At International Documents Canada we apostille many thousands of documents for our clients every year. One of the questions we are frequently asked is “how long will it take to get an apostille”? If you need to use your document in the United Arab Emirates, getting an apostille from the embassy will now take longer. The Embassy of the UAE, located in Ottawa, Canada, has changed the processing times for documents submitted to be apostilled.
How long does it take to get an apostille from the Embassy of the UAE?
Previously, once a document was approved for processing the Embassy would have the document ready on the same day. This has changed, and the embassy will now have the document ready in 3 to 5 days.
The proper name for the Canadian apostille process
Note that the Canadian apostille process is actually called the “document authentication and legalization” process. Canada does not issue apostilles. Only countries that have signed the Hague Apostille Convention can issue apostilles, and Canada is not a signatory. Instead, Canada uses an equivalent process called document authentication and legalization. Document authentication is done by Global Affairs Canada in Ottawa, and document legalization is done by the embassy or consulate of the country that you need to use these documents in. So if you have been told that you need to apostille your Canadian document for use in the UAE, what you will be doing is first authenticating your document with Global Affairs Canada, and then you will legalizing your document with the Embassy of the UAE.
How to get more information
If you have any questions about apostilling / legalizing your documents with the Embassy of the UAE, our experts are here to help. Contact us and we’ll explain the process for you, answer your questions, and review your options with you. No pressure and no obligation. Phone us toll-free at 1-888-433-1011 or fill out our quick Contact Us form and we’ll get right back to you.
