Attestation, or Document Attestation, is a term used in some foreign countries to describe the process of document authentication and legalization. The term Attestation is most commonly used by diplomatic missions and often refers to the legalization of Canadian educational documents.
We work with Global Affairs Canada and all diplomatic missions across Canada to process personal and commercial documents for use abroad. Commonly requested documents are educational, vital statistics, criminal record checks, and export documents. Global Affairs Canada and each diplomatic mission have very specific requirements for the authentication and legalization (attestation) of these documents. For example:
- Global Affairs Canada will only authenticate educational documents issued by Canadian educational institutions recognized by the provincial/territorial ministries of education. If the recognized degree or transcript is signed and sealed by the appropriate office of the registrar with a full signature, name and title clearly present, it does not have to be notarized.
To have a photocopy of a Canadian degree or transcript authenticated, it must be in the form of a certified true copy, signed and sealed by either the relevant office of the registrar or a Canadian Notary Public. You should be aware that some diplomatic missions do not accept copies at all. - Many diplomatic missions also require that your educational institution mail them a sealed record of transcript before they will legalize your degree or diploma. It is important to identify whether the diplomatic mission in question requires this step, as it could cause a delay in the legalization process.
Whatever the term used for the authentication and legalization process for your Canadian documents, we can help get it done up to five weeks faster than if done by mail.
For further information or to discuss your authentication and legalization needs with one of our specialists, you may contact us toll free at 1-888-433-1011, or by email at info@idocscanada.ca.