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 31st, students on March Break are away from school until April 4th, 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.