11.12.2025
How To Get a Birth Certificate Apostille in Canada
Need a birth certificate apostille? Discover how to authenticate Canadian public documents and prepare them for use abroad.
An apostille is an official certificate that verifies the authenticity of a public document, like a birth certificate, ensuring its legal recognition in another country that is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention of 1961. It verifies that the signature, seal, or stamp on the document is genuine. This process is often required for individuals who need to present their Canadian birth certificate when intending to use it outside of Canada for purposes such as immigration, dual citizenship, education, marriage, or employment.
The government of Canada officially joined the Apostille Convention on January 11, 2024. This makes it easier for Canadians to use their documents in other countries. Before this date, individuals had to complete two separate steps: authentication by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and legalization by a foreign consulate or embassy. The new process has replaced these with a single step, allowing Canadians to obtain an apostille from an authorized issuing authority.
This guide explains how to obtain an apostille for your Canadian birth certificate, including who can issue one, the associated costs and processing times, and the required documentation. It also highlights some pitfalls to avoid, ensuring your document is accepted in a foreign country at the right time.
I provide certified translations of birth certificates for use in legal, immigration, and government matters in Canada, and can also help with legalization and apostille services. Contact me for a quote.
The government of Canada officially joined the Apostille Convention on January 11, 2024. This makes it easier for Canadians to use their documents in other countries. Before this date, individuals had to complete two separate steps: authentication by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and legalization by a foreign consulate or embassy. The new process has replaced these with a single step, allowing Canadians to obtain an apostille from an authorized issuing authority.
This guide explains how to obtain an apostille for your Canadian birth certificate, including who can issue one, the associated costs and processing times, and the required documentation. It also highlights some pitfalls to avoid, ensuring your document is accepted in a foreign country at the right time.
I provide certified translations of birth certificates for use in legal, immigration, and government matters in Canada, and can also help with legalization and apostille services. Contact me for a quote.
What Is an Apostille?
Definition & Purpose
An apostille is a legal certificate that confirms a public document, such as a birth certificate, is authentic and can be recognized in another country. It verifies that the competent authority issued the document, that the official who signed it had the necessary legal authority, and that the seal or stamp on the document is genuine. For nations that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention, an apostille ensures the document is accepted internationally without additional embassy legalization.
How the Apostille Convention Works
The Hague Apostille Convention was established to simplify the process of verifying documents across borders. Countries that are signatories to the Apostille Convention accept apostilled documents directly, so there is no need for foreign embassies to take any further action to make them legally valid. For countries that are not members, documents still need to go through the usual steps: Global Affairs Canada must authenticate them, and then the relevant foreign embassy must legalize them.
How Canada’s Authentication System Changed in 2024
Before 2024, Canadians had to have their documents authenticated by Global Affairs Canada and legalized at a foreign embassy to be accepted abroad. Canada officially joined the Hague Apostille Convention on January 11, 2024. This implies that apostilles may now be issued by Global Affairs Canada itself or by provincial jurisdictions that have been empowered to do so. This simplification makes the process easier; processing time is reduced, and Canadian documents, such as birth certificates, are more likely to be recognized internationally.
When Do You Need an Apostille for a Birth Certificate
A Canadian birth certificate may need an apostille when it is used outside Canada for official or legal purposes. This certification proves the document is authentic and was issued by a recognized Canadian authority. Common situations include:
Apostilles are accepted only by countries that are signatories to the Hague Apostille Convention. This agreement enables member countries to recognize each other’s apostilled documents without requiring additional embassy legalization. If your country of destination is not a member of the convention, you will still need to follow the traditional authentication and legalization process through Global Affairs Canada and the relevant foreign embassy. To ensure your documents meet the correct standards, it is important to verify the specific requirements of the destination country before applying.
Need a certified translation of your birth certificate for immigration, legal, or government purposes in Canada? I can assist you with the apostille and legalization process. Contact me for a quote.
- Applying for dual citizenship or permanent residency in another country.
- Studying or working abroad, where foreign institutions require proof of identity or nationality.
- Getting married overseas, as civil authorities often request a verified birth record.
- Registering a child’s birth or applying for government benefits in another country.
- Submitting immigration or visa applications, where verified documents are mandatory.
Apostilles are accepted only by countries that are signatories to the Hague Apostille Convention. This agreement enables member countries to recognize each other’s apostilled documents without requiring additional embassy legalization. If your country of destination is not a member of the convention, you will still need to follow the traditional authentication and legalization process through Global Affairs Canada and the relevant foreign embassy. To ensure your documents meet the correct standards, it is important to verify the specific requirements of the destination country before applying.
Need a certified translation of your birth certificate for immigration, legal, or government purposes in Canada? I can assist you with the apostille and legalization process. Contact me for a quote.
Is Your Birth Certificate Eligible for Document Authentication?
Original vs. Certified Copies
To be eligible for authentication, your birth certificate must be either an original or a certified long-form copy issued by a provincial or territorial Vital Statistics office in Canada. These versions include full personal and parental information, along with an official seal and signature, which are required for international verification. Some countries also accept apostilled short-form birth certificates with parental information. Documents cannot be authenticated if they are wallet-size or laminated copies, since these lack essential security features and identifying details. Using the correct version ensures that your birth certificate meets the standards for authentication and can be successfully apostilled for use in other countries that are members of the Apostille Convention.
Provincial Vital Statistics Requirements
Each province and territory manages its own Vital Statistics office, which is the only authority that can issue valid birth certificates. For example, in Ontario, only a long-form birth certificate or a short-form birth certificate obtained through ServiceOntario qualifies for legalization or apostille. Old wallet-sized birth certificates are not eligible for apostilling. Always make sure your document comes directly from the official provincial source.
Translation Requirements
If the country where you’ll use your birth certificate does not recognize English or French, you’ll need to include a certified translation with your apostille or authentication request form. This ensures the document can be properly reviewed and accepted by foreign authorities.
Step-by-Step: How To Get a Birth Certificate Apostille in Canada
Step 1: Obtain the Correct Birth Certificate
To begin the apostille process, you must have an original document, such as a certified long-form birth certificate issued by the Vital Statistics office in your province or territory. This version includes key details like parental information, the registrar’s signature, and an official seal, confirming that it is a valid public document for use abroad. Short-forms without parental information, wallet-size, or laminated copies are not eligible for authentication or apostille. If your certificate is damaged or incomplete, order a new certified copy before proceeding to ensure it meets international standards for documents issued or notarized in Canada.
You can order multiple copies of a birth certificate, and even multiple copies of multiple versions of it—just pay as much as your Vital Statistics office requires. Every copy will have a separate number, and each copy will be equally valid. You can then keep one for your own records, and get the second one apostilled for use in another country.
You can order multiple copies of a birth certificate, and even multiple copies of multiple versions of it—just pay as much as your Vital Statistics office requires. Every copy will have a separate number, and each copy will be equally valid. You can then keep one for your own records, and get the second one apostilled for use in another country.
Step 2: Check Document Requirements, Translation, and Notarization (If Required)
If the document will be used in a country that does not accept English or French, you must include a certified translation. The attestation of a translation ensures that the document was written accurately and that the certified translation is certified by a member of a recognized professional translation association. For documents such as a power of attorney, certificate of divorce, or other personal documents, a translation may also be required. If you only have a copy of the birth certificate, you’ll need to get a notarized copy from a licensed Canadian Notary Public and ensure that the notary public properly certifies it as a true copy of the original.
Step 3: Determine the Competent Authority: Global Affairs Canada or the Appropriate Provincial Authority
Under Canada’s apostille system, responsibility is shared between Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and certain provincial authorities, depending on where the document was issued or notarized.
The following provinces issue apostilles directly:
Documents from all other jurisdictions — Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Prince Edward Island, and Yukon — are processed by Global Affairs Canada in Ottawa.
Before sending your documents, confirm which authority is responsible to avoid delays or rejections.
The following provinces issue apostilles directly:
- Alberta
- British Columbia
- Ontario
- Quebec
- Saskatchewan
Documents from all other jurisdictions — Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Prince Edward Island, and Yukon — are processed by Global Affairs Canada in Ottawa.
Before sending your documents, confirm which authority is responsible to avoid delays or rejections.
Step 4: Submit Your Application
After identifying the correct issuing authority, complete the apostille application form and send your documents—including the original document, certified translation (if required), notarized copies, and applicable fees—to the designated office. You may submit them in person, by Canada Post, or by courier, depending on local procedures. Be sure to include a prepaid return envelope. Tracking your submission helps ensure your paperwork arrives safely and that processing starts promptly.
Step 5: Wait for Processing and Receive Your Document
Processing times depend on the authority’s workload and how the document will be used abroad. Some offices send out apostilles within a few days, while others may take several weeks to do so. When the apostille is issued, it will be affixed to or attached to the birth certificate to indicate that it is a genuine public document that can be recognized in another country. Keep your apostilled document in a secure, non-laminated envelope to prevent damage and maintain its validity for future legal or administrative use.
After You Get an Apostille
Using Your Apostilled Birth Certificate Abroad
Once your birth certificate has been issued an apostille certificate, it is ready for official use in any country that is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention. The apostille confirms that Canadian authorities have authenticated the document as genuine, making it valid for use internationally. Because of this verification, there is no need for additional embassy or consular legalization within member countries. You can use your apostilled birth certificate to get married abroad, become a citizen, get a job, or get a place to live in another country. Always ensure that the copy of the document is authentic and kept clean, flat, and unlaminated to maintain its validity, even if you plan to make multiple certified copies for later use.
If the Destination Country Isn’t Part of the Hague Convention on Apostilles
If the destination country is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, an apostille alone will not be accepted. In such cases, you may need to get the document authenticated by Global Affairs Canada or a provincial authority before proceeding with legalization. After authentication, the document must be legalized by the consulate of the country where it will be used. Some countries require additional verification or certified translations if the document is not written in their official language. Following each step correctly ensures that your document is valid and recognized abroad, preventing issues or delays during submission to foreign institutions.
Get Your Birth Certificate Apostilled the Right Way
Need help preparing your Canadian birth certificate for international use? I provide complete assistance to help you authenticate documents and obtain an apostille so you can use them in a country that requires verified records. From securing the correct long-form birth certificate to meeting all apostille or authentication requirements, I make the process simple and accurate. Whether you need your document for immigration, dual citizenship, marriage, or studying abroad, I’ll ensure everything is done correctly the first time.
Avoid delays and rejected applications by letting me handle the details for you. Contact me today for a quote and get your authenticated or apostilled birth certificate ready for official use abroad with confidence.
Avoid delays and rejected applications by letting me handle the details for you. Contact me today for a quote and get your authenticated or apostilled birth certificate ready for official use abroad with confidence.
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