In the United States, you may be asked to get an “Apostille” on your document. In Canada, the process is called “authentication and legalization”. What does that mean? The authentication and legalization process enables a Canadian document to be recognized as legal in another country.
The process of authenticating and legalizing a Canadian document for use in the Unites States involves two steps. First, your document must be authenticated at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAIT) in Ottawa. Next, it must be legalized at the Embassy of the United States.
Do your research! The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAIT) and the Embassy of the United States each have their own list of requirements and if you manage the process yourself, it can be costly and take up to six weeks. For example, the Consular services section at the Embassy of the Unites States operates on an in-person, appointment only basis and these appointments can take weeks to get.
International Documents Canada (IDC) specializes in managing the authentication and legalization process. We will ensure your documents are processed quickly and accepted the first time.
For more information, contact us toll free at 1-888-433-1011, or visit us at idocscanada.ca.
