Are you planning to move to a new country to pursue a career or further your education? If you’ve already started the application process, your prospective school or employer will probably ask that you get an Apostille. Many people are confused when it comes to the world of document authentication or legalization and transfer, so an extra step in the process can seem overwhelming. It’s not as complicated as it seems once you know the core aspects of Document Apostille in Canada. In this post, we’ll cover the basics you should know along with how we can help you.
What is Document Apostille?
Before you can start going through the process, it helps to know what Document Apostille is. In essence, having your documents authorized by an “apostille” will ensure that they will be recognized in another country. Under the Hague Apostille Convention, all of the countries that signed the treaty all agreed that they would recognize public documents such as Birth Certificates, Marriage Certificates, Power of Attorney, etc., from other signatory countries. This doesn’t happen automatically, so before you travel, you must ensure that you bring these documents to an official apostille in your nation.
Document Apostille in Canada
So, now that you know what Document Apostille is, how do you have your documents certified by an apostille in Canada? This might come as a surprise, but because Canada was not a signer of the Hague Apostille Convention in 1961, you can’t have your Canadian documents authorized by an apostille in the country.
So where does that leave you? Luckily, in Canada, we have alternative services that essentially accomplish the same thing.
Alternative Options
In Canada, to make sure that your documents are accepted in the country you are traveling to, you must either have them authenticated or legalized. During this stage, your documents are verified by professionals, and you receive their stamp of approval that foreign governments will recognize.
You’ll need to get these stamps and signatures before you travel, so it is crucial that you make sure you check off all of your boxes before leaving the country. Otherwise, you might run into trouble once you reach your new job or school.
To have your documents authenticated, you can go directly to Global Affairs Canada in Ottawa and then to the Embassy or Consulate of your destination country to have your documents legalized.
We’re Here to Help
The two-step authentication and legalization process can seem complicated if you’ve never done it before and you might feel like you’re running around without finding answers. We’re here to help! If you have questions about your documents and what you need before leaving the country, bring your documents to us, and we’ll look them over. Even if you just have general questions, feel free to contact the Legalization Service Centre, and we’ll be happy to help and answer any of your questions.