Authenticate a Document | Official Documents Services
LSC has been helping with document authentication, registration, and apostille in Canada for over 15 years. Get in touch with us today for more information!
What Changes Did the Apostille Convention Bring to Legalizing and Authenticating Canadian Documents?
The process known as legalization or document authentication involves publicly verifying a Canadian document for use in countries that are not party to the Hague Apostille Convention.
Typically, this process involves the country’s embassy, consulate, or high commission. Before an embassy can legalize a Canadian document—such as one granting authority to someone in the UAE or Saudi Arabia to manage your assets—you may need to prepare it according to the specific document requirements and usually have it notarized by a notary public. For countries that accept apostille, the document verification process is greatly simplified.
Choose our Services for Legalization, Authentication, and Apostille in Canada
- Contact Us via the Form: Fill out the form below to clarify every necessary detail.
- Prepare Your Documents and Submit Them: Ship/Drop them off to/at our office, or submit them online (for digital originals)
- Receive Your Prepared Documents: Receive them within Canada, outside Canada, or electronically.
With over 15 years of success and practical experience in document 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 and Obtain an Apostille Services for Your Documents
Contact us to Get your Document Apostilled, Legalized, or Authenticated for Use in Another Country
- Expertise: Our authentication service started 15 years ago in Canada, focusing on document authentication and licensing.
- Customer Focus: We manage all papers that may need careful checking. Clients trust us because we make it easy to verify papers quickly.
- Speed: We acknowledge documents need quick attention. We usually get an apostille in as little as one business day by working closely with embassies and consulates.
We Collaborate with Global Affairs Canada, Provincial Governments, and Embassies throughout the Country
With over 15 years of experience in document apostille and legalization services across Canada, including authentication service locations, we’re here to help make your international adventure smooth and memorable for the right reasons.
Legalization and Authentication Ontario:
- Toronto
- Ottawa
- Mississauga
- Brampton
- Hamilton
- London
- Markham
- Vaughan
- Kitchener
- Windsor
Legalization and Authentication Alberta:
- Calgary
- Edmonton
- Red Deer
- Lethbridge
- St. Albert
- Medicine Hat
- Grande Prairie
- Airdrie
- Spruce Grove
- Leduc
Legalization and Authentication BC:
- Vancouver
- Surrey
- Burnaby
- Richmond
- Abbotsford
- Coquitlam
- Kelowna
- Kamloops
- Nanaimo
- Prince George
Legalization and Authentication Manitoba:
- Winnipeg
- Brandon
- Steinbach
- Thompson
- Portage la Prairie
- Selkirk
- Winkler
- Morden
- Dauphin
- Flin Flon
Legalization and Authentication New Brunswick:
- Moncton
- Saint John
- Fredericton
- Dieppe
- Oromocto
- Bathurst
- Miramichi
- Edmundston
- Riverview
- Rothesay
Legalization and Authentication Newfoundland and Labrador:
- St. John’s
- Mount Pearl
- Corner Brook
- Paradise
- Labrador City
- Marystown
- Deer Lake
- Gander
- Grand Falls-Windsor
- Happy Valley-Goose Bay
Legalization and Authentication Nova Scotia:
- Halifax
- Sydney
- Dartmouth
- Truro
- New Glasgow
- Glace Bay
- Kentville
- Amherst
- Bridgewater
- Yarmouth
Legalization and Authentication Prince Edward Island:
- Charlottetown
- Summerside
- Stratford
- Cornwall
- Montague
- Souris
- Alberton
- Tignish
- Kensington
- Georgetown
Legalization and Authentication Quebec:
- Montreal
- Quebec City
- Laval
- Gatineau
- Longueuil
- Sherbrooke
- Trois-Rivières
- Saguenay
- Lévis
- Terrebonne
Legalization and Authentication Saskatchewan:
- Saskatoon
- Regina
- Prince Albert
- Moose Jaw
- Swift Current
- Yorkton
- North Battleford
- Estevan
- Weyburn
- Kindersley
Submit Your Document Requirements for Authentication, Legalization, or Apostille
To begin, provide your documents. Using the completed request form, we determine the best method. If documents are deemed incomplete, we advise on what has to be fixed. If a translation is required, we will assist you.
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
Countries Not Affiliated with the Apostille Convention for Document Legalization
Prior to submitting your authentication request to Global Affairs Canada and then forwarding your papers to an embassy or consulate, we confirm compliance with all requirements. The Government of Canada and certain entities may reject documents if they are inadequately prepared.
Testimonials from Clients on Our Expert Document Services
Highly recommended!
Will highly recommend for any legalization and Apostle services!
Thank you for your great service!
Our Latest Thoughts on Canadian Documents
Do Canadians Need a Visa for Qatar: Document Legalization Guide 2026
For a short trip, the answer is simple: travellers from Canada do not need to arrange anything before boarding a flight to Doha. For anyone planning to live in Qatar and work there, the answer is very different, and it begins months before departure with documents...
Dubai Work Visa from Canada: Document Checklist for 2026
A job offer in Dubai is the easy part. What follows is a visa process that depends almost entirely on paperwork prepared in Canada, and the item that delays it most is the one applicants think about last: an attested degree. Without it, the employer cannot complete...
Saudi Arabia Visa for Canadian Citizens: Documents Required for Work in 2026
Canadian passport holders have more than one route into Saudi Arabia, and the one that matters most is the least written about. Tourist entry is simple: an eVisa online, or a visa on arrival at the airport. A Saudi work visa is a different process entirely, built on...
Understanding MOFA Attestation for UAE: Everything You Need to Know in 2026
MOFA attestation is the final step in a chain that most applicants only discover halfway through. A Canadian degree, marriage certificate or police check cannot be used in the Emirates until the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed it — and the ministry will only...
RCMP Criminal Record Check Outside Canada
Living abroad does not disqualify you from obtaining a Canadian criminal record check. It does change the mechanics completely, and the part most applicants get wrong is assuming they can do from Lisbon or Dubai what a resident does in Ottawa. A local police service...
How to Find RCMP Accredited Fingerprinting Companies in Ottawa
Anyone can advertise fingerprint services. Very few businesses are actually authorized to take fingerprints and send them anywhere that matters, and private fingerprinting companies vary enormously in what they can genuinely do. The difference is accreditation, and it...
Frequently Asked Questions
What Should I Do if My Documents That Require Authentication Are Declined?
You can start the process by filling out the form above, present the document for review, or ask our expert team to help you make the needed changes. The eligibility requirements for authentication rarely change, and our skilled team is ready to adjust quickly to any new situation.
If your papers are rejected at any point—at the start, in the middle, or near the end—we will work together to find the reasons and provide the right solutions. Remember that the Government of Canada, Global Affairs Canada, and other foreign official or consular offices can change their rules and procedures without warning.
How Should I Prepare My Documents for a Legalization and Authentication Request?
To prepare your papers for legalization or authentication, first check the specific requirements given by the relevant offices. Make sure your records meet the minimum standards, get a clear copy of the original document, and if needed, have a notary public verify original signatures or certifications. Sometimes, the office in the country where you plan to use papers may require them to be translated officially, especially if the language is different from the country’s official.
Remember that Global Affairs Canada, states, and each country’s embassy or consulate can have their own specific rules and requirements. You may need to provide extra documents like letters explaining something, proof of identity, or other certificates. To save time and money, it’s important to see if your document is eligible for authentication.
How Long Does the Document Legalization and Authentication Process Usually Take?
The time it takes to authenticate and legalize your papers can vary. It often depends on the consulate, embassy, or government office handling it. Typically, it can take anywhere from 1 to 15 business days, but this may change. You may also experience a longer wait time during peak periods. After receiving your authentication certificate, the legalization process by the appropriate consular body can go more easily, helping the document to be used correctly in other countries.
Should I Translate My Document Before Having It Legalized?
Suppose your document is in a language other than English or French or any language needed by the area receiving the document. In that case, you will need a professional translation before you submit it. High commissions, embassies, and consular offices regularly enforce language requirements to ensure clarity, accuracy, and complete understanding of the content. A certified translator is essential for translation tasks because it guarantees the preservation of both the meaning and details of the original paper.
Documents or translations from outside Canada or those needing translation to meet foreign standards usually need to follow specific rules and guidelines. A translation must be certified by a member of a recognized translation body to meet these standards. We have experts who can assist you in meeting the rules. They review your documents, offer guidance, and find trustworthy translation services when you need them. This groundwork helps you run on time and ensures your documents pass both language and legal rules, which is our main purpose in making public documents utilized by countries.
What Factors Should You Consider When Requesting Authentication and Legalization?
When seeking an apostille certification or using document authentication services, remember that the steps and requirements can vary significantly based on whether the country you send your documents to is part of the Hague Apostille Convention. To get documents accepted in Hague signatory countries, you follow a quicker path because they allow apostille certificates or authentication stamps to verify your records, making the process more streamlined.