Canada has ratified the Convention of October 5, 1961, which abolishes the need for legalization of public documents (also known as the Apostille Convention), as previously known. On January 11, 2024, the Apostille Convention went into force in Canada, streamlining the procedure for obtaining legal recognition of Canadian document in a foreign country.
What Significance Does this Have for You?
Due to Canada’s ratification of the Apostille Convention, businesses and citizens will have an inexpensive and simpler method of authenticating public documents for use in more than 125 signatory nations as of January 11, 2024. The Hague Apostille Convention establishes a single standard certificate, or “apostille,” in lieu of the current procedure of validating documents in compliance with the legalization criteria of each destination country.
Where to Obtain an Apostille Certificate?
Apostilles may be issued by certain “Competent Authorities” that the Canadian government has designated. A request for an apostille must be made at the office of a competent Authority. The Canadian government has designated the following offices as competent Authorities with the authority to issue apostille:
- Global Affairs Canada;
- the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery of Ontario, through Official Documents Services;
- the Ministry of the Attorney General of British Columbia, through the Order in Council Administration Office;
- the Ministry of Justice of Alberta, through the Deputy Provincial Secretary’s Office;
- the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General of Saskatchewan, through Authentication Services; and
- the Ministère de la Justice of Québec through Direction Générale des Registres et de la Certification.
It is crucial to remember that the apostille procedure cannot be accomplished electronically; instead, a real apostille certificate must be obtained, only in print form. In the future, Global Affairs Canada plans to provide electronic apostilles, or “e-apostilles.”
What Happens if the Document is Meant to be Used in a Non-Apostille Convention Signing Country?
The Canadian government will apostille all documents after January 11, regardless of whether you plan to use them in a country that has not ratified the Apostille Convention. Non-signatory nations, however, could demand that the document first be authenticated by a Canadian authority of appropriate standing before being legalized by the foreign embassy or consulate in Ottawa. Please get in touch with the embassy or consulate of the country where you want to legalize a document for if it is not a signatory to the Apostille Convention.
