Apostille in Ottawa: 100% Guaranteed Turnkey Document Authentication Services

Need an apostille in Ottawa? I provide trusted document authentication and legalization services for all types of official documents for use outside Canada.
1100+
helped
clients
since 2012
Interac, credit card, PayPal, WU, and 7 other payment options
Starting from 3 days. Affordable price. For Ottawa and Across Canada.
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

What Is the Importance of an Apostille in Canada as Per the Hague Apostille Convention?

1
An apostille is a document that certifies the authenticity of a document for use in another country.
A document issued in one country must be legalized before being used in another. There are two categories of legalization for international use: complete legalization (a two-step process) and streamlined legalization (a one-step process involving an apostille). The Hague Apostille Convention is a significant breakthrough in this system, as it enables member countries to recognize each other's public documents without requiring additional consular legalization.

On January 11, 2024, the Canadian government introduced a simplified document legalization process, known as an apostille. This development occurred when Canada ratified the Hague Apostille Convention, which established a key procedure for document authentication and the legalization process, allowing countries to recognize each other's public documents more effectively. An authentication certificate known as an "apostille" now confirms the origin of Canadian public documents for use outside of Canada.

Previously, using Canadian documents in other countries required a two-step legalization process (first, authentication at the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and then document legalization at the consulate), which was time-consuming and costly. On January 11, 2024, Canada joined the Hague Apostille Convention, which introduced a one-step process of receiving apostilles.

After acquiring an apostille certificate, your document is totally ready for use in any other country that is a party to the Apostille Convention. This means you will no longer need to attend the consulate. This greatly reduces the time and expenses of legalization.

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

The official website presents all 128 countries that are members of the Hague Convention, indicating their recognition of apostilles.
To utilize Canadian public documents in various other countries, an apostille is all that is required.
The procedure for obtaining an apostille is the same as the previous authentication process. Global Affairs Canada issues apostilles for several documents, while others must be apostilled at a provincial Foreign Affairs office. It all depends on the territory or province where your document was issued or notarized.
Documents issued in Ontario, Canada, or verified by an Ontario Notary Public (Canadian Notary Public) that can be used in another country:

Which Documents Require an Apostille in Ottawa, Ontario?

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:

What Are the Costs and Timeframes for Apostille Services?

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
Global Affairs Canada only accepts documents via mail, which requires 20 business days and is provided at no cost. It is not possible to expedite the process or visit them in person.

Alberta exclusively accepts documents via mail, and the processing procedure typically requires 7–10 business days. The cost of a single apostille for a single document is $25.

In British Columbia, documents are accepted exclusively via mail, and the processing time typically ranges from four to six weeks. For a single document, an apostille is priced at $20.

Ontario receives documents via mail and in person. Mail processing typically requires 15 business days, while in-person processing typically requires a few hours. An apostille costs $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, original documents must be submitted in person to one of the Official Document Services (ODS) offices or mailed to the Toronto office. For the sake of convenience, there are currently five facilities located throughout

Ontario that provide in-person apostille services:
  1. Official Documents Services, ServiceOntario - Toronto College Park, at 777 Bay Street, Lower Level, Toronto, ON M7A 2J8
  2. ServiceOntario - Ottawa City Hall, at 110 Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 1J1
  3. ServiceOntario - Sault St. Marie, at 101-420 Queen Street East, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario P6A 1Z7
  4. ServiceOntario - Windsor City Hall, at 205-400 City Hall Square East, Windsor, Ontario N9A 7K6
  5. ServiceOntario - Thunder Bay, at 113-435 James Street South, Thunder Bay, Ontario P7E 6T1.
The address in Toronto, located above, is the mail-in address.

Quebec only accepts documents submitted via mail, and 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 or lawyer's signature. Verification of the notary's signature is completed 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 duration of processing. The lawyer's signature must be validated by the Quebec Bar (Barreau du Québec). The cost of confirming a lawyer's signature at the Barreau du Québec is $50 plus tax.

Saskatchewan accepts mail applications and normally processes them within three to five business days. An apostille for a single document costs $50.
Each provincial government has its own formatting and document translation rules, as well as request forms that must be completed before receiving an apostille. Notarized document certifications are subject to stringent regulations in certain areas.

In Ontario, the Official Document Services (ODS) office provides one-day apostille services. This requires the document to be presented or signed by a notary in the province of Ontario.

Fortunately, I found out how to apostille any notarized document in Ontario, regardless of the province or territory where you reside. To apostille a document in Ontario, it must be signed by a Canadian notary public. You can sign your documents with my Ontario notary offline or online via video call, and you’ll receive 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 documents issued in Ontario. However, in some cases, including documents from other provinces, I can obtain an apostille certificate in Ontario with a notarized certified copy, saving you time.

I charge $150 to obtain an apostille, 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 choices for the final translation.
1. A direct translation from the original language.
2. Translation and notary services to notarize this translation (additional fees apply).
3. Translation + Notarization of the underlying translation + Apostille for the notarized translation (for an extra cost).

Additional expenses will apply, such as 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 imposed on top.
I provide document apostille, legalization, and authentication services across Canada, covering major cities and provinces. I can help you authenticate, legalize, or obtain an apostille for your Canadian documents, regardless of your location in Canada, including Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, and beyond. From government-issued documents to corporate and academic records, my global service ensures that your documents adhere to international standards when used outside of Canada.

Send Your Documents for Authentication, Legalization, and Apostille Process All Through Canada

4
Here's a sample of the entire process for obtaining a turnkey apostille, including fee and processing time.

Example Procedure for Obtaining an Apostille: Fees and Processing Time

5

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.
As a second example, the steps for getting a "turnkey" apostille, including fee and processing time, are described below.

Second Example Procedure for Obtaining an Apostille: Fees and Processing Time

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.
Apostille certificates in Canada vary greatly depending on the issuing province or territory, but they all have the same purpose: to guarantee the legitimacy of a document for international use. The apostille certificates listed below were issued by Global Affairs Canada and other provincial organizations in Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Quebec, and Saskatchewan. The samples demonstrate how each region prepares and presents its official apostille certificate.

How Do Apostilles Appear on Canadian Documents in Different Provinces?

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:

Apostille on a Birth Certificate

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.
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

Current Information on Apostille, Translation, Document Authentication, and Legalization Services in Ottawa

8

    Frequently Asked Questions

    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.