The Canadian authentication and legalization process is used to certify the authenticity of Canadian documents, so that these documents will be officially recognized in a foreign country that is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. If your documents are destined for an apostille member country, please take a look at the following article: Your Go-To Checklist To Ensure Your Canadian Documents Are Apostille-Ready
The authentication and legalization process involves first “authenticating” your documents at an appropriate government agency, and then “legalizing” these documents at the appropriate embassy or consulate. As Canada’s leading provider of authentication and legalization services, International Documents Canada has put together this quick article that focuses on one of the questions we are asked most frequently, namely “Where can I authenticate documents in Canada”?
Where Can You Authenticate Documents in Canada?
In Canada, the Federal government agency that authenticates documents for use overseas is the Authentication Services section of Global Affairs Canada. The Authentication Services section is located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They accept documents from Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Nunuvut, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland & Labrador, Northwest Territories and Yukon. They offer document authentication as a free service. Documents can be submitted by mail or through a third-party service like International Documents Canada.
Are There Any Other Places in Canada that Can Authenticate Documents?
Although Global Affairs Canada is the Federal authentication organization, documents can also be authenticated by Provincial agencies in Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan. Each of these provincial offices authenticates documents originating from their province. Depending on the office in question, documents can be submitted in person, by mail, or through a third-party service like International Documents Canada.
Can I Authenticate Documents on My Own?
Yes, you can authenticate your documents on your own. However, there can be important advantages to working with a third-party service. Most importantly, our experts will work directly with you to ensure your documents are prepared and submitted correctly the first time, avoiding the common mistakes that derail document authentication and legalization. In addition, an expert service like International Documents Canada will analyze your situation, and identify the quickest and most effective route for your documents through the authentication and legalization process, potentially saving you weeks of time.
How do I determine where to authenticate my documents?
The Canadian authentication offices function on a jurisdictional basis dependent upon the origins of the documents. The experts at International Documents Canada would welcome the chance to discuss your particular situation, and identify your options.
We also assist with the legalization process, which is done by the embassy or consulate of the country in which you will be using your processed documents. Our team is familiar with the constantly changing embassy requirements, as we actively monitor and track over 200 diplomatic missions in Canada. Our website has additional information on embassy legalization, along with detailed information on embassy requirements.
Contact us for authentication and embassy legalization services!
If you want an expert team that knows all of the ins and outs of the Canadian authentication and legalization process, the team from International Documents Canada would love to hear from you. For more information about getting your document authenticated and legalized in Canada, contact us online today or call 1 (888) 433-1011.
