I offer assistance with Canadian public documents, providing an apostille service and certificate of authentication for international use.

1100+

helped

clients
since 2012

Interac, credit card, PayPal, WU, and 7 other payment options

РАБОТАЮ НА ПРАЗДНИКАХ

STIBC

I am always online
from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon.–Fri.
and often outside of these hours as well

Ask your questions now

1

An apostille is a document that verifies the legality of its use in another country.

A document issued in one country must be legalized before it can be used in another. There are two types of legalization: full legalization of documents for international use (a two-step process) and simplified legalization of documents intended for international use (a one-step process using an apostille). The Hague Apostille Convention marks a significant development in this system by allowing member countries to recognize each other’s public documents without the need for further consular legalization.

On January 11, 2024, the government of Canada implemented a simpler document legalization process called an apostille. This change took place when the Hague Apostille Convention came into effect in Canada, marking a significant process of document authentication and legalization that enables countries to recognize each other’s public documents more efficiently. An authentication certificate called an “apostille” now verifies the origin of Canadian public documents for use outside of Canada.

Previously, using Canadian documents in other countries mandated a two-step legalization process (first, an authentication process at the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then a document legalization process at the consulate), which was time-consuming and expensive. Canada joined the Hague Apostille Convention on January 11, 2024, introducing a one-step method simplifying the process of issuing apostilles.

After receiving an apostille, your document is fully prepared for use in any other country that is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, like Canada. This means that you no longer need to visit the consulate. This significantly decreases the time and cost of legalization.

If the destination country for your document is not a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention (such as the UAE, Cuba, Jordan, and others), you must go through the consular legalization procedure after receiving the apostille.

The official website shows all 127 countries that are members of the Hague Convention, which means they recognize apostilles.

The only requirement for using Canadian public documents in many other countries is an apostille certificate (often referred to as an apostille stamp).

The procedure for obtaining an apostille is the same as the previous authentication process. Global Affairs Canada issues apostilles for numerous documents, while some must be apostilled at a provincial Foreign Affairs office. It all depends on the jurisdiction where the document was issued or notarized.

Documents issued in the province of British Columbia, or certified by a Canadian Notary (Notary Public) in British Columbia, that are intended for use in another country.

2

1) Certificates issued by civil registry offices, for example, certificates of birth, death, marriage, change of first name or last name, etc.
2) All notarial documents, including powers of attorney, statements, etc., which are drawn up or notarized by a notary
3) Diplomas, supplements/addenda/transcripts to diplomas, certificates and other documents related to education
4) Bank statements, court documents, divorce decrees
5) Cremation or burial certificates
6) Corporation registration certificates, bank statements, letters of guarantee from directors of a company, extracts from registers of corporations, certificates for products for export from Canada to other countries

All of these types of documents go through different authentication procedures.

The apostille procedure also includes all cases when a child born in Canada needs to obtain citizenship of another country (Cuba, Germany, Russia, Ukraine, etc.), because in order to obtain citizenship of another country, you'll need to provide a Canadian birth certificate, and it, in turn, will have to be apostilled or legalized (if the country is not a party to the Hague Convention).

The most common documents subject to this procedure are:

3

Global Affairs apostilles documents only from the following provinces and territories:

• Manitoba
• New Brunswick
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Northwest Territories
• Nova Scotia
• Nunavut
• Prince Edward Island
• Yukon

Documents from the provinces listed below can only be submitted for apostille in the same province:

• Alberta
• British Columbia
• Ontario
• Quebec
• Saskatchewan

Each provincial government has its own formatting and document translation guidelines, as well as request forms that must be completed prior to obtaining an apostille. Notarized document certifications are subject to strict regulations in some regions.

In Ontario, the Official Document Services (ODS) office offers a one-day apostille service. This requires that the document be issued or signed by a notary in the province of Ontario.

Fortunately, I discovered how to apostille any notarized document in Ontario, regardless of the province. To apostille a document in Ontario, it must be signed by a Canadian notary public in Ontario. You can sign your document with my Ontario notary online or by video call, and you will have your apostille within a week.

Documents from other provinces and territories (birth certificates, marriage certificates, degrees, and references) do not have the same apostille processing time as Ontario-issued documents. However, in some circumstances, including documents from other provinces, I can obtain an apostille certificate in Ontario using a notarized certified copy, saving you time.

I charge $150 for acquiring an apostille, regardless of the quantity of documents in the order.

I typically charge between $49 and $89 per page for translations, depending on the language pair.

There are three options for the final translation.

1. A straightforward translation of the original language.
2. Translation and notarization (additional fees apply).
3. Translation + Notarization + Apostille (for an additional fee).

Additional fees will apply, including the cost of document shipment (inside or outside of Canada), notary services (optional), and an apostille from the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

An additional 13% HST tax will be charged on top.

I offer document authentication, legalization, and apostille services throughout Canada, including major cities and provinces. I can assist you to authenticate, legalize, or obtain an apostille for your Canadian documents, regardless of your location in Canada, including Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, and beyond. From government-issued documents to corporate and academic records, my global service ensures that your documents meet international standards for use outside Canada.

4

Here's an example of a complete procedure for acquiring a turnkey apostille, including pricing and processing time.

5

Costs:
— For turnkey apostille services, I charge $150.
— For translations, I charge $49-89 per page.
— Notarization of the translation costs $75 per document (Optional).
— The cost of an apostille for a vital statistics document at ODS is $32 per apostille plus a bank fee of $10.
— The cost of one shipment with Xpresspost courier is $25, and it is 1 shipment to you. 1 * $25 = $25.
A 13% tax is added to the final amount.

Timelines:
— Translating a document takes 1-3 days.
— Notarization of the translation takes 1 day (Optional).
— Apostille at ODS is done in 1 business day.
— Delivery of documents by Xpresspost courier usually takes 1-3 days for each shipment.

As a second example, the procedure for obtaining a "turnkey" apostille is shown below, along with pricing and processing time.

Costs:
— For turnkey apostille services, I charge $150.
— For translations, I charge $49-89 per page.
— Notarization of the translation costs $75 per document (Optional).
— Apostille at Global Affairs is provided for free.
— The cost of one shipment via Xpresspost courier is $25; to Global Affairs and back, and then from me to you — that is 3 shipments. 3 * $25 = $75.
A 13% tax is added to the final amount.

Timelines:
— Translation of the document takes 1-3 days.
— Notarization of the translation takes 1 day (optional).
— Apostille at Global Affairs is usually placed within 20 business days.
— Delivery of documents by Xpresspost courier usually takes 1-3 days per shipment.


There is an alternative option for apostilling documents – through ODS (a provincial ministry in Toronto).

To apostille a document at ODS, a notarized copy of the document (True Copy) must be made by a notary from Ontario; then, the apostille is placed on this copy, not on the original. Some consulates and countries allow apostilling of notarized copies instead of originals, but not all.

Please check with the consulate of your country if this option suits you, and if yes, then the apostille process will take just one week.

Apostille certificates in Canada vary widely depending on the issuing province or authority, but they all serve the same purpose: certifying the authenticity of a document for international use. The apostille certificates shown below were granted by Global Affairs Canada and various provincial agencies in Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Quebec, and Saskatchewan. The samples show how each region prepared and presented its official apostille certificate.

6

Here is an example of an apostille issued by Global Affairs:

Here are some examples of apostilles issued by the Province of Ontario:

And this is what an apostille issued by the province of Alberta looks like:

This is what an apostille looks like issued by an office in Victoria in British Columbia:

This is what an apostille issued in Quebec looks like:

Example of an apostille from Saskatchewan:

7

Short Form without parental names
(document is blue, approximately A5 size)

Short Form with parents' names
(document is blue, approximately A5 size)

Long Form
(document is white, Legal size — approximately 1.5 A4 sheets in height)

-1-

-2-

-3-

— this certificate will NOT be suitable for use anywhere, as it lacks information about the parents

— usually suitable for consulates and for other purposes

— usually suitable for consulates

Note that Canadian birth certificates come in three forms:

For applying for citizenship at a consulate, usually only the Long Form of the birth certificate or the Short Form with parents’ names is suitable.

Typically, Canadian birth certificates are apostilled in order to apply for citizenship at your country’s consulate.

8

9

Submit your request now, and get a price quote today

* DISCLAIMER
I guarantee that all my work will be completed accurately and to the fullest extent possible, based solely on the official information available from government institutions and official websites. However, I do not and cannot guarantee the actions, timelines, or performance of third-party entities such as government offices (including those processing apostilles, authentication, and legalization, such as Global Affairs, Ontario Document Services, etc.), Canada Post, courier services, Chambre des notaires du Québec (CNQ), Barreau du Québec, embassies and consulates, notaries, and lawyers. I cannot be held responsible for delays, errors, or failures on their part.
The information and services described on this page do not constitute legal advice, legal services, or legal representation as defined under the Law Society Act of Ontario. I am not a licensed lawyer, paralegal, or notary, do not represent myself as such, and am not licensed by the Law Society of Ontario.
The information provided is compiled from official sources and presented strictly “as is.” The services offered here are limited to assisting clients with translation services, document collection, form preparation, and shipping coordination.
Clients are encouraged to consult a licensed legal professional (lawyer, paralegal, or notary) in their country, province or territory for any legal advice or representation.
By using the services described on this page, clients confirm their understanding and acceptance of these terms and agree to release the service provider (including any representatives, agents, heirs, or successors) from any legal liability related to the use of these services or the information presented herein.