Document Attestation in Canada – What you Need to Know
As the leading Canadian document attestation service in Canada, we get many questions about the document attestation process. Most commonly, “What is document attestation?”. Here we will explain the attestation process and how it relates to Canadian documents.
What is Document Attestation?
The Canadian document attestation process is used to verify the authenticity of a Canadian document, and the signature on the document, allowing it to be officially recognized in another country.
You may not have heard the term “attestation” as it relates to Canadian documents. The term attestation, typically used in non-apostille countries, refers to a multi-step process of document authentication and legalization. This process applies to Canadian documents destined for use in non-apostille countries.
Because Canada is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, we use the term apostille. If you need to use your Canadian documents in another apostille signatory country, you need to apostille your documents.
The three steps of the Document Attestation Process
The document attestation process includes three important steps:
Step 1: Prepare your documents
It is essential that your documents are prepared properly before you start the Canadian attestation process. First, make sure your documents meet all the requirements of the authentication office (Step 2) and the relevant embassy or consulate where they will be legalized (Step 3). The preparation phase can include ordering new documents, notarization, having certified true copies made, translation, and preparing supporting documents. Unfortunately, each authentication office, embassy, and consulate set their own unique requirements, making each situation unique.
Step 2: Authentication of your documents
The second step of the Canadian attestation process is to submit your carefully prepared documents to the appropriate Canadian authority for authentication. The authentication authority will place a certificate of authentication directly on each document, confirming the authenticity of the document and signatures.
Since January 2024, the Canadian authentication authorities will provide apostille certificates. An apostille is equivalent to authentication and will be accepted for legalization (where applicable).
If your document is destined for another apostille member country, apostille is the final step and legalization (Step 3) will not be required.
Step 3: Legalization of your documents
The third and final step of the process is legalization. You will submit your documents to the embassy or consulate of the country where they will be used. The consular staff will review your documents to confirm they meet all their requirements. If satisfied, they will place a stamp or sticker directly on each document, confirming that it has been legalized. Once your document has been legalized you have completed the Canadian attestation process.
Where can I find more info on the attestation of documents?
Our website is a wealth of information on the attestation of documents and is a great place to start your research. The Global Affairs Canada website has information on how to apostille or authenticate your documents. Embassies and consulates may provide information about document legalization on their websites.
Our experience is that this information changes frequently and is often outdated. We recommend you confirm requirements by contacting each office directly.
Can you help me with the Canadian attestation process?
Yes, if you need assistance with the Canadian attestation process, we can certainly help. Our team will provide you with the information you need to understand the process, and if you like, we will manage the process on your behalf. You send your documents to our office and we will handle the rest.
Giving our friendly experts a call for a free consultation is the best way to get started – phone us toll-free at 1-888-433-1011. Or you can reach out to us through our contact form and we will get right back to you!