Apostille in Canada Archives

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The Importance of Document Authentication and Legalization Services Amidst Travel Restrictions Due to Global Pandemic

March 21, 2020/in Frontpage Article /by legal52

Canada’s Response to COVID-19

The novel corona virus pandemic, COVID-19, is taking the world up by a storm, causing many countries around the world to take drastic measures to limit contagion. These measures include warnings and advisories of social distancing, quarantining of the infected, closures of schools, colleges, businesses and government offices in many countries, as well as complete lockdown in others. As more people test positive for the virus here at home, Canada is taking the measures necessary to limit the impact of the infection in our country. Ontario is in a state of emergency until March 31^st, students on March Break are away from school until April 4^th, gatherings of more than 50 people are prohibited in many parts of the country, our borders have been restricted, and in general social distancing is broadly being advised. Businesses, employees, and the self-employed are all feeling the economic impact as the focus shifts from everyday functions to the ongoing health emergency.

Document Authentication and Legalization in Canada During COVID -19 Outbreak

Amidst all the closures and limited government and commerce functionality around the world, what does this mean for your document authentication and legalization needs? For one thing, it may be more necessary than ever to have your documents authenticated and legalized from right here at home. As movement around the world and international travel become limited due to border closures or travel restrictions, you may need additional documents for yourself and your under-aged children if you do need to travel for any reason. It is important to note parents traveling with under-aged children without the other parent or guardian present need documentation to show the other parent/guardian’s consent when leaving Canada. This is a normal measure even without the worries of COVID-19 and this letter from your child’s other parent/guardian require notarization by a notary public in Canada. However, you may need additional documents such as your marriage certificate/divorce certificate/children’s birth certificate authenticated and legalized at this time. Before any travel, you should check with current border regulations here in Canada, but also the restrictions, limitations and additional travel requires in your destination country. You should be aware that entry may not be granted in many countries and if it were, there may be additional documentation required from you for your trip.

If you are requesting for any documents to be authenticated and legalized at this time, you should account for delays in processing time as the pace of work and operational hours at government offices become limited. While Global Affairs Canada, the official body that authenticates your documents, has not declared any formal limitations to their hours of operation, it is likely that their office may be slower to respond and process paperwork amidst the current crisis. It is also worth the mention that the different embassies in Ottawa may be following different protocols and measures at this time in response to instructions from both Canada as well as the countries which they respectively represent. For this reason, you should check not only for their availability, but for also what types of work they are completing at the time and if there are any changes to their typical protocols for document legalization.

How Legalization Service Centre Can Help?

For all of your document authentication and legalization needs, contact us at Legalization Service Centre for a consultation on requirements, processes and changes currently being experienced in government offices. Our experts are keeping on top of the ongoing efforts of our country as well as the global impact of the virus as it relates to the functionality of embassies in Ottawa. Having your documents processed through us will ensure that you avoid any additional delays in processing time due to current changes that you may not be aware of. Moreover, our experts are able to conduct work with Global Affairs Canada and embassies with more efficiency than you may experience on an individual level at this time. Moreover, due to the efforts of social distancing and work-from-home initiatives, it may be difficult to contact these offices.

Before proceeding with any document authentication and legalization, check with us to ensure that the work is possible for the time you require the document as well as for the embassy in question. As the conditions around the world are rapidly changing regarding the impact of COVID-19, things can quickly change rendering any previous information outdated or inaccurate.

For more information regarding Global Affairs Canada’s functions and latest news on travel and COVID-19, you may check the government website here.

Immigration to Costa Rica: What You Should Know About Apostille of Canadian Documents

July 7, 2018/in Frontpage Article /by legal52

Costa Rica is one of the top vacation destinations for travelers in North America, notably Canada. Just like when traveling to any foreign country, you must know beforehand which documents need to be legalized or go through the apostille process before you leave for your trips.

Let’s take a look at a few of the steps you must complete before you travel to make sure that you have all of your bases covered and avoid any unexpected surprises when you arrive in Costa Rica.

Which Documents?

Before you leave for your trip, you need to make sure that you have all of your documents in order. Just as when you’re traveling to any other foreign country, you’re going to need to authenticate and legalize any of the following applicable documents:

– Birth certificate

– Marriage certificate

– Police criminal check certificate

– Medical report

– Passport copies

Keep in mind that which documents you’ll need to authenticate and legalize depends on your personal situation.

Apostille of Canadian Documents

Although in other parts of the world, you need to have your documents apostilled because Canada wasn’t a signee of The Hague Apostille Convention. This means that you must go through two different processes known as authentication and legalization. First, you must have your documents authenticated at Global Affairs Canada. After they’ve authenticated your documents, you’ll then take them to the Costa Rican embassy where they can legalize your documents.

The consul at the embassy will then verify the authentication stamp, seal, or signature from Global Affairs Canada and will legalize your documents after that. This process can take tons of time and can be very confusing for people that are traveling out of the country for the first time.

Unfortunately, there is no way around it. There is good news, however! We’ve helped Canadians authenticate and legalize their Canadian documents for use in Costa Rica for years! We work directly with Global Affairs Canada and the Costa Rican embassy to make the process quick and simple for you. Simple bring your documents to us, and we’ll take care of the rest!

What You Should Know About Document Apostille in Canada

March 14, 2018/in Frontpage Article /by legal52

Are you planning to move to a new country to pursue a career or further your education? If you’ve already started the application process, your prospective school or employer will probably ask that you get an Apostille. Many people are confused when it comes to the world of document authentication or legalization and transfer, so an extra step in the process can seem overwhelming. It’s not as complicated as it seems once you know the core aspects of Document Apostille in Canada. In this post, we’ll cover the basics you should know along with how we can help you.

What is Document Apostille?

Before you can start going through the process, it helps to know what Document Apostille is. In essence, having your documents authorized by an “apostille” will ensure that they will be recognized in another country. Under the Hague Apostille Convention, all of the countries that signed the treaty all agreed that they would recognize public documents such as Birth Certificates, Marriage Certificates, Power of Attorney, etc., from other signatory countries. This doesn’t happen automatically, so before you travel, you must ensure that you bring these documents to an official apostille in your nation.

Document Apostille in Canada

So, now that you know what Document Apostille is, how do you have your documents certified by an apostille in Canada? This might come as a surprise, but because Canada was not a signer of the Hague Apostille Convention in 1961, you can’t have your Canadian documents authorized by an apostille in the country.

So where does that leave you? Luckily, in Canada, we have alternative services that essentially accomplish the same thing.

Alternative Options

In Canada, to make sure that your documents are accepted in the country you are traveling to, you must either have them authenticated or legalized. During this stage, your documents are verified by professionals, and you receive their stamp of approval that foreign governments will recognize.

You’ll need to get these stamps and signatures before you travel, so it is crucial that you make sure you check off all of your boxes before leaving the country. Otherwise, you might run into trouble once you reach your new job or school.

To have your documents authenticated, you can go directly to Global Affairs Canada in Ottawa and then to the Embassy or Consulate of your destination country to have your documents legalized.

Authentication of documents for marriage abroad

October 3, 2017/in Frontpage Article /by legal52

Getting married abroad can be an exciting adventure, but it also requires special attention to legal practices and implications. If you are planning on being married in a foreign country, the first thing you need to do is get in touch with the nearest embassy of the country where your marriage will occur to determine the appropriate legal requirements. Canada has many government offices abroad that will provide you with the necessary information regarding the regulations of the country you are planning on saying I do in.

Typical Requirements

Most countries require a valid Canadian passport and a certificate issued by your home province or territory proving that there are no legal issues that would invalidate or bar the union. Make sure you make it a priority to obtain this information and certification before you leave Canada to prevent unwanted obstacles for your marriage.

Other potential requirements

Being married abroad can be tricky because every government entity is different. While it’s best to check with your particular circumstances, here is a list of potential and common requirements:

1.) Birth Certificate

2.) Statement in Lieu of Certificate of Non-Impediment to Marriage Abroad.

3.) Premarital blood test certificate

4.) Divorce papers, if applicable.

5.) Death certificate and/or a statement of parental consent

Again, while these are common examples, each country is different and it’s crucial to check with the local laws. Additionally, just like you have no doubt already made extra efforts for your life abroad, you might have to have all the appropriate documents translated into the local language of the country where you are being married as well as having the necessary documents authenticated or legalized. The Legalization Service Centre is here to help you with the authentication of documents process.

Ultimately, It’s smartest to start the process early so that any obstacles you encounter have sufficient time to be resolved and you can focus on all the other details that come along with a marriage!

Citizenship

Marriages that are performed in a foreign country and adhere to all applicable laws are typically considered valid in Canada and you do not need to register them again. When you marry a citizen of another country, there is a chance that you will automatically become a citizen of that country but don’t worry! This will not affect your Canadian citizenship in Canada’s view. Unfortunately, your adopted country may not recognize your Canadian citizenship and may prevent Canada from providing you with consular assistance, so it’s important to understand your local government processes.

Marriage is an exciting and often overwhelming time. While the nuts and bolts of legal documents might not be at the top of your wedding to-do list, getting married abroad means digging into your local rules and regulations and cross-referencing with the appropriate Canadian authorities. The Legalization Service Centre should be your first point of contact in arranging the documents for your international marriage.

Do contact us for the assistance with the documents authentication process in Canada. We will authenticate your Canadian documents with no time and professionally as we know the process and we know how to do it.

Apostille Service in Canada

March 22, 2017/in Frontpage Article /by legal52

Who Does Apostille in Canada?

The Apostille Service is usually offered by a Canadian legal entity that facilitates and assists Canadians and non-Canadians with an Apostille process in Canada. The Legalization Service Centre is the Canadian legal entity that offers reliable Apostille Service in Canada. The Apostille is placed as a stamp or an additional page with certification attached to the Canadian documents so that these documents can be legally used in foreign countries. The Apostille was established in 1961 in Hague, Netherlands in order to abolish the requirements of legalization process for foreign documents.

If you need to get your documents Apostilled in Canada, please contact our office and we will explain you the steps for securely obtaining the Apostille. In Canada, the Apostille service normally requires the following two steps:

Authentication of documents by the Canadian Federal Government Authority – Department of Foreign Affairs.
Authentication or legalization of documents by the Embassy or Consulate in Canada.

We cover both steps so you do not need to worry much about it.

What Documents Require the Apostille Service?

Usually, all Canadian documents require Apostille if they are intended to be used outside of Canada. The documents such as birth, marriage, divorce or death certificates, educational documents, criminal record checks (police clearance) or fingerprint certificates, powers of attorney, deeds, corporate documents and many more.

We have vast experience in document services in Canada so you can be assured that everything we receive from you will be properly and safely handled and processed in accordance with the international laws and regulations. Beside Apostille, we offer notary services, translation services, international shipment services and visa services.