If you’ve accepted a job in a different country or plan to move there for school or simply just to experience a different culture, you need to go through a few legal hoops. Although in a perfect world you could purchase your plane ticket, pack your bags, grab your documents and travel there, authenticating your documents is a crucial step. It can be confusing for some people, but today we’re going to help clear up some of your questions. Specifically, this article will focus on Canadian birth certificate authentication. From authentication to apostille and legalization, by the end of this guide, you should know exactly what you need to do.
About Birth Certificate Apostille
You might have heard the term “apostille” before and might think that’s the process you’ll go through with your Canadian birth certificate. On the contrary, Canada follows a different process. Here’s why:
The Hague Apostille Convention was originated in the Netherlands. It was signed by several countries; however, Canada was not a signee. For this reason, any document, including birth certificates, that you plan to use in a different country need to go through a similar but different process known as birth certificate authentication and birth certificate legalization service in Ottawa.
Birth Certificate Authentication
The first step in this process is to have your documents authenticated by Global Affairs Canada at their location in Ottawa. There, they will review your birth certificate to ensure that it is legitimate and will meet the requirements of the country you’re traveling to.
While this process is pretty straightforward, it can take some time; from a few days to weeks, it’s hard to determine the duration your specific case will take. The good news is that service providers like us will help expedite the process to save you time and the trouble of travelling to Ottawa in-person.
Birth Certificate Legalization
After your documents are authenticated, the next step is to go to your destination country’s embassy where they will legalize your birth certificate. This essentially is their stamp of approval meaning that it meets their requirements and can be used in their country. To ensure that your document meets these requirements, make sure that the document is original and in long-form.
We Can Help
Canadian birth certificate authentication can be a long, stressful process if you’ve never done it before. That’s where we can help! Bring us your birth certificate and tell us about your case. We’ll work with Global Affairs Canada and will make the entire process quick and easy. Get in touch with us today to get started.