If you plan on getting married abroad, you might end up needing to legally prove your single status by providing a single status certificate . And often, your single status certificate will need to be apostilled before it is accepted by the country you are getting married in. In Canada, the apostille process is also known as the document authentication and legalization process.
Read on as the team from International Documents Canada goes over the steps for authenticating and legalization of your single status certificate.
How to Obtain a Single Status Certificate
In Canada, there are in fact three different types of single status certificates that can be obtained:
Single Status Declaration – This is a statement that you make in front of a Canadian notary public.
Provincial Marriage Search Certificate – This is a document that is ordered from the province you are living in. It states that you have not registered a marriage in this province.
Statement in Lieu of Certificate of Non-impediment to Marriage Abroad – This is a document issued by Global Affairs Canada
Our friendly staff can work with you to confirm which type of single status certificate is suitable for your particular situation. Once you know which document you need, we can help you obtain this document, and then expedite your single status certificate through the apostille process.
Declare Your Status in Front of a Notary
Some single status documents will need to be notarized before they can be apostilled, and some won’t. For example, a provincial marriage search certificate from Ontario will require notarization. However, a provincial marriage search certificate from British Colombia does not need to be notarized. The experts at International Documents Canada can tell you what is required for your specific circumstances.
Obtaining a Statement in Lieu of Certificate of Non-impediment to Marriage Abroad
There are a few additional requirements when obtaining a Statement in Lieu of Certificate of Non-impediment to Marriage Abroad from Global Affairs Canada. To obtain this document, you need to submit:
- A Single Status Declaration (notarized by a Canadian Notary Public)
- A Canadian Birth Certificate, or Canadian Passport copy, or Record of Landing form and Canadian Citizenship Card (originals or certified true copies)
- A Divorce/Death Certificate (if applicable)
- An application request form
It will take a minimum of 25 business days for Global Affairs Canada to issue this document.
Getting an Apostille on your Single Status Certificate
The Canadian apostille process involves two steps: 1) authentication and 2) legalization. Documents must first be submitted to Global Affairs Canada for authentication. If Global Affairs Canada is satisfied that all is in order, they will place a large red stamp directly on your document, confirming it has been authenticated.
Your documents then need to be submitted to the appropriate embassy or consulate for legalization. The consular staff will review your documents, and if satisfied, will place a stamp, sticker or certificate directly on your document, confirming it has been legalized. Your single status document will now be officially recognized in the country you plan on getting married in.
Contact us for single status certificate apostille services in Canada
If you need to prove your single status abroad, contact International Documents Canada online today or call 1 (888) 433-1011.
