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Authentication of Documents in Canada

LSC Canada: One-Stop Solution for your Attestation Needs

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Paperwork can be daunting and we get that. Unfortunately, when you need documents from one country to use in another, there is even more administration involved. Not only do these documents often need to be notarized, they also need to be attested to ensure that they are legally admissible in the intended country of use. For anyone who hasn’t gone through the process before, attestation or authentication and legalization (what does that even mean?) can seem like a headache. From ordering the right document to having them reach their final destination, there is just so much involved! Not to mention the trip to Ottawa for legalization that you probably didn’t have in your travel plans.

So what do you do? We recommend getting in touch with Legalization Service Centre Canada (LSC Canada). Not just because we’re the best in the industry, but because we take all of your attestation stress away. And when we say all, we mean from A to Z. Here’s how.

1. Getting your documents together

You know what document you need, but do you know where to order it from? What about which version is right? For example, if you need a birth certificate attested, you may not be aware that the long form can save you a lot of headache down the road. In fact, most times the short version won’t even be accepted. Moreover, often there are documents you need along with the basic ones that you may not even be aware of. For example, if you need a divorce certificate attested to clear you for a marriage abroad, it may be a good idea to include your marriage certificate to that person as well. There are many examples like these where people often have to repeat the process simply because they forgot to include a document the first time around.

When you go through us, we know what the end goal is because we’ve done the job plenty of times. We’ll know not just how to efficiently complete attestation of the document of your interest, but will also advise on everything else you may need.

2. We take care of all of the applications and travel

Did you know that the Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and most embassy offices are located in Ottawa? That’s why our head office is also situated in the heart of Ottawa, just minutes away from all of these key points that you’ll need to touch. If you aren’t in Ottawa, that doesn’t sound like much fun, does it? Traveling to Ottawa for the purpose of attestation of your documents isn’t a great use of your time. But it is a very good use of ours! Once you transfer all of your required documents to us, we’ll fill out the necessary applications and submit everything on your behalf. They will first go to Global Affairs Canada for authentication and then to the appropriate embassy for legalization. No matter how many times these offices need to be visited for your paperwork, we’ll make the necessary trips.

3. Document transfers and mailing

Once all of your documents are fully authenticated and legalized, we package them up and courier them to your requested address. In many instances, this means that you don’t even have to worry about mailing in the documents to their final destination. Our mails are sent through secured channels so that you can track them until they reach their destination.

Moreover, there are perks to using LSC as your service provider that you wouldn’t enjoy otherwise. For example, did you also know that now it takes 10 business day or more for GAC  to complete your authentication? We can help expedite this process as long as you have proof of your deadline!

Still not sure what to do? Don’t fret, we know that the process can appear complicated. We are always here to help you with your attestation needs. If you have any questions, give us a call and we’ll go over more details. At LSC Canada, we are happy to help you with your attestation needs at every step of the way. Even if that means just having a reassuring and informative conversation!

The Hague Convention: Authentication, Legalization and Apostille

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The Hague Apostille Convention a.k.a. the Hague Convention is a multilateral treaty drafted by the Hague Conference. It’s an attempt to standardize the way documents are certified. Drafted in 1961, the Hague Convention now sees 115 countries as is signatories. These countries recognize a standard document apostille process, which validates them after the process. Thereafter, they can legally recognize documents as equivalent to their own. Canada, however, is not part of the Hague Convention. Instead, documents need to undergo authentication and legalization.

Canada and the Hague Convention

So why isn’t Canada a signatory? It’s not quite clear, but more importantly, it means that it can’t produce document apostilles. Canada even takes things a step further! You can NOT authenticate a copy of a document that has already undergone apostille. To authenticate that document, you must submit another notarized true copy.

It may be confusing for anyone going through this process to understand the difference. If a country asks you for a document apostille and your documents originated in Canada, what do you do? The answer is quite simple. While the terminology is different, document apostille and authentication and legalization mean the same thing. So to “do apostille” really means to authenticate and legalize your documents.

Apostille in Canada: Step 1

In Canada, authentication of documents can only be conducted by Global Affairs Canada (GAC), located in Ottawa. GAC will accept notarized copies of your documents and they will conduct a review of them. They will check the signatures and stamps to ensure they are true and valid. With that done, GAC will place a red stamp on your document to prove it has been authenticated.

Apostille in Canada: Step 2

After authentication, your documents must undergo legalization. Note which country you’re going to use them in! The corresponding embassy or consulate of the country will be legalizing them for you. The embassy will conduct a second review of your documents to ensure that the GAC stamp is true and valid. They will affix either a stamp or a certificate to indicate that the documents have been verified and legalized.

Confused? Exhausted? We can help

The process of document authentication and legalization may seem daunting to anyone who has not gone through it before, however, if done correctly, it can be rather simple administration. Where complications arise is if the documents to be authenticated and legalized have not been prepared properly or the associated forms not filled out correctly. Errors or omissions can cost you a great deal of added time to completion and additional fees. For these reasons, it is always a good idea to have an authentication and legalization professional review your documents and submit them for you. An added benefit of going through a professional service provider such as Legalization Service Centre (LAC) is that our networks at GAC allow for your documents to be prepared in as quickly as one business day whereas the normal wait time is up to 22 business days.

Over years of commitment to authentication and legalization, LAC has garnered a five star rating on Google reviews from many clients and an A+ standing with the BBB. We take customer service very seriously, but more importantly, we know the process of document authentication and legalization inside out for any of your document needs. If you have any questions regarding the processing of your documents, give us a call at 1-800-857-1215 to speak to one of our professionals, or send us a WhatsApp message at +1-613-501-0555 any time.

 

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Authentication and Legalization for Medical Professionals

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The globe views Canadian medical professionals very highly. This is because medical training, licensing standards and practice in Canada are amongst the most challenging in the world. As such, foreign countries and organizations seek out Canadian medical professionals for work. Doctors Without Borders, the United Nations, and the World Health Organization are just some of the examples! They provide unparalleled opportunities to experience foreign culture and world affairs. Before you can extend a gold standard service outside of your own country, there are several things to do. That is, documentation caveats, such as authentication and legalization.

What Do Medical Professionals Have To Do?

You must authenticate and legalize your professional medical doctor or nurse license. Countries in Europe, Asia and the Middle East ask for validated licenses from medical professionals before allowing them to practice in their countries. For that, you need to obtain a true copy of your license and certificates of training. Then, a notary public in Canada needs to notarize and attest your license. Your next stop is Global Affairs Canada.

The Authentication Process

Global Affairs Canada is the government body that oversees document authentication in Canada. Submit your documents to the GAC bureau in Ottawa, to undergo examination. They will ensure that the signatures and practices numbers on the license are authentic and match the ones within its registry. Once they are satisfied that your license/certificate is valid and meet the standards set by GAC, they will place their red stamp on the license document/certificate, thus completing authentication.

The Legalization Process

You need to submit your license/certificate to the embassy of the country you’re going to practice in Ottawa. The embassy will review your document and the GAC stamp placed on it. Once they are satisfied that the GAC stamp is authentic and the license meets their standards, they too will affix their stamp or a certificate to your document to verify that it has been legalized.

How We Can Help You

While document authentication and legalization are not difficult to complete, they can be time consuming. And costly if not done correctly, especially if you choose to do it yourself! This is because individuals usually lack the network within GAC and local Ottawa embassies that authentication and legalization professionals such as Legalization Service Centre (LSC) possess. This network allows these organizations to bypass wait times, reducing the typical wait time of 20 business days to as little as next-day service at GAC. Moreover, because LSC’s office is located in Ottawa where most embassies and GAC are located, it allows us to be able to oversee your document while it is being processed, meaning that any cause for delay can be rectified immediately.

LSC has earned an A+ status with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and boasts a 5 star review on Google. We take pride in the level of customer service provided to customers over many years of operation. We understand that processing documents can be tedious, especially if you are not familiar or don’t have experience working with government bodies and embassies. Moreover, these tasks can be particularly stressful when conducted from a distance, such as from a different city or province. Trust us with your document authentication and legalization needs, and we will ensure a positive experience for you too!

 

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Exporting Commercial Goods to Iraq | Authentication & Legalization

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Commerce between Canada and Iraq is governed by processes that regulate what can and can’t be exported. As well as the equality of exports and strategies for shipment. To control all of these factors, goods leaving Canada must be accompanied by a Certificate of Origin and Commercial Invoice. These documents contain many vital pieces of information. They are critical to keep buyer and seller commitments in check. They also allow the governments of the two countries to have oversight of the products leaving and entering. Vital information contained are details of the seller, place of production, price, and attestation that the products meet certain criteria of production and distribution. They need to undergo authentication and legalization.

Canada and Iraq in Trade

Trade relations between Canada and Iraq are quite strong. We see this by the staggering $200 million reported in trades between the two countries in 2018. Since then, the numbers have only increased as opportunities for trade have expanded. The Canadian market makes a significant contribution in terms of exports to Iraq. For example, in past years Iraq has been one of Canada’s biggest buyers of wheat, coming in second after the United States. Strong trade relations between the two countries is not surprising! Our economies and natural resources combined complement each other significantly. Moreover, Canada takes an active initiative via funds and programs to stabilize the Iraqi government, support humanitarian efforts, and promote developmental strategies.

What is Authentication?

In order for the Certificate of Origin and Commercial Invoice to be valid to Iraq, they must undergo authentication and legalization by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and the Iraqi embassy. Before authenticating documents, they must be notarized by a Canadian notary public. GAC will verify that the signatures are true and that they meet their standards for export documents. Afterwards, they will place a red stamp to finish the authentication process. Once authentication is complete, the documents are ready for legalization.

What is Legalization?

 

The embassy of the country you plan to use your document(s) in will review them a second time. They will confirm that the document(s) meets the standards of their country. Additionally, they also confirm GAC authentication. In this case, once authentication by GAC has been completed, the Certificate of Origin and Commercial Invoice will be submitted to the Iraqi embassy in Ottawa. The Iraqi embassy will then conduct their review, then place their stamp or attach a certificate signifying that legalization has been completed.

Overwhelmed? We Can Help!

Authentication and legalization can be quite complicated. Exporting goods is already difficult, involving careful documentation, reporting, and liaisons between two countries. At Legalization Service Centre, our professionals have years of experience authenticating and legalizing trade documents which has earned us an A+ ranking at the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and a stellar 5 star client review on Google.

Our customer service is definitely a driving factor for these ratings. We also have strong networks within GAC and local Ottawa embassies. This means that your documents can be prepared in record time and hassle-free. We can review your documents for accuracy, submit to GAC and the appropriate embassy. Eventually, we can courier the completed documents to your desired address. Our location within Ottawa and proximity to the GAC and embassies allows us to follow through with your documents until completion and take any action necessary promptly.

Contact Us Anytime

Trades to Iraq or any other country is a great way to enhance our own economy and strengthen those of the countries that benefit from our products. Let us help you along your way as you do the best you can on the front of commerce. Contact us to speak with one of our professionals with any questions you may have at 1-800-857-1215 or reach us via Whatsapp at +1-613-501-0555.

 

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Investing in the U.S. Real Estate Market as a Canadian || Authentication and Legalization

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The US investment laws are fairly relaxed for foreign investors. This makes it easy for Canadians to bank on opportunities such collecting assets. This, along with many Canadians choosing to retire in America, are two primary reasons why Canadians invest in real estate. Whether you are a keen investor looking to bank on an opportunity or planning a dream retirement home, you will need to complete document authentication and legalization. Apostille is the equivalent process in the United States.

On September 29, 2008….

The Dow Jones dropped a stooping 777% within one trading day, causing a massive economic collapse which affected the US real estate market in a profound manner. The collapse was the result of lenders taking loans on homes they couldn’t afford. Many had to walk away from their mortgages, as they couldn’t carry on their payments anymore. This caused a significant drop in the housing market prices due to foreclosures, the effects of which can be seen even today. At one point, a single family swelling was as low as $50,000 US dollars! These conditions were dismal for home owners. However, these sudden low prices opened up a gate for foreign investors. Many Canadian investors began collecting these assets and still hunt for such deals to date.

What You Might Need for Apostille

Some documents you may need to apostille may include a mortgage agreement, Power of Attorney, property Deed, time-share contract or purchase/sales agreement. Regardless of what your apostille needs are, having a document authentication and legalization professional complete the process can save significant time and money.

Authentication and Legalization Simplified: Apostille

America requires documents to be apostilled, instead of authenticated and legalized. The difference in terminology is due to the fact that America is one of the countries that has signed the Hague Convention while Canada has not. Without going into much detail, what is important to recognize is that while the terminology may be different, the process of authentication and legalization are the same as document apostille.

If you want to authenticate your property documents, a professional such as Legalization Service Centre (LSC) will review what your end goal is. LSC will collect all of the necessary documents and forms, then fill them out. Global Affairs Canada (GAC) will validate that the sent documents meet their standards. Once satisfied, they will place a large red stamp on your documents.

The next and final step is legalization. The US embassy in Ottawa is in charge of legalizing your documents. They will be checking that the GAC stamp is valid and meets their standards, too. Should everything go well, they will also affix their stamp (certificate of legalization) to your document. After these steps, your documents will be apostilled! Or in Canadian terms, authenticated and legalized.

Why Choose A Professional?

While both of these processed can be completed on your own, involving a professional includes several advantages. For one thing, Legalization Service Centre has a network with GAC which allows for documents sent by us to receive preferential processing time. While it can take upwards of 20 days if you send the documents on your own, LSC can have your documents authenticated as early as one business day.

Our professional oversight allows for reduction in chances of error. This can save you more money and time. LSC’s connections and proximity to the US embassy in Ottawa also help with processing time at the legalization stage. The process will be timely and cost-effective! Investing in the US can very exciting, we know. Paperwork, however, can be daunting if not done right. Having the right paperwork certified in the right manner can save you hassle. Not just in the present, but it can create a secure foundation for many years to come, too. Regardless of what your document authentication and legalization needs are, give us a call to chat with one of our highly skilled professionals. We are happy to help whenever we can!

 

Image Credit: BioWorld, Karen Carey

Document Authentication and Legalization for Acquiring a Russian Citizenship for your Canadian-Born Children

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Regardless of where your children are born, they can enjoy dual citizenship of your country via naturalization. Sometimes, authentication and legalization of documents is required to confirm this status.  Naturalization is the process where a non-citizen can acquire citizenship of a country. While there are several avenues through which a person may acquire citizenship with this method, having a parent be a national of a country prior to a child’s birth is one of the simplest. The child may acquire citizenship of that country too. Other requirements are also in place to ensure that they can obtain this formal status. Such is the scenario for Russian Canadians who have Canadian-born children. These children are Canadian nationals by birth, but also enjoy Russian citizenship via their parent’s Russian status.

Russian Citizenship: A Quick Requirement List

The Russian government acknowledges that Canadian-born children born to Russian parent(s) are automatically Russian citizens as well. This is true even if only one of the child’s parents holds Russian citizenship while the other is a foreigner. However, in order for the child to obtain this citizenship formally via documentation, they must complete an application process. This is important because if they were to visit Russia, they would require a Russian passport and any visa application would be denied due to their automatic Russian national status. In order to obtain the passport, the individual, or parents of children under the age of 18, must submit the following documents to the Russian embassy in Ottawa:

  • An application to verify the child’s Russian citizenship
  • Translated, notarized, and authenticated copy of the child’s Canadian birth certificate
  • If one of the parents is a non-Russian, then a notarized statement of consent from the non-Russian parent (for children under the age of 18)
  • Processing and shipping fees
  • Passport photos for the child

Some other documents that may also be required:

  • Passport photos for the applying parent
  • Notarized, authenticated and legalized copies of the parent’s residency document (Canadian permanent residency card, Canadian passport, long-term visa, etc.).

What Needs To Be Done?

Before submitting your documents to the Russian government, authenticate and legalize them. With that done, you will clear your citizenship verification and get your Russian passport. Complete details of the process can be found on the website of the Russian Embassy in Ottawa here.

You must submit these documents (especially the birth certificate) alongside your application. You must translate, authenticate, and legalize them in order to meet the requirements of the Russian government. First, translate the certificate, then you have to  notarize with a notary public. Following this, the documents must be sent to Globalization Service Centre (GAC), which is a Canadian government body responsible for all document authentication in Canada. Here, your documents and the signatures on them will be verified for accuracy and trueness. Once they meet the standards set forth by GAC, GAC will place their large red stamp on them signifying that they have been authenticated. Then, the Russian Embassy in Ottawa will legalize them. They  will verify that the GAC stamp is authentic and that the application meets all the document requirements, legalizing it.

How We Can Help With Russian Citizenship

While the process of authentication and legalization can be conducted by anyone, it is best to entrust a professional such as Legalization Service Centre. This is because processing time and length can be significantly reduced when the documents are processed by professionals who are well networked within GAC and embassies in Ottawa. Legalization Service Centre’s office is conveniently located in the heart of Ottawa, proximate to GAC and nearby foreign embassies. Whereas it may take an individual up to a month to complete authentication with GAC, we can have your documents processed via expedited next-day service or within weeks for regular processing time.

Having your child obtain their Russian citizenship status and passport can be an exciting step. Let us help you with the process to make the process as convenient and time-efficient as possible! Give us a call to talk to one of our professionals anytime at 1-800-857-1215.

 

 

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Marriage Certificate Apostille, Authentication, Legalization

Marriage Certificate Authentication

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Your marriage certificate is an important document, and if you plan to move to another country with your spouse, you must make sure that you have it ready so you can take advantage of the benefits of marriage.

Even so, the process is a little bit more complex than arriving in the country and showing the embassy your Canadian marriage certificate. You must go through a verification process known as authentication and legalization. If these terms confuse you, it’s okay! Today, we’ll discuss the steps you need to take to ensure that the entire process is smooth and fast.

Canadian Marriage Certificate Apostille

If you’ve lived in a different country before, you might have heard about apostille. The marriage certificate apostille process derives from The Hague Apostille Convention. This was a piece of legislation signed by multiple countries in the Netherlands as a standardized way of verifying foreign documents. It makes the process easy and quick.

However, Canada was not a signee of this treaty and follows a slightly different process known as authentication and legalization. Yes, it means that you need to jump through a few more legal hoops to apostille your documents, but the end result is the same as marriage certificate apostille.

Marriage Certificate Authentication

The first step is to do your marriage certificate authentication service in Ottawa. This happens at Global Affairs Canada in Ottawa. They’ll review your Canadian marriage certificate and ensure that it meets all of the legal requirements. They’ll check its legitimacy, and once it passes, they’ll provide you with a stamp that means it is ready to move onto the next step, legalization.

Canadian Marriage Certificate Legalization

The final stage of this process is marriage certificate legalization. This essentially converts the document and ensures that your destination country will recognize it. Failing to complete this stage can lead to headaches and trouble down the road, so make sure you don’t forget it!

You’ll need to go to the embassy of your destination country here in Canada. Make sure that your marriage certificate is original and in long-form. They’ll review it and ensure that it is correct and will provide you with their seal of approval. From there, you’re ready to use it in your new country!

We Can Help

This entire process can be long, stressful, and confusing in many cases, but we’re here to help! Simply bring us your Canadian marriage certificate, and we’ll handle the entire process for you saving you time and worry. To get started, get in touch with us today!

Source of picture: www.servicealberta.ca

Document legalization

Legalization Service Centre: One Stop Solution for Your International Document Needs

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Going to a foreign country any time soon? Whether you’re going there for travel, work, or school, you’ll need to go through the document legalization process. This process has a few different steps, and it’s easy to skip one accidentally.

Luckily, Legalization Service Centre makes the process incredibly simple! Here are a few ways that we can help with all of your international document needs.

What services Legalization Service Centre have to offer?

To start with, let’s take a look at the services that we offer to all of our customers.

First, we’ll help you sort through all of your documents and determine which ones you need, and which ones can stay home. Everyone has different needs and will choose to travel for various reasons. Because of this, we don’t offer a cookie-cutter approach to our customers, and instead, we’ll listen to your goals.

After we sort through the documents, we’ll determine which ones need to be authenticated or notarized. Some documents already have this built-in and can skip this step. Others might need extra attention. We’ll help you determine this.

Then, we’ll get in touch with the embassy of your destination country. We’ll also work with Global Affairs Canada to help save you the trip and the time. After we sort everything out with them, we’ll even mail your documents, so you have them once you arrive in your destination country without issue.

We make the Process Less Stressful

If you’re a first-time foreign traveler, you’ll probably feel overwhelmed as soon as you start learning about the different document legalization steps. It can take some time to research all of this, and if you miss a step, you might be turned away once you arrive.

Sure, it is possible to go through the entire legalization process yourself, but if you’ve never done it before, you might run into problems. Part of the advantage of working with the Legalization Service Centre is that we won’t let you fail. Every staff member is trained and experienced in the art of document legalization. We’ll answer any questions that you might have, and we’ll also take care of a majority of the technical work. Basically, all you need to do is bring your documents and tell us what you’d like to do – we take care of the rest from there!

Save Time

The legalization process can take time, but since we’re experienced, we know how to make the entire process seamless. Rather than getting in touch with various embassies and agencies yourself, we do this for you. We’ll overnight your documents and save you the drive or flight, and you can focus on setting up your travel accommodations instead of your documents.

Let Us Help!

If you are ready to travel to a foreign country but don’t know where to start, we can help! Get in touch with us today, and we’ll get the document legalization process started for you!