Chaldean Interpreters in Canada

Prism Linguistics provides professional Chaldean interpreters and certified translation across Canada. Chaldean, also called Chaldean Neo-Aramaic or Sureth, is the language of the Iraqi Christian community, whose members in Canada are found mainly in southern Ontario, with long-established populations in Windsor and the Greater Toronto Area. The work centres on refugee hearings, IRCC files and medical visits, on site in the main centres or by telephone and video nationwide.

Last reviewed September 6, 2026 by the Prism Linguistics editorial team

Chaldean Court, Medical and IRCC Interpreters

Much of the Chaldean need is oral, so files are often interpreting-led rather than document-led. Sureth carries regional differences, and a speaker from the Nineveh Plain villages, from Baghdad or from the diaspora may reach for different vocabulary, so we ask where the speaker grew up and assign to match, keeping Chaldean clearly apart from the related but distinct Assyrian variety.

Interpreters attend Immigration and Refugee Board hearings and IRCC interviews, Canadian court matters, and hospital or clinic appointments under PHIPA and PIPEDA, as well as church and settlement meetings. Court and tribunal requirements vary by province and case type, so tell us the venue and hearing type and we confirm what will be accepted. Sessions run in person in the larger Ontario centres and by telephone or video for appointments anywhere in Canada.

Common settings include legal and court interpreting, medical and hospital interpreting, IRCC and Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) interviews, and police and enforcement work. See all on-site interpreting options or start a free quote.

Certified Chaldean Translation

Certified Chaldean translation usually works from more than one source language. Chaldean is written in the Syriac script, read right to left, but most Iraqi civil paperwork is issued in Arabic, so a certified translation typically covers Arabic-language birth, marriage and nationality records, while a Syriac church or baptismal certificate is translated from the script itself. We deliver the English or French translation with a signed certificate of accuracy, or a sworn affidavit before a commissioner of oaths where a Canadian body asks for one.

Files commonly include Iraqi civil-status and nationality records, baptismal and marriage certificates from a Chaldean or Assyrian church, refugee and UNHCR papers, and identity documents left incomplete after displacement, which we render exactly as they appear and note where a detail is missing. Prism is a private agency, not a court-appointed body, and acceptance ultimately depends on the receiving institution.

For documents rather than spoken interpreting, see certified Chaldean translation, our full Chaldean translation services, or general document translation. Every translation moves through our TEP workflow — translation, editing and proofreading by separate linguists — with free revisions.

Chaldean Interpreting by Phone, Video and On Site

On-site Interpreting

An interpreter attends in person for hearings, medical appointments and meetings. On-site interpreting

Telephone Interpreting

Same-day, often within minutes, for calls, intake and urgent situations. Phone interpreting

Video Remote (VRI)

Telehealth, remote hearings and sign language, anywhere in Canada. Video interpreting

Conference Interpreting

Simultaneous interpreting for events and multilingual meetings. Conference interpreting

Private & Community

Legal consultations, settlement services and private appointments. Private interpreting

Sign Language

ASL and LSQ interpreting for accessible appointments and events. Sign language

About the Chaldean Language

Chaldean is the name commonly given by the Chaldean Catholic Christian community of Iraq to their Neo-Aramaic language, often called Suret or Chaldean Neo-Aramaic. It's spoken by perhaps 200,000 people. In Canada the Chaldean community is centred in the Windsor and Toronto areas, where Chaldean Catholic parishes anchor a diaspora that has grown through successive waves of Iraqi displacement. Our Chaldean translation work is concentrated around IRB refugee and IRCC sponsorship paperwork, Iraqi civil documents (often in Arabic rather than Chaldean), and church records from Chaldean Catholic dioceses.

Chaldean Interpreter FAQs

My Iraqi documents are in Arabic, not Syriac. Can you translate them?

Yes. Most Iraqi civil records are issued in Arabic, and we translate those alongside any Syriac-script church certificate on the same file. Acceptance ultimately depends on the receiving institution.

Is Chaldean the same as Assyrian?

They are closely related Aramaic varieties but not identical. Tell us which the speaker uses so we assign the right interpreter or translator.

Can I get a Chaldean interpreter for a refugee hearing?

Yes. We provide interpreters for Immigration and Refugee Board hearings and IRCC interviews, in person in the main centres or by telephone and video across Canada. We are a private agency, not a court-appointed vendor.

What if a record was lost during displacement?

We translate what you hold and render it exactly, and where a standard civil record no longer exists a sworn affidavit before a commissioner of oaths can accompany the translation. Whether it satisfies the body depends on the receiving institution.

How do I get a quote for a Chaldean interpreter or translation?

Tell us the language, the setting and the date through our quote form or by phone. We return a written quote with the exact price and turnaround, usually within 60 minutes during business hours, before you commit.

Book a Chaldean Interpreter

Tell us the setting, the city and the date, and we will confirm a qualified Chaldean interpreter and a firm price.