Apostille Canada: Modern Document Authentication Services in Canada
Since January 11, 2024, Canada has been a member of the Apostille Convention, which simplifies the document authentication service for over 120 countries.
What Changes to Authentication Services Does the Apostille Bring
Before you can use Canadian documents (or foreign public documents) abroad, they often need to be authenticated or apostilled. This process verifies the authenticity of the signature of the official on the document. Once authenticated, if your document is intended for use in a country that is not a participant in the Apostille Convention, you may need to have it legalized by the destination country’s authorities (such as an embassy, high commission, or consulate in Canada or accredited in it). If you obtain an apostille, and your document is intended for a country that is a participant in the Apostille Convention, it should be accepted in the destination country without any further steps.
As of January 11, 2024, Canada joined the Apostille Convention, which simplifies the authentication process by eliminating the need for legalization for documents intended for use in other member countries (over 120 countries are participants, and a full list can be found below on this page).
Choose Our Apostille and Authentication Services in Canada
- Contact Us via the Form: Enter all pertinent information using the form below.
- Prepare Your Documents and Submit Them: Forward your paperwork to our office or through an online submission (for electronically issued documents).
- Receive Your Prepared Documents: Access them wherever you are—within Canada, or abroad.
With over 15 years of success and practical experience in Documents Apostille and Document Legalization services in Canada, we’re glad to help make your next international adventure one to remember for the right reasons.
Contact us today for more information!
Submit a Request for Authentication Services and Apostille Documents
Why Contact Us for Document Apostille and Legalization Services
- Expertise: Expert guidance on authentication services in Canada. We have been handling document legalization for over 15 years, so we definitely know our business.
- Customer Focus: Comprehensive support for all document types. That’s precisely why our clients keep coming back to us time and again.
- Speed: We understand that you often need your apostilled documents yesterday, so we make every effort to ensure you receive them as quickly as possible. Our record for obtaining an apostille is one business day.
We Work with All Canadian Competent Authorities
We work with all Canadian competent authorities to streamline the authentication of documents and the issuance of the apostille certificate. This collaboration enables efficient processing for public documents such as birth certificates and court-issued documents for use outside of Canada.
Legalization Service Centre Canada (LSC Canada), with representations in Ottawa, Toronto, Mississauga, North York, Montreal, Vancouver, and other Canadian cities, serves clients regardless of their location within the country or abroad.
Apostille Ontario:
- Toronto
- Ottawa
- Mississauga
- Brampton
- Hamilton
- London
- Markham
- Vaughan
- Kitchener
- Windsor
Apostille Alberta:
- Calgary
- Edmonton
- Red Deer
- Lethbridge
- St. Albert
- Medicine Hat
- Grande Prairie
- Airdrie
- Spruce Grove
- Leduc
Apostille Manitoba:
- Winnipeg
- Brandon
- Steinbach
- Thompson
- Portage la Prairie
- Selkirk
- Winkler
- Morden
- Dauphin
- Flin Flon
Apostille New Brunswick:
- Moncton
- Saint John
- Fredericton
- Dieppe
- Oromocto
- Bathurst
- Miramichi
- Edmundston
- Riverview
- Rothesay
Apostille Newfoundland and Labrador:
- St. John’s
- Mount Pearl
- Corner Brook
- Paradise
- Labrador City
- Marystown
- Deer Lake
- Gander
- Grand Falls-Windsor
- Happy Valley-Goose Bay
Apostille Nova Scotia:
- Halifax
- Sydney
- Dartmouth
- Truro
- New Glasgow
- Glace Bay
- Kentville
- Amherst
- Bridgewater
- Yarmouth
Apostille Prince Edward Island:
- Charlottetown
- Summerside
- Stratford
- Cornwall
- Montague
- Souris
- Alberton
- Tignish
- Kensington
- Georgetown
Apostille Quebec:
- Montreal
- Quebec City
- Laval
- Gatineau
- Longueuil
- Sherbrooke
- Trois-Rivières
- Saguenay
- Lévis
- Terrebonne
Send Your Documents for Authentication and Apostille
To begin the process, simply send your documents to us. We handle everything from proper notarization to applying for an apostille at Global Affairs Canada or the relevant provincial competent authority in Canada. Our expertise ensures your documents, whether issued in Ontario or any other province, are authenticated and apostilled correctly for use outside of Canada.
Affidavit
Birth Certificate
Marriage Certificate
Divorce Certificate
Death Certificate
Marriage Search Certificate
University Degree
College Diploma
High School Diploma
Transcripts
Criminal Record Check Certificate from Ottawa RCMP
Criminal Record Check Certificate from Local Police
Fingerprints
Statement in Lieu of Certificate of Non-Impediment to Marriage Abroad
Power of Attorney
Corporate Documents
Court Documents
Adoption Certificate
Other
Participating Countries in the Hague Apostille Convention
Canada joined the Hague Apostille Convention on January 11, 2024. This means that Canadian public documents authenticated with an apostille are now recognized in all member countries of the convention, simplifying the legalization of foreign public documents for use abroad. Below is a list of participating countries where your apostilled documents will be accepted.
Cabo Verde
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Cook Islands
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Estonia
Eswatini
Fiji
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Grenada
Guatemala
Guyana
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Kazakhstan
Kosovo
Kyrgyzstan
Latvia
Lesotho
Liberia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macau
Malawi
Malta
Marshall Islands
Mauritius
Mexico
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Namibia
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niue
North Macedonia
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palau
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russian Federation
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
São Tomé and Principe
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Seychelles
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea (Republic of Korea)
Spain
Suriname
Sweden
Switzerland
Tajikistan
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Ukraine
United Kingdom
United States of America
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Venezuela
Testimonials from Clients on Our Expert Document Authentication Services
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Our Latest Thoughts on Canadian Document Apostille and Authentication
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Might a Document Not Qualify for an Apostille?
If your document is merely a photocopy or lacks an original signature or seal, it cannot be apostilled. If the signature or seal on your document cannot be verified, authentication is not possible. Documents that are glued or laminated cannot be stamped. If your document is covered with a substance that prevents stamping, it is not eligible for an apostille.
Documents such as baptism certificates, marriage certificates, and others issued by religious institutions are not eligible for an apostille.
Competent authorities can only authenticate documents issued within Canada, so documents of foreign origin are not accepted. If your document is issued by an unrecognized educational institution, it will not be apostilled.
Competent authorities may refuse to place an apostille on a document and refer your case to the appropriate authorities if it believes the document is misleading, could be used for fraud or illegal activities, or violates their policy.
Do You Need to Make Notarized Copies of Documents Before Obtaining an Apostille?
Some documents must be notarized before a competent authority can authenticate them. This may include certain documents issued by the Government of Canada. The province or territory where your document was notarized will determine the competent authority to which you must send it.
Furthermore, it’s important to understand that notarizing certain copies of documents can significantly reduce the time needed to obtain an apostille. The Legalization Service Centre (LSC) works with official notaries across various provinces and can assist with this process as well.
Do Documents Need to Be Translated Before Obtaining an Apostille?
If a part of the document requiring an apostille, or the entire document, is written in a language other than English or French, an official translation by a certified translator (a member of a recognized provincial association of translators) will be required.
Instead of a translation, it is also possible to use the services of a Canadian notary who speaks English and/or French, as well as the language in which the document was originally written. In this case, the notary must add a special confirming endorsement to the document.
The most suitable type of verification for a document written in another language is chosen on a case-by-case basis. In both scenarios, the Legalization Service Centre (LSC) can handle this task as part of apostilling one or more documents for its client.
How Long Does It Currently Take to Obtain an Apostille?
As of the end of September 2024, Global Affairs Canada processes documents submitted for an apostille within an average of 10 business days. Additionally, an extra 5 business days should be allowed for the return shipment of the documents to the sender.
However, it is important to note that following changes effective from January 11, 2024, provincial competent authorities can also carry out document legalization. The time required for this can vary depending on the specific organization.
At the Legalization Service Centre (LSC), we understand how crucial it can sometimes be to receive apostilled documents as quickly as possible. Therefore, we do everything possible to expedite the process using our experience and partnerships. Our personal record for obtaining an apostille is 1 business day.
What Other Factors Should Be Considered When Obtaining an Apostille?
The fees for apostille services vary based on the document type and its place of issue. For up-to-date fee details, we advise consulting with our experts at Legalization Service Centre (LSC).
Does an Apostille Validate the Document’s Content? No, an apostille does not assess the content of a document. It solely authenticates the signer’s authority and the issuing organization’s legitimacy.
An apostille is necessary only for member countries of the Hague Apostille Convention. Non-member countries continue to require the conventional authentication and legalization process. Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan are designated as authorities competent to issue apostilles.
An apostille itself has no expiry date. However, the legal validity of the certified document might be subject to the regulations of the destination country, making it crucial to verify the specific requirements of the country where the document will be used.