATI: the CCL testRead the guide:Community language points
Practise on XINGO
Health practitioners must meet their National Board's English language standard, and some also sit a clinical assessment, such as the AMC clinical exam for international medical graduates or the NMBA OSCE for internationally qualified nurses.
Ahpra: English language skillsRead the guide:Guide for nursesGuide for doctors
Practise on XINGO
To work as an interpreter you need NAATI certification. The Certified Provisional Interpreter (CPI) test is NAATI's entry-level generalist interpreting test, with prerequisites to meet before you sit it.
NAATI: Certified Provisional InterpreterRead the guide:How to become an interpreter
Practise on XINGO
Migration guides
Each guide explains one part of the move in more depth, links to the official sources and says where practice helps. General information only.
Proving your English, choosing a test and free classes.
How the points test works, community language points and getting help.
Registration pathways for nurses and doctors.
Your first weeks, and free interpreting when you need it.
Putting your languages to work.
Where language skills count
Facts below come from official pages and were checked in October 2026. Rules change, so confirm them before you rely on them.
Most visas set an English level. For points-tested skilled visas, a higher level can also earn points. The points table for the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) currently shows:
| English level | Points |
|---|---|
| Competent English | 0 |
| Proficient English | 10 |
| Superior English | 20 |
Each level maps to minimum scores in each part of the test. See Home Affairs' English level pages.
The same points table gives 5 points for a recognised qualification in a credentialled community language. That means a NAATI community language credential (the CCL), or NAATI certification at Certified Provisional level or above.
NAATI says the CCL is not a professional certification. Passing it doesn't certify you to work as an interpreter or translator.
More detail: CCL and the 5 points for PR.
Ahpra says every applicant for registration must meet their National Board's English language skills standard, whether they trained in Australia or overseas. OET is one of the accepted tests.
Some health professionals also sit a clinical assessment with simulated patients, where communication is assessed throughout:
Points tables differ between visas. Check the table for the visa you're applying for on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.
How XINGO helps you practise
XINGO is spoken practice with AI voice partners. You talk, they answer, and you get specific feedback on what to fix.
Speak out loud with AI voices
An AI examiner, patient or pair of speakers talks back in real time, so you rehearse the conversation, not a worksheet.
Scored feedback after assessed sessions
CCL-style dialogues are scored out of 90, IELTS mock tests get an estimated band, and OET, AMC and OSCE role-plays get feedback on the criteria. Scores are estimates, not official results.
Your language pair
For interpreting practice, pick English and one of 30 listed languages, or type another.
Practice mode, then assessed
Practice mode coaches you as you go. Assessed sessions run like the real thing, with no hints, and are scored at the end.
Free to start: 10 practice minutes every month, plus one preview dialogue in every premium course. Sessions run in your browser and each is capped at 30 minutes. XINGO is independent practice and doesn't award any credential.
Pick your goal
IELTS Speaking mock tests
All three parts on real timings with an AI examiner, then an estimated band and feedback.
Practise IELTS SpeakingFrom practice to work
Interpreters help people use health, legal and community services in their own language. If you speak English and another language well, it's work worth considering. Here's the honest version of the path:
The CCL is for points, not work. It shows community-level language ability. It isn't a credential to work as an interpreter.
NAATI certification is the credential. The Certified Provisional Interpreter test is NAATI's entry-level generalist interpreting test. You meet NAATI's prerequisites first, for example through an interpreting qualification.
Practise the format until it's routine. XINGO gives you CPI-style dialogues on demand: two AI speakers, you in the middle, scored feedback after each assessed session.
Then apply for work. XINGO is partnered with 2M Language Services. Once you're NAATI certified, you can apply to work with 2M as an interpreter.
2M Language Services decides who it engages. Applying doesn't guarantee work, and practising on XINGO doesn't give you a credential by itself.
Practical advice
General tips from preparing for speaking tests and settling in. None of this replaces advice about your own visa.
Practise speaking every day, out loud
Reading and listening help, but speaking tests reward fluency under pressure. Short daily sessions with a timer build it faster than occasional long ones.
Build vocabulary in both languages
For the CCL, learn the words for health, housing, legal, employment and other community topics in English and your language.
CCL vocabulary listsUse headphones and a quiet room
The CCL is delivered online with remote proctoring. Practise on the set-up you'll use on the day so nothing surprises you.
Get documents translated properly
Home Affairs asks for an English translation of documents not in English. In Australia, it says to use a NAATI-accredited translator. After you arrive, eligible permanent residents and some other visa holders can get up to 10 settlement documents (such as a licence or qualifications) translated free within two years of their visa grant, but not documents needed for a visa or citizenship application.
Find a NAATI translatorCheck your credential dates
NAATI says CCL credentials issued from 9 August 2022 are valid for five years. Make sure yours lines up with your application timeline.
Only take advice from registered people
Only registered migration agents, legal practitioners and exempt persons can help with your visa application. Check an agent on the official register before you pay anyone.
Search the registerIt depends on your visa. Home Affairs accepts results from a list of tests, including IELTS Academic, IELTS General Training, OET, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, C1 Advanced, CELPIP General, LANGUAGECERT Academic and the Michigan English Test, taken at a secure test centre. Check the eligibility page for your visa to see the level and evidence it needs.
Yes. Home Affairs lists both IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training, including One Skill Retake for eligible visas. The score you need depends on the visa and, for points-tested visas, on the English level you want to claim.
Yes. OET is on the Home Affairs list of accepted tests. It's designed for health professionals, and Ahpra also accepts it for registration. Check the scores your visa and your National Board need.
At the time of writing, the points table for the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) gives 5 points for a recognised qualification in a credentialled community language, such as a NAATI CCL or NAATI certification at Certified Provisional level or above. Points rules can change, so check the current table for your visa or ask a registered migration agent.
No. NAATI says the CCL is not a professional certification, and passing it doesn't certify you to work as an interpreter or translator. To work as an interpreter you need NAATI certification, such as Certified Provisional Interpreter.
Most people start with NAATI's Certified Provisional Interpreter (CPI) test, the entry-level generalist interpreting test. Before you sit it you need to meet NAATI's prerequisites, for example by completing an interpreting qualification and showing ethical and intercultural competency. NAATI's website explains each pathway.
XINGO is partnered with 2M Language Services. Once you're NAATI certified, you can apply to work with 2M as an interpreter. 2M makes its own decisions about who it engages, and practising on XINGO doesn't give you a credential by itself.
No. XINGO is independent practice software. It isn't affiliated with NAATI, Home Affairs or any test provider, and our scores are estimates, not official results. Credentials come from NAATI and the test providers.
No. We give general information only. For advice about your situation, speak to a registered migration agent or a legal practitioner. You can check an agent on the official register of migration agents.
It's free to start. Every account gets 10 free practice minutes each month, free courses, and one preview dialogue in every premium course. No card needed.
Checked October 2026. XINGO isn't affiliated with Home Affairs, NAATI, Ahpra, the AMC, the NMBA or any test provider.
10 free practice minutes every month. IELTS, OET, CCL and more. No card needed.
