Prism Linguistics arranges Sena interpreters and Sena document translation across Canada, mainly for people from the Zambezi valley of central Mozambique and neighbouring parts of Malawi and Zimbabwe. Sena is a Bantu language written in the Latin alphabet. The community in Canada is small, so most Sena work is handled by telephone and video.
Last reviewed September 6, 2026 by the Prism Linguistics editorial team
Sena interpreting comes up mainly in refugee, family-reunification and settlement files, with occasional medical and legal appointments. Speakers from Mozambique often also use Portuguese, while those from Malawi may use Chichewa or English, so we ask which language a person is most comfortable giving evidence in before assigning, since that choice affects accuracy in an IRCC or IRB interview.
Given the size of the community, Sena interpreters are assigned chiefly by telephone and video, reaching appointments anywhere in Canada and usually available at short notice. In healthcare the interpreter keeps to a complete, neutral rendering under PHIPA and PIPEDA privacy rules; in a hearing we confirm the tribunal's requirements first. On-site attendance can be arranged where a local interpreter is available.
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.
Portuguese is the official language of Mozambique, so civil records such as birth, marriage and death certificates are issued in Portuguese rather than Sena. In practice document files for this community are usually Portuguese to English or French translation, with English-language records for those from Malawi, and genuinely Sena-only material tends to be personal or community papers.
Where translation is needed we provide it with a signed Certificate of Translation Accuracy, or a sworn affidavit before a commissioner of oaths if the receiving body asks. Prism is a private agency, not a court-appointed one, and acceptance ultimately depends on the receiving institution, such as IRCC, a provincial registry or a Canadian court.
For documents rather than spoken interpreting, see certified Sena translation, our full Sena 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 Sena 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 Sena translation in the same cities:
Or browse every city we cover.
Sena is a Bantu language spoken by around 1.5 million people in central Mozambique and parts of southern Malawi and Zimbabwe. Our Sena translation work is essentially non-existent in normal operations; Mozambican civil documents are usually in Portuguese (the country's official language) and routed accordingly.
Usually Portuguese, the official language, rather than Sena. Most files are Portuguese to English or French translation, which we handle with a Certificate of Translation Accuracy or a sworn affidavit. Records from Malawi are often in English.
Yes, mostly by telephone or video, which reaches any location and is usually available at short notice. On-site attendance can be arranged where a local interpreter is available.
It can. Tell us which language the speaker is most comfortable in, and we assign accordingly so idiom and detail come across accurately in an interview or hearing.
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 Sena interpreter and a firm price.