Unfortunately, going to work abroad isn’t as simple as packing your bags and reporting for work. There are some legal hoops you need to jump through, most notably the document authentication and legalization process. This can be tricky for some people, but today we’ll take some of the confusion out of the equation.
Get Your Documents in Order
First thing’s first, you’ll need to make sure that you have all of the correct documentation in order before you travel to the foreign country. Depending on your situation, you might need different documents. For most employment cases, we’ve found that people typically require the following documents:
- Canadian Criminal Record Certificate
- Canadian Degrees
- Qualification Certificates
These documents are usually required by an employer to ensure that they’re making the right choice. Especially since they’re hiring someone from a different country, they need to make sure that the documents are 100% legitimate.
Authentication and Legalization
Once you have your documents in order, you’ll need to first take them to Global Affairs Canada to have them authenticated. They’ll go over them and provide a stamp that shows that they are 100% real.
Next, you’ll need to go to the embassy of the country that you’ll be traveling to. There, they will legalize your documents in a similar fashion. While signees of The Hague Convention will have a more straightforward process known as Apostille, Canada follows this two-step process but essentially achieves the same result.
Is your family coming along?
If it’s just you going to the foreign country, then the documents listed above should be all you need. However, if you plan to bring kids or a spouse along, you’ll need to have a few more documents authenticated and legalized. Most specifically, you’ll need to have your kids’ birth certificates and your marriage license authenticated and legalized. If you have them handy, then adding them to the pile to be authenticated shouldn’t be much of a hassle for you.
We Can Help
Going through the authentication and legalization process can take time and can be stressful for many people. While getting ready to travel abroad, the last thing you need is more stress. Trust us to work directly with Global Affairs Canada on your behalf to expedite the process.