Did you get a request to have your documents apostille-stamped? Documents that are going to be used abroad frequently need to have an apostille stamp applied to them. But before you begin the procedure, there are a few things you should be aware of.

An Apostille stamp: what is it?

Countries that have ratified the Hague Apostille Convention have agreed to accept public records issued by other signatory nations as long as those documents are authenticated with the addition of a “apostille,” an internationally accepted form of authentication. Apostilles guarantee that official documents issued in one signatory nation will be accepted as legitimate and lawful in every other signatory nation.

But it’s not really a stamp at all. It is an official document with a certificate attached.

In Canada, how may one obtain an apostille?

The short answer is that a Canadian document will have an apostille stamp applied to it. As of January 2024, Canada became a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. Authentication and legalization will only be done for countries who are not a member of the Apostille Convention.

What do authentication and legalization mean?

The procedure of authentication and legalization makes it possible for your Canadian documents to be accepted abroad. The procedure entails document authentication at Global Affairs Canada in Ottawa, followed by legality at the country of destination’s diplomatic post. An embassy or consulate of a foreign country in Canada is known as a diplomatic mission.

The requirements for the authentication and legalization of Canadian documents are fairly strict and they are shared by Global Affairs Canada and every diplomatic mission. It’s crucial to learn about the requirements beforehand or hire an accredited company by Global Affairs Canada to that specializes in apostille of documents for use international use.