Apostille in Ontario: 100% Guaranteed Turnkey Document Authentication Services
Need to authenticate an official document in Ontario? I provide fast and reliable Apostille Ontario services for use in foreign countries.
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РАБОТАЮ НА ПРАЗДНИКАХ
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What Is an Apostille in Canada and Its Purpose?
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An apostille is a document that confirms the legality of its usage in another country.
A document issued in one country must first be legalized before it may be used in another country. There are two types of legalization: full legalization (a two-step method) and streamlined legalization (a one-step method or an apostille).
On January 11, 2024, Canada introduced a simpler document legalization procedure known as the apostille.
Previously, using Canadian documents in another country required a two-step legalization process (first, an authentication process at the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, followed by a document legalization process at the consulate), which was time-consuming and costly. As of January 11, 2024, Canada has joined the Hague Apostille Convention, implementing a one-step procedure and issuing apostilles.
After obtaining an apostille, your document is eligible and fully prepared for use in any other country that is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, like Canada. This means you no longer need to visit the consulate. This significantly reduces the time and expense of legalization.
If the destination country for which your document is intended is not a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention (such as the UAE, Cuba, Jordan, and others), you must continue to follow the consular legalization procedure after obtaining the apostille.
The official website lists all 127 nations that have signed the Hague Apostille Convention, which means they accept apostilles.
On January 11, 2024, Canada introduced a simpler document legalization procedure known as the apostille.
Previously, using Canadian documents in another country required a two-step legalization process (first, an authentication process at the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, followed by a document legalization process at the consulate), which was time-consuming and costly. As of January 11, 2024, Canada has joined the Hague Apostille Convention, implementing a one-step procedure and issuing apostilles.
After obtaining an apostille, your document is eligible and fully prepared for use in any other country that is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, like Canada. This means you no longer need to visit the consulate. This significantly reduces the time and expense of legalization.
If the destination country for which your document is intended is not a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention (such as the UAE, Cuba, Jordan, and others), you must continue to follow the consular legalization procedure after obtaining the apostille.
The official website lists all 127 nations that have signed the Hague Apostille Convention, which means they accept apostilles.
To use Canadian public documents in multiple other countries, only an apostille is required.
The procedure for acquiring an apostille is identical to the prior authentication process. Apostilles are issued by Global Affairs Canada for many documents, although some must be apostilled in a provincial Foreign Affairs office. It all relies on the jurisdiction where the document was issued or notarized.
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Documents issued in Ontario, Canada, or verified by an Ontario Notary Public (Canadian Notary Public) that are intended for use in another country.
Which Certificates Require an Apostille in Ontario?
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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
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 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:
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What Is the Cost of Obtaining an Apostille, and How Long Does the Processing Time Usually Take?
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Global Affairs apostilles documents only from the following provinces and territories:
Documents from the provinces listed below can only be submitted for apostille in the same province:
- 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
Global Affairs Canada accepts documents solely by mail, takes 20 business days and is provided at no charge. It is not possible to visit them in person or expedite the process.
Alberta only accepts documents by mail, and processing takes 7–10 business days. A single apostille for a single document costs $25.
British Columbia only accepts documents by mail, and processing takes 4 to 6 weeks. An apostille for a single document costs $20.
Ontario accepts documents by mail and in person, with mail processing taking 15 business days and in-person processing taking a few hours. An apostille is $16 for a notarized document and $32 for a government-issued document (such as a birth or marriage certificate).
To obtain an apostille in Ontario, documents must be mailed to the Toronto office or can be brought in person to one of the Official Document Services (ODS) offices. There are now five offices spread across Ontario for convenience, which perform apostille services in person:
Quebec only accepts documents sent by mail, and the processing time is at least 10 business days. An apostille for one document costs $65. In Quebec, notarized documents must also go through a mandatory intermediate step: verification of the notary’s signature or the lawyer’s signature. Verification of the notary’s signature is done at the Chambre des notaires, which takes 20 working days or 72 hours for an extra fee. Verifying a notary’s signature at the Chambre des notaires costs between $64 and $175, depending on the speed of processing. The lawyer’s signature must be verified by the Bar of Quebec (Barreau du Québec). The cost for verifying a lawyer’s signature at the Barreau du Québec is $50 plus tax.
Saskatchewan accepts submissions via mail, and the processing time is normally 3-5 working days. An apostille for a single document costs $50.
Alberta only accepts documents by mail, and processing takes 7–10 business days. A single apostille for a single document costs $25.
British Columbia only accepts documents by mail, and processing takes 4 to 6 weeks. An apostille for a single document costs $20.
Ontario accepts documents by mail and in person, with mail processing taking 15 business days and in-person processing taking a few hours. An apostille is $16 for a notarized document and $32 for a government-issued document (such as a birth or marriage certificate).
To obtain an apostille in Ontario, documents must be mailed to the Toronto office or can be brought in person to one of the Official Document Services (ODS) offices. There are now five offices spread across Ontario for convenience, which perform apostille services in person:
- Official Documents Services, ServiceOntario - Toronto College Park, at 777 Bay Street, Lower Level, Toronto, ON M7A 2J8
- ServiceOntario - Ottawa City Hall, at 110 Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 1J1
- ServiceOntario - Sault St. Marie, at 101-420 Queen Street East, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario P6A 1Z7
- ServiceOntario - Windsor City Hall, at 205-400 City Hall Square East, Windsor, Ontario N9A 7K6
- ServiceOntario - Thunder Bay, at 113-435 James Street South, Thunder Bay, Ontario P7E 6T1.
Quebec only accepts documents sent by mail, and the processing time is at least 10 business days. An apostille for one document costs $65. In Quebec, notarized documents must also go through a mandatory intermediate step: verification of the notary’s signature or the lawyer’s signature. Verification of the notary’s signature is done at the Chambre des notaires, which takes 20 working days or 72 hours for an extra fee. Verifying a notary’s signature at the Chambre des notaires costs between $64 and $175, depending on the speed of processing. The lawyer’s signature must be verified by the Bar of Quebec (Barreau du Québec). The cost for verifying a lawyer’s signature at the Barreau du Québec is $50 plus tax.
Saskatchewan accepts submissions via mail, and the processing time is normally 3-5 working days. An apostille for a single document costs $50.
Each provincial government has its own formatting and document translation criteria, as well as application forms that must be completed before receiving an apostille. Notarized document certifications are subject to strict regulations in some provinces.
The fastest way to get an apostille is in Ontario, where you may go to the Official Document Services (ODS) office and complete the process in one day. This requires the document to be issued or signed by a notary in the province of Ontario.
Fortunately, I learned a way to apostille any notarized document in Ontario, regardless of the province or territory. To apostille a document in Ontario, it must be signed by a Canadian notary public. You can sign your document with my Ontario notary online or via 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 period as Ontario documents. However, in certain cases, including documents issued in other provinces, I can obtain an apostille in Ontario using a notarized certified copy, saving you time.
My charge for obtaining an apostille is $150, regardless of the number of documents in the order.
I usually charge between $49 and $89 per page for translations, depending on the language pair.
There are three alternatives for the final translation.
1. A simple translation of the document.
2. Translation and notarization (an additional fee will apply).
3. Translation + Notarization + Apostille (at an additional expense).
Additional expenses will apply, including the cost of shipment of documents (within or outside of Canada), notary services (optional), and an apostille from the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
An additional 13% HST tax will be added on top.
The fastest way to get an apostille is in Ontario, where you may go to the Official Document Services (ODS) office and complete the process in one day. This requires the document to be issued or signed by a notary in the province of Ontario.
Fortunately, I learned a way to apostille any notarized document in Ontario, regardless of the province or territory. To apostille a document in Ontario, it must be signed by a Canadian notary public. You can sign your document with my Ontario notary online or via 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 period as Ontario documents. However, in certain cases, including documents issued in other provinces, I can obtain an apostille in Ontario using a notarized certified copy, saving you time.
My charge for obtaining an apostille is $150, regardless of the number of documents in the order.
I usually charge between $49 and $89 per page for translations, depending on the language pair.
There are three alternatives for the final translation.
1. A simple translation of the document.
2. Translation and notarization (an additional fee will apply).
3. Translation + Notarization + Apostille (at an additional expense).
Additional expenses will apply, including the cost of shipment of documents (within or outside of Canada), notary services (optional), and an apostille from the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
An additional 13% HST tax will be added on top.
I provide document authentication, legalization, and apostille services across Canada, covering major cities and provinces. I can assist you in authenticating, legalizing, or obtaining an apostille for your Canadian documents, no matter where you are in Canada, including Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, or elsewhere. From government-issued documents to corporate and academic records, my worldwide service ensures that your documents match international requirements for use overseas.
Send Your Documents for Authentication, Legalization, and Apostille Process Across Canada
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- Toronto
- Ottawa
- Mississauga
- Brampton
- Hamilton
- London
- Markham
- Vaughan
- Kitchener
- Windsor
- Calgary
- Edmonton
- Red Deer
- Lethbridge
- St. Albert
- Medicine Hat
- Grande Prairie
- Airdrie
- Spruce Grove
- Leduc
- Vancouver
- Victoria
- Burnaby
- Richmond
- Abbotsford
- Coquitlam
- Kelowna
- Kamloops
- Nanaimo
- Prince George
- Winnipeg
- Brandon
- Steinbach
- Thompson
- Portage la Prairie
- Selkirk
- Winkler
- Morden
- Dauphin
- Flin Flon
- Moncton
- Saint John
- Fredericton
- Dieppe
- Oromocto
- Bathurst
- Miramichi
- Edmundston
- Riverview
- Rothesay
- Montreal
- Quebec City
- Laval
- Gatineau
- Longueuil
- Sherbrooke
- Trois-Rivières
- Saguenay
- Lévis
- Terrebonne
- Saskatoon
- Regina
- Prince Albert
- Moose Jaw
- Swift Current
- Yorkton
- North Battleford
- Estevan
- Weyburn
- Kindersley
- Halifax
- Sydney
- Dartmouth
- Truro
- New Glasgow
- Glace Bay
- Kentville
- Amherst
- Bridgewater
- Yarmouth
- St. John’s
- Mount Pearl
- Corner Brook
- Paradise
- Labrador City
- Marystown
- Deer Lake
- Gander
- Grand Falls-Windsor
- Happy Valley-Goose Bay
- Charlottetown
- Summerside
- Stratford
- Cornwall
- Montague
- Souris
- Alberton
- Tignish
- Kensington
- Georgetown
A detailed process for obtaining a turnkey apostille, including pricing and time duration, is presented below as an example.
Example Procedure for Acquiring an Apostille, Including Costs and Processing Duration
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Document — birth certificate issued in the province of Ontario.
You send me the original document by Xpresspost courier or bring it in person.
I will collect the necessary document package for ODS (provincial ministry in Toronto) and personally go there to apply the apostille.
After receiving the apostille, I will get the apostilled document translated from English and French to ensure the document is fully ready for use in your country.
Some organizations in other countries require that the translation be notarized or apostilled. If you need a notarization of the translation or an apostilled translation, I can do this additionally.
I will send you the documents by courier, or you can pick them up from my office.
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.
— 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 process of obtaining a "turnkey" apostille, including costs and timelines, is presented below.
Second Example Procedure for Acquiring an Apostille, Including Costs and Processing Duration
The document — diploma issued in the province of Manitoba.
All documents issued or notarized in the following provinces and territories can only be apostilled at Global Affairs Canada (a federal ministry in Ottawa): Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, the Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Prince Edward Island, and Yukon.
The procedure for apostilling documents through Global Affairs is as follows:
You send me the original document via Xpresspost courier or bring it personally.
I will send the necessary package of documents to Global Affairs Canada (in Ottawa) to apply the apostille.
After receiving the apostille, I will get the apostilled document translated from English and French so that the document is fully ready for use in your country.
Some organizations in other countries require that the translation be notarized or apostilled. If you need a notarization of the translation or an apostilled translation, I can do this additionally.
I will send you the documents by courier, or you can pick them up from my office.
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.
— 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.
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Apostille certificates in Canada may differ slightly depending on the issuing province or authority, but they always serve the same purpose: verifying the authenticity of a document for international purposes. The following are examples of apostille certificates issued by Global Affairs Canada and other provincial agencies in Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Quebec, and Saskatchewan. These samples demonstrate how each region formatted and presented its official apostille certificate.
How Do Apostille Certificates Look in Different Provinces?
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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:
Apostille on a Birth Certificate
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Short Form without parental names
(document is blue, approximately A5 size)
(document is blue, approximately A5 size)
Short Form with parents' names
(document is blue, approximately A5 size)
(document is blue, approximately A5 size)
Long Form
(document is white, Legal size — approximately 1.5 A4 sheets in height)
(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.
How to issue a power of attorney for someone who is in another country while you are in Canada?
Please read the detailed procedure with prices and terms on a separate page
Please read the detailed procedure with prices and terms on a separate page
Recent Information on Apostille, Translation, and Document Services
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Frequently Asked Questions
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According to the Hague Apostille Convention, a document may not be qualified for an apostille if it was not issued or notarized by a recognized authority.
An apostille can only be applied to public documents that have been certified by competent authorities, such as vital records, legal documents, or documents issued by the government of Canada. Private documents, religious documents, or uncertified copies are usually not eligible unless they have been notarized by an authorized official.
If the document was issued outside of Canada, it will not be possible to apostille it in Canada. You may need to send it to the appropriate embassy or consulate, instead of obtaining an apostille.
An apostille can only be applied to public documents that have been certified by competent authorities, such as vital records, legal documents, or documents issued by the government of Canada. Private documents, religious documents, or uncertified copies are usually not eligible unless they have been notarized by an authorized official.
If the document was issued outside of Canada, it will not be possible to apostille it in Canada. You may need to send it to the appropriate embassy or consulate, instead of obtaining an apostille.
Yes, in many situations, you must have copies notarized by a notary public before applying for an apostille. Notarization is often required to authenticate an affidavit or verify that a document is a true and accurate copy of the original.
Once the notary confirms its authenticity, the issuance of a notarized copy allows it to be certified by the appropriate authorities for apostille processing. Without proper notarization—especially for academic, business, or personal records—your documents may be rejected for legalization at consulates or embassies.
Once the notary confirms its authenticity, the issuance of a notarized copy allows it to be certified by the appropriate authorities for apostille processing. Without proper notarization—especially for academic, business, or personal records—your documents may be rejected for legalization at consulates or embassies.
If the document was written in a language other than French or English, a certified translator must translate it before the apostille process. A member of a recognized translators' association must complete and approve the translation to make sure it is accurate. Some countries require the translation to be apostilled as well, while others only need the original document apostilled with the translation added. This procedure makes sure that foreign authorities can easily read the document after it is recognized in another country.
No, an apostille does not prove or validate that the information in a document is accurate. Instead, it serves as a way to authenticate documents by verifying that the signature and the seal or stamp belong to a recognized authority or notary. This means that even if a foreign document receives an apostille, the certification merely confirms its origin and authenticity, not the accuracy of the information contained inside it.
An apostille does not have an expiration date; however, its practical validity is determined by the underlying document. For example, time-sensitive records such as police certificates or medical reports lose their effectiveness once they expire, even if the apostille is still valid. If the document is intended for use in a country that still requires consular legalization, you should check with the consulate or embassy to confirm the precise validity requirements.
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* 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.
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.
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