Prism Linguistics sets up Mina interpreting and the certified translation behind a Mina file nationwide, chiefly for immigration and refugee matters out of Togo and Benin. Also known as Gen or Gen-Gbe, Mina is a Gbe language close to Ewe, spoken around Aného and Lomé in southern Togo and over the border into Benin. Because both countries register civil life in French, the documents travel from French while the Mina stays spoken.
Last reviewed September 6, 2026 by the Prism Linguistics editorial team
Mina belongs to the Gbe grouping beside Ewe, Fon and Aja, and speakers follow those neighbours to differing degrees; the name is also attached to unrelated languages elsewhere, so at booking we make sure the Gbe language of Togo and Benin is the one in question. Many speakers also use French, but resting a refugee hearing on a second language is a risk, and an interpreter carries the mother tongue precisely.
Our Mina interpreters take on refugee protection hearings and immigration interviews, hospital and clinic visits under PHIPA and PIPEDA, and settlement and legal-aid meetings. With a small community here, most work runs by telephone or video anywhere in the country, and in person in a major centre when it can be scheduled.
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.
The paper side of a Mina file runs from French, since Togo and Benin record births, marriages and deaths in French rather than in Mina, which uses the Latin alphabet but seldom appears on official documents. We produce a full English translation under a signed declaration, or a sworn affidavit before a commissioner of oaths where a body prefers it.
Where a rural birth was recorded late or a record is missing, the affidavit can explain how a name or date was established, and we keep the French transliteration of a Gbe name steady across the papers. The records we see are the usual French civil set plus school documents for credential assessment, and acceptance ultimately depends on the receiving institution, be that IRCC, the tribunal or a provincial registry.
For documents rather than spoken interpreting, see certified Mina translation, our full Mina translation services, or general document translation. Every translation moves through our TEP workflow — translation, editing and proofreading by separate linguists — with free revisions.
An interpreter attends in person for hearings, medical appointments and meetings. On-site interpreting
Same-day, often within minutes, for calls, intake and urgent situations. Phone interpreting
Telehealth, remote hearings and sign language, anywhere in Canada. Video interpreting
Simultaneous interpreting for events and multilingual meetings. Conference interpreting
Legal consultations, settlement services and private appointments. Private interpreting
ASL and LSQ interpreting for accessible appointments and events. Sign language
We arrange Mina interpreters in cities across every province and territory — on site in the major centres and by telephone or video everywhere else:
Need documents translated locally? We provide certified Mina translation in the same cities:
Or browse every city we cover.
Mina (Gen, Gen-Mina) is a Niger-Congo language spoken by around 300,000 people in southern Togo and southeastern Benin. It's closely related to Ewe. Our Mina translation work is essentially non-existent in normal operations; Togolese and Beninese civil documents are typically in French and routed accordingly.
Togo and Benin issue civil records in French, so we prepare a certified French to English translation. The spoken Mina element is usually the interpreting side of a file.
They are close Gbe relatives and largely intelligible, but not the same. The name Mina turns up elsewhere too, so we confirm the Togo and Benin language at booking.
Yes. A sworn affidavit before a commissioner of oaths can travel with the translation to explain how a name or date was established, and acceptance ultimately depends on the receiving institution.
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.
Tell us the setting, the city and the date, and we will confirm a qualified Mina interpreter and a firm price.