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Marriage Certificate Attestation for International Use

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While most people don’t give much thought to it, your marriage certificate is an important legal document that may become necessary for a variety of different reasons, both locally and internationally. If you need to use yours internationally, then the document must undergo the processes of authentication and legalization. Below are a few things to keep in mind when prepping for marriage certificate attestation.

Know where to obtain your original marriage certificate

In Canada, marriage licenses and certificates are granted and maintained at the provincial level. If you married in Quebec, you can’t request them from Ontario. Most people don’t have a problem with this because they tend to marry in their resident province. Problems arise when you have a destination wedding or relocate from the province you married in. Many of the provinces and territories have online forms for requesting the certificate. However, some may require mailed-in forms or in-person requests. If online applications aren’t available, make sure you block out more time to the process.

Gather all the necessary documents for marriage certificate attestation

The first step in marriage certificate attestation? Reflect on why you need your marriage certificate for international use and find out from the embassy of that country if you need any other supporting documents. For example, if you need the document for immigration benefits for a foreign spouse. They may need copies of your ID or financial statements. You usually need to authenticate and legalize these, too.

It’s a good practice to create a dossier with all of these necessary documents so that you can complete the process of legalization in a timely and organized manner. If you are working with an expert, they can help you source and prepare what you need.

Make sure you have the long form certificate!

Marriage certificates can come in short and long form. The short form contains the names of the couple and the place of marriage. The long form contains this, along with additional details about the couple, their parents, as well as the place of marriage. Most applications and offices require you to use the long form while the short form may be sufficient for many purposes. However, to be on the safe side, it is good practice to use the long form whenever you can.

Marriage Certificate Authentication

In Canada, document attestation or legalization is a two-part process. Documents must first undergo authentication by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) located in Ottawa. GAC is a government body responsible for reviewing and authenticating all legal documents in Canada. Typically this process takes about 15 to 20 days to complete from the time that the documents are submitted to GAC and there is an application fee. If there are errors or omissions in the application, authentication may take longer and there may be additional fees associated with the review. GAC will place a red stamp on the document to signal the end of the authentication step.

Marriage Certificate Legalization

Following authentication, your document must be submitted to the embassy of the country where you intend to use it. Once at the embassy, the document will undergo the legalization portion of the process. The embassy will review the document to ensure that the GAC stamp is valid and also that it meets the standards of their country. Once they are satisfied, the embassy too will place a stamp or attach a certificate to indicate that your document has been legalized. This completes the necessary steps for document authentication/legalization, making your document admissible for use in your country of interest!

Consider a professional to handle your document preparation

While document authentication and legalization are not difficult processes per say, it can be tedious work. Having a professional service such as Legalization Service Centre can make the process easier. For instance, a professional can facilitate in the collection of your legal documents as well as prepare the application package for GAC. Moreover, professionals have the network within GAC that can significantly reduce wait time. For instance, Legalization Service Centre can have your documents authenticated at GAC within one business day, compared to the 15 to 20 days it can typically take! Also, errors can be costly, both in terms of time and money. Since legalization professionals do this work all the time, they can help to avoid common errors or omissions.

Regardless of what you need your marriage certificate for, legalization of the document is a necessary step in order to be able to use it internationally. Document preparation and paperwork is never fun, but hopefully in following these tips, the process can be made less burdensome. If you still have any questions, give the professionals at Legalization Service Centre a shout. They are happy to help with all of your document legalization needs!

 

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Why do you need a Marriage Search Certificate?

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Marriage is a celebrated occasion and one that should be based on trust and confidence from both parties involved. Partners should be open and honest with each other, especially about marital status, past and present. It’s even more important that you and your partner fully disclose your marital status when marrying abroad. This is where a marriage search certificate factors in, as well as its consequent authentication and legalization.

Why Do You Need a Marriage Search Certificate?

Usually, one of the prerequisites to legal marriage is being in a single status at present. You are legally single by default if you have never married or been in a conjugal relationship. You are also single if you have conferred your divorce. The end outcome in order to marry is that you have to be single at present. If you are marrying someone in a different country, that country may require you to prove your freedom to marry. In this scenario, a simple marriage search certificate will clear your status.

A marriage search is usually conducted at the provincial level in Canada. If you got married in Ontario or live in Ontario, that is where you obtain your certificate from. Each province has their own process for searching the records and a simple Google search will show you the process for your province. Some provinces may require for you to submit an application by mail or in person.

It is also worth noting that this certificate will only indicate any record of marriage within the province. If the marriage ended with a divorce, the record of the divorce will not show on it. Additionally, you must obtain a divorce certificate from the Supreme Court if you are legally divorced. This, along with the marriage search certificate, should be sufficient to prove your freedom to marry.

Legalizing and Authenticating Your Marriage Search Certificate

Like any other legal document, you must validate your marriage certificate before use abroad. Meaning, the marriage search must undergo document authentication and legalization. To authenticate, submit it to Global Affairs Canada (GAC) located in Ottawa. GAC will review the signatures on your certificates to ensure that they are true and valid. GAC will place a red stamp on the documents to indicate that it has been authenticated.

Following authentication, you need to legalize your document by the embassy of the country you wish to marry in. This embassy will also conduct their own review to ensure that the certificates meet the standards and requirements of their country. They will also place a stamp or certificate to indicate that the certificate has been legalized.

How Can We Help?

At Legalization Service Centre, we understand that marriage is a celebratory occasion that requires a lot of preparation. With so much already on your plate, paperwork is probably the last thing you want to worry about. However, having the paperwork completed properly can save you time, money and headache in the weeks and months ahead of your journey. Legalization Service Centre has the expertise and network to complete your authentication and legalization needs so that you can remain stress-free and confident that your paperwork is being completed by professionals in the field. Our experience and customer service has earned us an A+ reputation with the BBB and a stellar rating on Google from our customers. With us, you can rest assured that paperwork will be the least of your worries on this joyous occasion.

 

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Bahamas

Deed of Conveyance: Bahamas Authentication and Legalization

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Having a place to call your own in the Bahamas is akin to owning a piece of heaven on earth. The real estate market in the Bahamas has always been open and lucrative to Canadian prospects. Perhaps your investment is a vacation home for yourself. Or many you realized how valuable a waterfront property could be for short and long term rentals. However, property transactions in the Bahamas requires a few additional steps. Just as is the case here in Canada, you will need to have a lawyer draft a conveyance deed. A conveyance deed serves as the proof of “transference” of a title from one owner to another. On top of that, it also needs to undergo Bahamas authentication and legalization. What are the next steps you should take?

The First Step to Recognition of Your Deed

If you find yourself in a situation where you need to use your conveyance deed for a transaction, simply presenting this deed will not be sufficient. Even though the document is regarding a property in the Bahamas, your deed will need to undergo attestation.  Attestation is another way of saying “Bahamas authentication and legalization”. The terms are interchangeable and the process is the same, regardless of what you call it.

In order to complete attestation, you will need to follow a certain process. After certifying your signature on the Deed by a Canadian lawyer or notary public, you will need to submit it to Global Affairs Canada (GAC) in Ottawa for authentication. GAC is the government body in Canada that authenticates all legal documents. They will review the signatures on your deed for trueness and once they are satisfied, GAC will place a stamp to indicate that it has been authenticated.

Legalization via the Bahamas High Commission

Following authentication, your document will need to be submitted to the Bahamas High Commission in Ottawa. This step is for the process of legalization, which serves as the second step of attestation. The High Commission will review your document further for accuracy and validity of the GAC stamp. Once they are satisfied, they too will place a stamp or certificate indicating that the document has been legalized.

The Benefits of Choosing Legalization Service Centre

The process of authentication and legalization can be time consuming and expensive to do by yourself. This is because authentication professionals such as Legalization Service Centre have existing networks within GAC and embassies through years of experience. You can save money and time, and your documents will be free of errors.  For example, whereas the turnaround time for authentication is 20 business days, we can have your documents processed within one business day. Our location, service level, and connection can make all the difference in how fast and effectively you have your deed of conveyance ready for use.

While property transactions anywhere can be challenging, there is an added layer of bureaucracy involved when the transactions are in a foreign country. Property dealings in the Bahamas are no exception to this. Contact us today to speak to one of our professionals to make the process easier and quicker to handle.

 

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criminal check authentication

Canadian Criminal Record Check for International Use

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A Criminal Record Check (CRCs) is a common document that one country requires from another. There are a variety of different reasons you may be asked for one, but when you are, you want to know what do to. Here are some key points on CRCs for international use and the CRC attestation process.

What is a Criminal Record Check?

A Criminal Record Check is one form of police record check. It shows records of police convictions or felonies, if you have ever been charged with one. If you have never been convicted of a crime or felony, a simple one page document shows that there are no records on file.

If there are any records to show, the document will contain the following information:

  • The nature of your conviction,
  • Whether or not you were found guilty,
  • What type of pardon you were granted (if any), and,
  • Whether there is an arrest warrant in your name.

There are different kinds of CRCs or background checks. Typically for use inside of Canada, a basic CRC can be requested online on the Canadian Police Services website. This type only requires your name and date of birth, along with answering a few credit-related security questions. When you apply on the Canadian Police Services website, it can take between 7 to 10 business days to receive the record.

However, if you are outside of the country or require a check for international use, you may need a criminal record check with fingerprints — or certified record checks. These act as an added layer of protection. The CRC ensures that you and/or the person you authorize in your application are the only ones who can see your records.

When might you need a CRC and CRC attestation?

You might be asked for a CRC if you are involved or with with vulnerable sectors. Some common examples of vulnerable sectors include young children, older seniors, and some disabled people. For example, if you applied to work in an elementary school in another country, the government of that country may require that you provide a CRC to verify that you have a clean background. They are trying to assess whether you will pose any risks to the people who will be exposed to you through the course of your involvement.

Foreign employment, education, or international travel visas all may require a certified CRC with fingerprints.

What about attestation of the CRC?

After you obtain your RCMP certified criminal record check, the next step for making it good for international use is legalizing the document. You would submit the CRC to Global Affairs Canada (GAC) in Ottawa to obtain a document authentication. GAC will review your CRC and ensure that is has all of the appropriate signatures.

After authentication, you need to legalize your document. The embassy of the country where you will be using your CRC will do this for you. The embassy will review your document to ensure that it meets all of their country’s standards, and that the GAC stamp is valid. Once they are satisfied, they too will affix a stamp or certificate to your document.

Authentication and legalization make your CRC document valid for use in the country where you intend to use it. While the processes are relatively simple, they can be time consuming if you haven’t gone through them before. For example, our documents are processed at the GAC in as little as 1 business day, whereas the normal processing time can take up to 20 days. Time is not the only thing you save when you entrust us with your CRC authentication and legalization needs. Accidental errors and omissions can lead to having to resubmit your documents, which can be quite costly. Since we regularly process CRCs for authentication and legalization, there is little room for errors and omissions.

How can we help?

Legalization Service Centre has an A+ standing with the Better Business Bureau and a 5-star rating on Google. Our professionals are experts at what they do, and have served thousands of customers reach their authentication and legalization needs with ease and efficiency. We’ve processed many criminal records for international use and have experienced all sorts of scenarios. Contact us to speak to one of our agents to find out exactly what you need to do next. We’re always happy to hear from you!

 

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Teaching in the UAE: Degrees and Qualification Certificates Attestation

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Teaching in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has become an increasingly popular affair, and a highly competitive one at that! This is for good reason. Working as a teacher in the UAE comes with many perks. Asides from a great salary, did you know that teachers can expect to receive provisions such as paid accommodation, healthcare, round flight tickets to their home country during summer break, and a bonus month’s salary for each completed contract year? This means that you can potentially build up a good amount of savings in a short period of time. Adding in the experience of working a job in a beautiful country and this easily becomes a dream career opportunity! What are some things you should know for your document legalization and authentication needs for your new teaching job? Below are some pointers to keep in mind.

Gather all of your essential documents for the UAE

Once you’ve received an offer of employment, your new employers will start asking you for your qualifications. You might need to show everything: Your college/university transcripts, degrees, TEFL certification, and/or teaching license. It’s a good idea to gather all of these documents together and create certified and notarized copies of true originals.

Getting prepared early is the key to stress-free success here. It can take time to order and receive transcripts and replacement certificates if you need any. Factor in time for creating true copies of originals, certifying and notarizing.

Call an authentication professional

In order for all of your documents to be valid for use in the UAE,  they will need to go through the process of document authentication and legalization. If you aren’t familiar with the process, it’s a great idea to consult with a professional. Likewise if you simply haven’t authenticated documents for this purpose before. We’ll provide you with all of the information you need, and guide you to the best of our abilities on how to proceed. At Legalization Service Centre, we process hundreds of documents for teachers regularly, so you can rest assure your document processing needs will be efficiently met by us. There is a high chance that we’ve worked with your school by helping our other Canadian teacher clients.

Have your degree certificates and qualification documents attested for UAE

Your documents will need to go through the screening processes of document authentication and legalization, also known as attestation. Authentication happens at Global Affairs Canada (GAC) in Ottawa, where your documents are reviewed to ensure that all of the signatures on them are true and belong to GAC’s repository of authorized individuals. Once they are satisfied, GAC will place a large red stamp demonstrating that the documents have been authenticated.

Next, your documents will need to be legalized by the United Arab Emirates Embassy in Ottawa. The embassy will ensure that the GAC stamp is valid, and that the documents meet all of the requirements and standards in place by the UAE for foreign teachers. Once they are satisfied, they too will place a stamp or certificate indicating that the documents have been legalized.

Following completion of your document processing, Legalization Service Centre will courier them to the address you specify, such as to the school where you will be teaching. This means that we take the stress right off of your hands right from when you call us to the very end when the end party receives your documents!

Now all you have to do is plan for an adventurous opportunity filled with endless potential!

Legalization Service Centre has an A+ standing with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and a 5 star client rating on Google. We take great pride in serving our customers well, and look forward to building new client relations as we go. Feel free to call us with any questions you may have, even if you don’t need your documents processed by us. We’re happy to help whenever we can!

 

 

 

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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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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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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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