Video remote interpreting
Video remote interpreting services: face-to-face understanding, on any screen
VRI connects you to a professional interpreter by video, in 250+ spoken languages. Tone, expression, and gesture come through, so hospitals, courts, agencies, and employers get the clarity of an interpreter in the room, without the wait or the travel.
- <30sAverage connection timeFrom tap to an interpreter on screen
- 250+Spoken languagesCommon languages on demand, rare ones by appointment
- 24/7/365Interpreters on callNights, weekends, and holidays
- Any deviceTablet, laptop, or phoneBrowser or app, plus carts for hospital floors
Why video
What audio alone can’t see
In critical moments, tone and body language matter as much as words. Video brings back everything a phone line drops.
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Trust and rapport
Patients, claimants, and employees open up more readily when they can see the person helping them.
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Facial expression
Pain, confusion, and hesitation show on a face long before they are put into words.
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Documents and forms
Hold a consent form, prescription label, or ID up to the camera and walk through it together.
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Pointing and showing
“Where does it hurt?” and “Which part is broken?” are easier to answer when the interpreter can see the answer.
Where VRI works
One interpreter, every screen you work on
VRI meets your teams where the conversation happens, on the devices and video platforms they already use.
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Hospitals and clinics
Triage, informed consent, bedside rounds, and discharge instructions, on a rolling tablet cart that moves from room to room.
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Human resources and legal
Employee interviews, investigations, disciplinary meetings, and depositions, where nuance must be seen as well as heard.
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Courts and hearings
Remote hearings, public-comment sessions, and agency interviews, with the interpreter joining the video platform you already use.
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Field and frontline teams
Social workers, inspectors, and service staff reach an interpreter from a phone, wherever the conversation happens.
Languages by video
The languages your community speaks, on screen
The most requested spoken languages are available on demand, around the clock. Rare languages and regional dialects can be booked ahead, so an interpreter is ready when your appointment starts.
Need sign language? ASL interpreters are also available by video. See ASL interpreting services
On demand
- Spanish
- Mandarin
- Cantonese
- Vietnamese
- Arabic
- Russian
- Korean
- Portuguese
- French
- Haitian Creole
- Somali
- Tagalog
By appointment
- Dari
- Pashto
- Tigrinya
- Karen
- Rohingya
- K’iche’
- Mam
- Marshallese
Examples only. 250+ languages in all.
Choosing VRI
Is video the right call for this conversation?
VRI is fast and flexible, but it is not right for every encounter. We help your staff choose video, phone, or an interpreter in the room.
Video works well for
- Short to medium conversations, such as appointments, intake, and interviews
- Conversations where faces, gestures, and documents matter
- Urgent needs and after-hours requests, when no on-site interpreter can arrive in time
- Locations where interpreters are hard to reach, including rural sites
Choose an on-site interpreter when
- The participant has limited vision or cannot see the screen easily
- The person is moving between rooms or cannot sit facing a camera
- Complex, emotional, or lengthy sessions with many participants
- The connection is unreliable, or the space is not private
Technology and security
No special hardware. No compromises on privacy.
VRI runs on the tablets, laptops, and phones you already own, with rolling carts available for hospital floors. Sensitive health, legal, and personnel conversations stay protected.
- Bring your own deviceiPads, Android tablets, laptops, and smartphones, through a browser or app.
- Built for real-world connectionsIf video quality drops, the call can continue as audio, so the conversation is not lost.
- ISO/IEC 27001 certifiedEncrypted sessions under an audited information security management system.
- Healthcare readyHIPAA-aligned safeguards, with a Business Associate Agreement for covered entities.
Get started
See VRI on your own devices, before you commit
We set up a demo on the devices your teams use, issue access for each department, and train staff to start a call in seconds. Billing is per minute, with usage reports by department.
Need a rare language? The most requested languages are available on demand. Rare languages and dialects can be scheduled in advance, so no one is turned away.
VRI setupExample details
- Organization
- Regional medical center
- Top languages
- Spanish, Vietnamese, Arabic
Related services
More ways to bridge languages live
One partner for every interpreting channel.
FAQ
Video remote interpreting questions, answered
Don’t see your question? A language specialist can answer it in one call.
Talk to a specialist
Get a straight answer
Tell us what you need translated or interpreted, and we’ll scope it with you.
Meet one-on-one with a language services expert, at a time that suits you.
What is video remote interpreting (VRI)?
Video remote interpreting connects you and the person you are serving with a professional interpreter over a live video link. The interpreter can see and be seen, so facial expressions, gestures, and documents come through as well as words. It works on tablets, laptops, and phones, on demand or by appointment.
What is the difference between VRI and over-the-phone interpreting?
Over-the-phone interpreting is audio only and works from any phone, which makes it fast for short calls. Video remote interpreting adds video, so the interpreter can see faces, gestures, and documents. Many organizations use phone interpreting for quick calls and video for longer or more visual conversations.
Which languages are available by video?
The most requested spoken languages, such as Spanish, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Arabic, and Russian, are available on demand around the clock. Rare languages and regional dialects can be scheduled in advance. American Sign Language is also available by video through our ASL interpreting service.
When is an on-site interpreter better than VRI?
An interpreter in the room is usually better when the conversation is long, complex, or emotional, when many people take part, when the person cannot see the screen well or cannot sit facing a camera, or when the connection is unreliable or the space is not private.
Can VRI work with Zoom, Teams, or our own video platform?
Yes. Interpreters can join the video platform you already use for remote meetings, hearings, and interviews, or you can connect through our browser and app on a tablet, laptop, or phone.
What equipment do we need for VRI?
No special hardware is required. VRI works on iPads, Android tablets, laptops, and smartphones through a browser or app, and rolling tablet carts are available for hospital floors. A camera, a microphone, speakers or a headset, and a stable internet connection are all you need.
How much internet bandwidth does VRI need?
A stable connection with at least 2 Mbps upload and download is the practical minimum, and 5 Mbps or more gives a sharper picture. Wired or strong Wi-Fi connections work better than mobile data. We test your connection during setup.
Is your VRI service confidential?
Yes. Sessions are encrypted and handled under our ISO/IEC 27001 certified information security management system, and every interpreter is bound by confidentiality. For healthcare organizations, we apply HIPAA-aligned safeguards and sign a Business Associate Agreement.
How fast can I connect to a video interpreter?
Our average connection time is under 30 seconds for on-demand languages. Rare languages and dialects can be scheduled in advance so an interpreter is ready when you need one. Usage reports show connection times on your own account.
How much does video remote interpreting cost?
VRI is billed per minute for the time an interpreter is on your call, with no travel costs or on-site minimums. Rates depend on the language, your volume, and whether sessions are on demand or scheduled. Federal agencies can order through our GSA contract.
Tell us what’s at stake. We’ll show you how we’d handle it.
Send your files or describe your event. A language specialist replies with a fixed quote and a delivery date, with no obligation.
Prefer to call? 720-325-0459