Why do simultaneous assignments need two interpreters?
Short answer
Continuous simultaneous interpreting degrades in accuracy after roughly half an hour because it demands listening, analysing and speaking at the same time. A rotating pair keeps the output at a stable quality across a full session.
The off-duty interpreter is not idle: they take numbers, names and unfamiliar terms for the active interpreter, and they cover the handover so no segment is lost during the swap.
For short interventions — a fifteen-minute welcome address, a brief Q&A — a single interpreter is normally sufficient. The pairing rule applies to sustained programmes.
Reviewed as of 2026-08-04. General guidance only, not case-specific advice and not a guarantee of outcome. Government fees, conditions and processing times are set by the responsible authority and can change. This site does not publish prices — please ask our staff.
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