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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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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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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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Authentication of documents

Understanding document authentication: a primer on the what and why of authentication

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Moving documentation between countries can be confusing and at times, overwhelming. If you are dealing with documents between two countries it is crucial that you understand the process needed to authenticate them. Without understanding and deploying the appropriate authentication, your documents could be considered invalid. For Canadians, or people coming into Canada, documents must be authenticated and legalized by the appropriate authorities. Because Canada is not a signatory of the Hague Convention, documents must be authenticated both by the appropriate authorities in the country of origination AND the appropriate Canadian authorities or vice-versa. Read on to learn what authentication is and how to ensure you are properly handling your documents.

What is Authentication?

Authentication is the legal process of guaranteeing the genuine nature and validity of the signature and seal of an official document. Authentication does NOT guarantee the validity of the contents of any document. Authentication will be required for any document that needs to be guaranteed by a third party authority. This process will allow other jurisdictions to recognize and allow the document to be used. The authentication and legalization must be processed in order for the document to be considered valid.

Steps to take for smooth authentication and legalization

1.) Notarization: Some documents will need to be first notarized before they can be authenticated and legalized. Contact us to see if your document needs to be notarized by a notary public to proceed through the process. Some vital statistic documents like birth, marriage and death certificates do not need to be notarized.

2.) Authentication: Once notarized (if applicable) your document will move to the authentication phase. Authentication authorities compare the signature and seal of your document against information on file. Make sure all parts of the signature seal and/or stamp of the notary are displayed clearly on the document. Submission your documents to our office for authentication will guarantee a timely authentication process.

3.) Legalization: Once your document has been authenticated, it will need to be legalized through the embassy or consulate of the destination country. An official at the embassy or consulate will confirm that the document has been appropriately prepared and will confirm the certificate of authentication. If everything is properly prepared, the consulate or embassy will issue and affix a certificate of legalization to your document.

What kind of documents need to be authenticated?

Any document that requires a third party legal recognition will need to be appropriately authenticated. Some examples of common documents that require authentication include, but are not limited to: birth, adoption and marriage certificates, school admission papers and transcripts, contracts that deal with partnerships, incorporation and fiscal matter, approval certificates for customs, power of attorney and police documents. If you have any questions regarding the need to authenticate a document, your best course of action is to contact our office for the most up to date requirements.

Legalization Service Centre has been helping people through the process of legal and timely authentication and legalization of documents leaving and coming to Canada for years. If you have questions about a document or need help completing the process, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Authentication of documents

How to authenticate Canadian documents

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If you are new to authentication of documents in Canada, it is basically a service that proves that the signature, the position of an official as well as the seal of the document are all unique and genuine. This gives you proof that your document is authorized and will be recognized as such (a valid copy) when you use it.

 What Does Authentication Of Documents In (Or Outside) Canada Refer To?

Basically, the process of authenticating documents in or outside Canada ensures that your document is certified with the signature, seal or position at the document. It is also done by a person who has the authority to issue, execute or certify the document in a jurisdiction so that it can be recognized by another jurisdiction.

That being said, authentication of documents in Canada does not always relate to proving if the content of the document is genuine, legal or credible. Instead, it only confirms the signature of the authorized officer who signed the document.

What Types Of Documents Do You Need Authentication For?

Generally, the authentication of documents in Canada authenticates the seals and signatures on public documents such as notarials, birth certificates, court orders or other documents issued by public authorities. This way, they can be recognized in foreign countries.

The documents basically involve ones that are:

  1. Originating in a court, clerk of a court, a public prosecutor or process server
  2. Administrative documents
  3. Notarial acts
  4. Official certificates

For any or all of these types of documents, you should consider authentication in or outside Canada and provide us with the name of the country to which they will be transmitted.

What If The Documents Need To Be Translated?

Since Canada is a country where both English and French are spoken, the authentication of documents usually involves translations. If that is the case and your documents need to be translated, the best way to do that is to conatct our office as we provide the translation services for any languages. Also we notarize the translations which is an important requirement for further authentication of the documents.

attestation

What Role Does Notary Play in the Attestation Process?

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You might have heard before that in order to complete your documents’ attestation, you may need to have them notarized first. That could leave you wondering; what exactly is notarization? What is the role of notarization in the attestation process? Notarization can be the first step in the attestation of some documents. If you don’t know what notarization is, or don’t know if your document needs notarization, we can help clear it up for you.

What is Notarization?

In the Roman Empire, notaries originated as special stenographers who kept records in the courts. Some accounts even place their origins as far back as the scribes of ancient Egypt. They have been entrusted to witness and record important events throughout history. Leonardo Da Vinci was the son of a notary, and there is evidence that William Shakespeare may have been employed by a notary, or been a notary himself.

Today, notaries execute official acknowledgements under oath testifying to the authenticity of the documents they sign or witness the signatures of. This is not exactly the same as the authentication process for other documents, which is why it is required only in certain cases. A notarization is a ministerial act, which means that notaries will carry out official laws and regulations impartially. While it is sometimes the case that, in countries like the US, almost anyone can obtain a notary license, In Canada a notary is most often a legal professional.

How to find a notary might not be as important as making sure your documents are well prepared before and after they are notarized, fortunately, the Legalization Service Centre can help you with both. We can connect you with professional notaries and make sure your documents meet the necessary requirements for your purpose.

When Will I Need a Notary?

A notarization will be a required first step in your document’s attestation under some circumstances. If you are submitting a criminal record check for authentication and legalization, and that record check has been issued by a local police department, you will need a notarization. If you require a Certified True Copy of your documents made, you will need a notary. Notarization is typically required for documents concerning Power of Attorney, affidavits and other contracts where a witness to the signing is necessary.

Which Documents Likely Won’t Require a Notary?

It is uncommon to seek out the help of a notary for the attestation of vital records, such as birth certificates, death certificates or marriage certificates. If you have had your criminal record check issued at the headquarters of the RCMP in Ottawa, they have taken your fingerprints and this is unlikely to require notarization. Additionally, if issued by an accredited college or university, documents such as diplomas or degrees will not need notarization if all relevant seals and signatures are clearly visible.

The process of document attestation can be complicated. As always, we’re here to help you every step of the way. The Legalization Service Centre is here to help you get your documents prepared, notarized, authenticated, legalized and fully attested in any situation.

Document notarized

How To Get A Canadian Document Notarized For International Travel?

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There is always a common problem which international travelers do face whenever they want to travel from one country to another for business or residency. This is the nightmare of getting their documents notarized as required by the laws of every country. If you happen to be one of such persons then you would have known by now that notarized and subsequently authenticated documents are what actually authorize your movement abroad whether for business or residency or work purposes. This simply means that without a notarized and authenticated documents, your movement will be impeded.

What this post will be aimed at doing is to have you enlightened on the steps you will have to take to ensure that such a process is a huge success. These will be highlighted and briefly discussed below.

Getting Your Documents Notarized

This is a very vital step that you don’t want to ignore. A notary certificate involves having a seal placed at the end of your document indicating that a notary public has successfully carried out every witnessing as required by the law. It is important to note that a notary certificate may not be part of the original document as it can be attached to it. In order to get your document notarized, you will need a notary certificate, seal and finally a signature.

Meeting Different Requirements

You have to know that there are varying conditions when it comes to the process of notarization and authentication of documents. What this means is that the process is usually different from province to federal level, and country to country. Also, there is what is always referred to as general requirements.

The most pressing of all is the general requirements which you must meet. If you are a business person, you will be expected to submit your notarized powers of attorney, certificates of incorporation, affidavits, transcripts, deeds of assignment, commercial invoices, income verification, copy of international passport and any other documents related to your business. This may be required, for example, when you open a subsidiary of your business in foreign jurisdictions.

The requirements for the notarization and authentication of personal documents may include: marriage certificate, birth certificate, divorce decrees, judgment or probate wills, criminal background checks, fingerprints. Please note that you only authenticate these documents when you are required to do so by government authorities of foreign countries. For instance, being divorced requires you to submit a document verifying this status.

File in A Request For Notarization and Authentication Services

This is the stage where you will need to complete a form about your request for the notarization and authentication of documents owned by you. In Canada, Legalization Service Centre is the company that will assist you to get documents notarized and authenticated. You will need to fill out the LSC Order Form in order to request this service from the company. The order form is not difficult to complete, but if you will have questions on how to complete it, you can always call the Customer Service at LSC to help you with the completion. Once the order was placed, the agents of LSC will process your documents at Global Affairs Canada and then will further process them by appropriate consulates or Embassies accredited in Canada according to international laws.

In conclusion, any time when you travel abroad: for business, work or residency purposes, you will need to make sure that Canadian documents are properly notarized and authenticated so that they are recognized in the country of your destination. LSC will properly get your documents notarized.  Legalization Service Centre is your trusted partner in your international endeavor!