If you want to relocate to another country or get married abroad, you’ll likely be asked to provide an apostilled birth certificate. Canada has its own version of the apostille process known as document authentication and legalization. Here, the team from International Documents Canada explains how the process works and how you can authenticate your birth certificate for use abroad.
What is the Canadian Birth Certificate Authentication Process?
As mentioned above, instead of providing an apostille, Canada has its own process called document authentication and legalization. So if you have been asked to provide a Canadian birth certificate that has apostilled, what you will provide is a birth certificate that has been authenticated and legalized. Canadian document authentication and legalization is a three-part process. First, you’ll need to obtain a long-form birth certificate from the province where you reside or the Territorial Statistics Office.
The second step is to submit your document to Global Affairs Canada (GAC) for authentication. Once GAC confirms all is in order with your submission, they’ll place a large red stamp directly on your birth certificate to confirm it’s an authentic Canadian document.
The third step in the process is having your document legalized at the embassy or consulate of the country where your birth certificate will be used. Once your document arrives, an embassy official will review it, and if everything is as it should be, affix their certificate of approval on it. Your authenticated and legalized birth certificate will now be legally recognized in that country.
Is it Possible to Authenticate & Legalize My Birth Certificate on My Own?
If you like, you can perform the authentication and legalization process on your own. However, you’ll need to be very thorough and ensure that you meet all of the requirements of Global Affairs Canada for your document to be authenticated. Additionally, the authenticated document will also need to meet the specific requirements of the embassy or consulate, which can add to the difficulty. Embassies change their requirements frequently, which is why there are advantages to working with a professional authentication and legalization firm.
Why Use an Authentication & Legalization Service?
Using an authentication and legalization service for your Canada birth certificate authentication can save you a lot of time and frustration. Depending on your case, you may be able to have your documents authenticated at the provincial level, avoiding the currently lengthy process times at Global Affairs Canada. Our specialists will expertly navigate all steps of the Canadian authentication and legalization for you, ensuring you avoid the many common pitfalls that can greatly increase the cost and time of processing.
Contact us for birth certificate authentication in Canada!
If you need to authenticate and legalize your birth certificate for use abroad, contact International Documents Canada online today or call 1 (888) 433-1011.
