WHAT IS APOSTILLE? WHAT IS AUTHENTICATION AND LEGALIZATION?
What is “apostille”? And why must you do both authentication and legalization of your documents? This all due to the Hague agreement or Apostille Convention, of which Canada used to not be a member. As of January 2024, Canada has signed the Hague Convention, and therefore several countries now accept document apostille which is just one step. However, some countries still ask for document authentication and document legalization. Make sure to inquire LSC Canada to double check with countries ask for apostille and which ones don’t. In order for your documents to be valid and usable in UAE, they need to be authenticated by the Canadian government first (provincial and/or federal level), and then legalized at the governmental bodies of UAE.
UAE APOSTILLE/ATTESTATION OF CANADIAN DOCUMENTS: FOR EDUCATION
If you’re planning on studying in one of the prestigious universities in UAE, you will have to validate your Canadian university degree. Whether your degree is from the University of Toronto, McGill University or Queen’s University, such fine school’s transcripts and degrees can become targets of forgery. As such, the embassy is very meticulous with legalization. You must make sure that no discrepancies between the documents you or your university submit.
The good news are that federal level government bodies usually recognize the signatures on the degrees. The degrees are then automatically ready for any related government body to authenticate them and for the UAE Embassy to legalize them. Sometimes, certain degrees will require extra steps. In those cases, your university will need to provide some additional documents, such as transcripts or your academic files. This can be hard to keep track of when going through the process yourself, so we are here to help!
UAE APOSTILLE/ATTESTATION OF CANADIAN DOCUMENTS: FOR EMPLOYMENT
When joining the United Arab Emirates workforce, there’s a difference between non-corporate documents and corporate documents. Non-corporate documents include “vital statistics”. They’re simply your birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce certificates and death certificates. You will need the aforementioned if you’re planning to bring your family or spouse with you or if you need to declare single status. They will need to go through the process of authentication and legalization, too. However, there’s no need for notarization, as both provincial and federal level government bodies recognize provincially issued vital statistics signatures.
UAE APOSTILLE/ATTESTATION OF CANADIAN DOCUMENTS: NON-CORPORATE EMPLOYMENT
In addition to submitting your vital statistics, you might have to include a criminal record check. Our experts at LSC Canada recommend obtaining an RCMP police check instead of a local police issued one. An RCMP police check is always more thorough, as it’s based on fingerprints. It’s also globally recognized, including Global Affairs Canada and ODS, meaning that you don’t need to spend extra money on hiring a notary to notarize your local police check. This also saves you time, as the GAC may take up to several months to process your documents. Always double check to see if you have all the required documents!
Don’t forget to notarize any existing doctors notes or letters regarding prescription medication. A notary public completed notarization. Only after you complete this step can you move onto authentication and legalization.
UAE APOSTILLE/ATTESTATION OF CANADIAN DOCUMENTS: CORPORATE EMPLOYMENT
The United Arab Emirates are an attractive venue for new or existing corporate businesses. Whether you’re partnering with a business in UAE or expanding your chain, this lush country offers much reward. The documents you need to get authenticated and legalized depend entirely on the requesting party. They may include powers of attorney, certificates of incorporation, various certificates such as SCC, CPP, GMP, ISO, certificates of incorporation, certificates of origins, commercial invoices, tax residency letters, permits, etc. In addition to the two-step authentication and legalization process, a lawyer or a notary public must validate your documents. Notarization is often a prerequisite for apostille. If you’re unsure about any of these steps, don’t hesitate to contact us and an agent will be with you shortly!
NEED HELP? WE ARE HERE FOR YOU
It can be difficult to keep track of all the demands of the UAE Embassy as a client! We understand more than anyone, especially if this is your first time having to authenticate and legalize your documents. Our experts at Legalization Service Centre Canada have more than 15 years of experience with document authentication and legalization. We’re always working tirelessly to ensure the easiest process for you! Our client’s 5 star reviews will assure you of our quality, reliable and fast service, and our solid interpersonal relations with each embassies and consulates in Ottawa and Canada will provide you further confidence.
Image Credit” Wikimedia Commons/Guia Viajar Melhor