Degree Attestation in Canada: Authenticate Your Documents

If you plan to work, study, or immigrate abroad, one of the first steps you may need to take is getting your Canadian degree officially recognized outside the country. This process is called degree attestation, and it ensures that your educational documents are legally valid and accepted in another country. Degree attestation typically involves verifying your document through a series of steps, which may include notarization, authentication, and legalization. However, for countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention, only an apostille certificate is now required instead of legalization.

As of January 11, 2024, Canada officially joined the Hague Apostille Convention, making this process significantly easier. For nations that are also part of the Convention, Canadian documents can be verified with just one apostille certificate. This is easier than the old, more complicated procedure of legalization.

This guide provides a clear and complete overview of how degree attestation works in Canada, what steps are involved, and how recent changes may affect your application. If you’re preparing to use your Canadian degree abroad, keep reading to ensure your documents are processed correctly and without delays.

Check out our UAE Embassy Attestation page for more details and support to get you across the finish line.

Need help with document apostille/legalization/authentication/attestation — and/or criminal record check in Canada? Contact us via our form, call us at +1-613-501-0555 (WhatsApp available) or +1-800-857-1215 (toll-free), fax us via 1-844-786-2001, or text us at [email protected].

What Is Degree Attestation in Canada?

Attestation, authentication, and legalization are official processes used to confirm that a Canadian document—like a degree or diploma—is genuine. These steps are often required when using documents outside of Canada. As of January 11, 2024, Canada began issuing apostilles, which are internationally recognized certificates under the Hague Apostille Convention. Apostilles are used by countries that are parties to this agreement, eliminating the need for embassy legalization.

For countries not part of the Hague Convention, Canadian documents may still require legalization at that country’s embassy or consulate in Canada, after being authenticated by the appropriate authority, such as Global Affairs Canada.

Degree attestation is essential, as it verifies that your educational documents are genuine and can be recognized in other countries. Before recognizing your degree as confirmation of your academic credentials, many foreign businesses, institutions, and immigration authorities will require this verification. If you don’t have your documents properly attested, they may be rejected or delayed, which could make it more difficult for you to work, study, or move overseas.

Who Needs Degree Attestation

Degree attestation is often required when you plan to use your Canadian education outside of Canada. This includes situations like applying for a job in foreign country, enrolling in a foreign university, submitting a visa application, or going through an immigration process. Many countries ask for attested documents to confirm that your degree is real and was issued by a recognized institution.

You may also need attestation if you’re applying for professional licensure abroad, such as becoming a registered nurse, engineer, teacher, or accountant. In these cases, the licensing body in that country will usually require verified educational documents before they can approve your application. Inappropriate attestation of your documents may not be accepted, which can delay or prevent your plans from being processed.

Documents Required for Degree Attestation

For the completion of the document attestation process in Canada, you usually require the following documents. Requirements may vary in other countries, so it’s best to verify with Global Affairs Canada, the relevant provincial government, or the embassy of the destination country.

Original Degree or Diploma – Issued by a recognized Canadian college or university. Some authorities may accept a notarized copy instead of the original document.
Official Transcripts – Usually required in a sealed envelope from the issuing institution. These may be needed for education-related or licencing purposes.
Notarized Copy – A notary public certifies the copy as true to the original. This may be required if the document was issued by a private institution or signed by someone not recognized by Global Affairs Canada.
Certified Translation (if needed) – Required if your documents are not in English or French. A certified translator in Canada is required to perform the translation.
Valid Photo ID – A government-issued ID, such as a passport, may be needed to confirm your identity, especially for mail-in applications.
Application Form or Cover Letter – Some authorities require a completed application form or a cover letter explaining your request.

Always verify the specific requirements with the appropriate Canadian authority or the embassy of the country where you plan to use the documents.

Step-by-Step Degree Certificate Attestation Process

Step 1: Prepare Your Documents

Gather the required documents, including your original degree or diploma and, if needed, official transcripts. If your documents are not signed by a recognized authority, such as a registrar, or if they were issued by a private institution, you may need to have them notarized by a Canadian notary public. If your documents were written in a language other than English or French, include a certified translation completed by a translator recognized in Canada.

Step 2: Document Authentication or Apostille

Next, your documents must be verified by the appropriate Canadian authority:

If the destination country is a signatory of the Hague Convention, your document will be issued an apostille. Apostilles are provided by Global Affairs Canada or a relevant provincial authority, based on the location where the document was issued or notarized.
If the destination country is not a Hague member, your document must be authenticated as the first step in the traditional legalization process.

Step 3: Legalization by Embassy or Consulate

If the destination country is not a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention, your documents must undergo legalization after being authenticated by Global Affairs Canada. This means submitting them to the embassy or consulate of that country in Canada, where officials will confirm that the Canadian authentication is valid. This final step is required for the documents to be officially accepted by the authorities in that country.

Processing Timeline

Here is a general overview of the processing times involved in the degree attestation process in Canada. Actual timelines may vary depending on the submitting authority, volume of requests, and method of submission (in-person, mail, or courier).

Document Preparation (Notarization and Translation)

Usually takes 1 to 3 business days.
Notarization is required if the document is signed by an individual, such as a registrar, or issued by a private institution, and not already signed by a recognized public official.
Certified translations are needed if the document is not in English or French, and must be completed by a translator recognized by a provincial or national professional body in Canada.

Apostille Issuance by Global Affairs Canada (GAC)

Normally processed in 10-15 business days, not including mail time.
Applies to federally issued documents (e.g. citizenship certificates, RCMP checks) or those notarized in provinces without a designated apostille authority.

Provincial Apostille Authorities

(Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec, Saskatchewan)

The processing time varies between 5 and 15 business days (1 to 3 weeks) depending on the workload at the province.
Apostilles are issued only for documents that were issued or notarized in that province.

Embassy or Consulate Legalization (for non-Hague countries)

Timeframes depend on the specific embassy or consulate’s process and requirements.
Legalization can take a few days to several weeks, depending on document volume, appointment availability, and verification procedures.
This step is only required if the destination country is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention.

Before starting the procedure, it’s best to check with Global Affairs Canada, the applicable provincial apostille authority, or the embassy or consulate of the country you intend to visit to ensure you have the most up-to-date information on deadlines, document requirements, and the submission process.

Common Mistakes That Can Delay Your Degree Attestation

Missing Notarization or Translation

Notarization is sometimes required, particularly if your document is signed by an individual (such as a university registrar) or issued by a private institution, and the signature is not from a recognized public official. If this step is skipped when required, the document may be rejected during authentication or apostille processing.

Likewise, if your document is in a language other than English or French and you don’t include a certified translation, it may be returned or delayed. Translations must be done by a certified translator recognized in Canada. Both of these issues can lead to rejections or necessitate resubmission.

Submitting to the Wrong Authority

Requests for authentication or an apostille must be submitted to the correct authority, which depends on whether the document was issued or notarized in a specific location. If a document was notarized in Ontario, for instance, it should go to Ontario’s Official Documents Services (ODS) instead of Global Affairs Canada (GAC).

Sending documents to the wrong office can result in delays ranging from weeks to months, especially if the document has to be returned and resubmitted to the appropriate provincial or federal authority.

Skipping Embassy Legalization (for Non-Hague Countries)

If the destination country is not a signatory of the Hague Apostille Convention, your documents must be legalized by the country’s embassy or consulate in Canada after authentication.

Skipping this step means your documents will likely not be accepted abroad, and you may need to restart the process from the beginning, including obtaining new authentication stamps or translations if documents expire or are altered.

If you’re uncertain about navigating the attestation process on your own, professional guidance can make all the difference. Our team has extensive experience with document authentication and legalization through the UAE Embassy in Ottawa. We’ve assisted thousands of Canadians in preparing their documents for official use in the UAE and are available to support you at each step. To learn more, please visit our UAE Embassy Attestation page.

Do You Need Help Authenticating Documents Issued in Canada? The Legalization Service Center Can Assist!

The Legalization Service Centre supports at every stage of the process for those seeking apostille, authentications, and attestation services for documents in Canada. We optimize the process to guarantee the accurate authentication of your documents for international purposes.