Apostilles authenticate the seals and signatures of officials on public documents such as birth certificates, marriage certificate, death certificate, divorce certificate, court orders, or any other document issued by a public authority so that they can be recognized in foreign country that is a member of the Hague Convention Treaty.
Update;
As of January 11, 2024 Canada became a member of the Apostille convention and for countries who did not ratify the Hauge Apostille Convention then documents should go through the authentication from Global Affairs Canada and legalized at the foreign embassy in Ottawa.
The countries that will request that you get an Apostille include:
The authentication of documents in Canada will be required in cases when the Canadian documents are intended to be used abroad for different purposes. This process basically confirms that the Canadian documents are officially recognized in Canada and can be legally used in foreign countries. The authentication of documents is the only first step in this process. There are more steps to accomplish in order for Canadian documents to be legally accepted abroad. Please contact us to get a free quote for authentication of documents at Global Affairs of Canada.
The legalization of documents in Canada is the process that confirms the Canadian documents are legal to be used in foreign countries. In general, this is a second step in the Document Authentication and Document Legalization process in Canada. The legalization of documents is mostly completed by the embassies and consulates of foreign countries accredited in and for Canada. Please contact us to obtain a free quote in regards to legalizing your Canadian documents for international use.
To find out whether you need to authenticate and legalize your documents, you should ask the recipient abroad. However, if you have Canadian documents that will be used in another country, they will likely need to be authenticated and legalized, also known as apostille or attestation. The reason for the process is to verify the signatures on your documents. By having the documents authenticated and legalized, the recipient abroad can rest assured that your documents have been properly processed.
Attestation is a term used in some countries to describe the process of having a document from one country certified so that it will be officially recognized in another country. The official term for the equivalent Canadian process is called document authentication and legalization. Regardless of the terminology used, the process for a Canadian document will be authentication at Global Affairs Canada and legalization at the embassy or consulate of the destination country.
The processing times for authentication and legalization can vary depending on the diplomatic mission involved. Each embassy or consulate has its own processing time, subject to consular availability. Some will also offer rush services for an additional fee.
If you decide to handle the process yourself by mail, the process will take some time. Global Affairs Canada takes a minimum of 3 months to authenticate documents submitted by mail. Following the authentication, typical processing times at most embassies and consulates range from 2 to 5 business days.
We can expedite the authentication process by attending in person, saving you weeks of waiting. We will also help you prepare the documents and ensure they meet the criteria of the process. Document experts are standing by if you have any questions or concerns you need to discuss. Contact DLC for your free consultation. You can also call us toll-free at 1-833-700-5342.
As a part of our authentication and legalization services, we will take care of every detail, including the payment of the consular fees. When we prepare your quote, we will include the Consular Fees. These fees will be paid by us and will depend on the type of documents, the number of documents, and in some cases the speed of service at the diplomatic mission.
Contact our specialist to discuss your document needs and find out the cost of consular fees for your documents. Call us toll-free at 1-833-700-5342 or fill the online Quote Request form.
Yes, in Canada there are two types of criminal record checks.
The first is a Basic Criminal Record Check, where only your name and date of birth are used to identify you when the RCMP database is searched. No fingerprints are involved in obtaining a basic Criminal Record Check.
The second type is called a Certified Criminal Record Check, which also uses your fingerprints as an identifier when searching the RCMP database. Certified Criminal Record Checks are considered more reliable because they use fingerprints as an identifier and this is the type of criminal record check most commonly required.
If you are in Canada, you may obtain your criminal record check by either visiting a local police detachment or an agency that has been accredited by the RCMP. If you are outside of Canada, you must use a fingerprinting agency that has been accredited by the RCMP in order to obtain your criminal record check. They will digitize your ink fingerprints and submit the application on your behalf.
You may have the criminal record check sent directly to our office to save time. We can then notify you that it has arrived and begin the authentication and legalization process.
If you need assistance to determine what agencies you may use, you can review this list provided by the RCMP, or feel free to contact our friendly specialists for advice.
The pricing for authenticating and legalizing a criminal record check will vary depending on several factors. These variables include whether or not you require notarization, the services and speed of service you choose, and the processing times with the diplomatic mission. You may have the criminal record check sent directly to our office to save time. We can then notify you that it has arrived and begin the authentication and legalization process.
If you need assistance to determine what agencies you may use, you can review this list provided by the RCMP, or feel free to contact our friendly specialists for advice.
Yes! There are three types of Single Status Documents that can be issued in Canada and used to support your single status. These three types of Single Status Documents are:
If you have been asked for a Statement in Lieu of Certificate of Non-impediment to Marriage Abroad, it can be requested from Global Affairs Canada in Ottawa. It is based on your Single Status Declaration and citizenship.
We can help you to obtain the appropriate document and assist with the preparation of your Single Status Document. Contact us today!
We process all types of Canadian documents. We apostille, authenticate and legalize official documents on your behalf. Examples of the most commonly processed official documents are:
We are here to help you in authenticating and legalizing your document for use in a foreign country. Call our Toll-Free number 1-833-700-5342 for free quote.
No. You do not have to be physically present in Canada to authenticate and legalize your documents. All your need to do is to ship with a courier (FedEx, DHL, UPS) your documents to our office in Ottawa and we will take care of everything upon receiving your documents.
Yes, one of our agents will appear in person both at Global Affairs Canada for the authentication as well as at the Embassy for document legalization. We take care to follow through with your document in-person to ensure that all requirements are met and that the processing of the documents is completed in a timely and accurate manner.
There are a few different aspects to consider when preparing your documents for authentication and legalization.
The recipient abroad should advise you what documents they need, whether they must be originals, and how they want them processed.
You must meet the criteria of the authentication process. Whether you will authenticate with Global Affairs Canada or the appropriate provincial office, they each have specific criteria for authentication.
Each embassy or consulate also has its own specific requirements and rules for the submission of documents for legalization. You must ensure you also meet their criteria for legalization.
We will happily discuss and review your documents for authentication and legalization. We will make sure your documents have been correctly prepared. Contact our expert and friendly staff for more information and to answer your questions.
That is up to you! You can choose your preferred method of final shipping. We recommend using a traceable method of shipping, such as FedEx, DHL, or Canada Post Xpress Post. We will ship how you like, anywhere you like. You can even provide your final shipping envelope so we don’t have to include it in the quote.
If you need to present your Canadian birth certificate outside of Canada, you may need to have your certificate apostilled or legalized. Confirm requirements by contacting the embassy, high commission, or consulate of the country where your document will be used:
Canadian birth certificate must be obtained from the vital statistics office of the province in which the event occurred. They cannot be obtained through the Canadian Embassy. Requests should be sent directly to the appropriate provincial vital statistic office. The fee for issuing a birth certificate will vary from province to province.
You cannot obtain a Canadian birth certificate for a Canadian child born outside of Canada. You must apply instead for a Canadian citizenship certificate.
In most cases, the answer is NO. Global Affairs Canada no longer accepts notarized copies of birth certificates for authentication. If you need to use your birth certificate outside of Canada, it will need to be authenticated and legalized or Apostilled. To meet the criteria of the authentication process at Global Affairs Canada, you must submit an original birth certificate.
A Short Form Birth Certificate contains less information than a Long Form Birth Certificate and is smaller in size. It will contain basic information regarding the child’s birth but does not show the names of the child’s parents.
A Long Form Birth Certificate contains more information than a Short Form Birth Certificate and is larger in size. It will contain the name of the child and the names of both parents. If only one parent was declared, then it will show the child’s name & the mother’s name.
Although a Short Form Birth Certificate is a valid legal document, most government agencies prefer the Long Form Birth Certificate as identification as it contains more information concerning your identity, especially in the case of children/minors.
Our customers choose to have their documents delivered directly to our office in Ottawa, saving time. When having it sent directly to us, we will confirm when it arrives and can begin the process of apostille or authentication and legalization as it arrives. To do this, have the document delivered to our address as follows:
Our mailing address in Ottawa;
Document Legalization of Canada
2420 Bank Street, Unit 63
Ottawa, ON
K1V 8S1 – Canada
Our processing fees for your documents are divided into different phases. We kindly request that you Request a Quote or contact our dedicated Document Legalization specialist at 1-833-700-5342 from anywhere in North America to acquire a cost estimate customized to your unique needs. Our representative will be pleased to help you.
No, a Global Affairs Canada or provincial authentication never expires. The contents of your document may expire, even while the authentication is still valid, and the Embassy of the country in which you intend to use the document may need that it be issued within a specific amount of time in order for it to be processed.
Yes, as of January 11, 2024 Canada will start issuing Apostille for personal official documents. To ensure that the process is done correctly will depends on where the document was issued from.
You’ll get payments for the remainder of your life once your CPP retirement pension begins. If you plan to retire outside of Canada, you might need a letter from CPP detailing your benefits for an in-country application. This is the application page.
Apostille fees differ based on the kind of document and the location of issuance. It is advised to speak with one of our apostille specialists to learn about the most recent pricing plan.
Depending on the document type and issuing authority, processing times can change. For precise timelines, it is best to speak with one of our Apostille specialists.
For the Canadian Apostille procedure, documents written in languages other than English or French might need to be certified translated. For information on the precise criteria for your document, it is preferable to speak with one of our Apostille Specialist.
Apostilled documents are only recognized by countries that have ratified the Hague Apostille Convention. There must be an alternative legalizing procedure for countries who are not signatory to the Convention.
It is usually advised to submit an original document for legalization and authentication (apostille). A Certified True Copy of a document can often go through the procedure.
There are a few limitations, though. For instance, copies of vital statistics records are not accepted by Global Affairs Canada, and certain foreign embassies only accept documents that are originals.
We keep track on these demands from the diplomatic missions and Canadian government departments. Additionally, we advise you to confirm whether a Certified True Copy is permitted for use in the destination nation by asking the person to whom you are sending the document. We can make sure your document is accepted.
Contact our accredited apostille specialist at any time for additional information.
Where their jurisdiction is limited by the province or territory of appointment, a Commissioner for Oaths in Canada is typically not permitted to certify a true copy of a document. Generally speaking, a Commissioner for Oaths can only witness signatures on specific types of documents, like an affidavit or statutory declaration. You must employ the services of a Canadian Notary Public if you need a certified true copy of a document to be further authenticated and legalized for use in another country. Canadian Notaries are permitted to create certified true copies of documents that can be verified by Global Affairs Canada.
Document Legalization of Canada your trusted apostille specialist can make a certified true copy of your original document at a competitive rate.
Indeed, there isn’t a Global Affairs Canada Authentication Services Section office in any of the following cities: Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City, Fredericton, Charlottetown, Halifax, St. John’s, Victoria, Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Winnipeg, Vancouver, or Winnipeg. The only federal authentication office for Canadian documents is the Global Affairs Canada Authentication Services Section, which is near our headquarters in Ottawa. With a decade of experience, we are Canada’s foremost provider of document authentication services, and we can assist you no matter where you are.
Your Canadian marriage certificate can be apostilled, yes. Our entire business is centered around helping people and organizations through the complex apostille, or authentication and legalization, procedure. We take care of the entire documentation, help you at every stage of the procedure, and deliver the completed document back to you. We can speed things up and save you a lot of time by employing our services.
Speak with one of our apostille specialists to learn more and to find out how we can help you apostille your marriage license from Canada.
It’s common to have your Canadian criminal record check apostilled, or authenticated and legalized, in order to use it outside of Canada. Ask the company or individual to whom you are sending this document if you require an apostille for your criminal record check. Only they have the accurate knowledge to determine whether they need your document to be apostilled.
Keep in mind that you might be instructed that you must attest or apostille the results of your criminal background check. The words “apostille,” “attestation,” “authentication and legalization,” and “legalization” all refer to the same procedure in Canada. Please get in touch with our accredited apostille specialist if you have any questions about the kind of procedure your criminal record check requires.
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