Every year we help thousands of people like you who need to have their Canadian marriage certificate apostilled. Providing expert assistance with the document apostille process is the primary focus of our company. We answer a lot of questions every day, so we’ve put together these short articles to help answer your questions about the Canadian apostille process, which can sometimes be confusing and complex. If you have a question that isn’t answered below, feel free to reach out to us. Our experts are happy to answer any additional questions.
What is marriage certificate apostille?
A valid marriage certificate issued by a Canadian province or territory will be recognized anywhere in Canada. The apostille process is an extra step that allows your Canadian marriage certificate to be recognized in another country that is also a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention.
The other terms for this process in Canada are document authentication and legalization.
Why do I need to have my marriage certificate apostilled?
Why would you need to have your Canadian marriage certificate apostilled? You only need to apostille your marriage certificate if you need to have your marriage certificate recognized in another country. Two common reasons for this process are when a married couple are moving to another country for work or education, or when newly married couples want their marriage registered back in their country of origin.
Before you go through the time and hassle of having your marriage certificate apostilled, you should confirm that it is required. Some countries will accept your original Canadian marriage certificate without apostille, depending on the purpose.
How do I have my marriage certificate apostilled?
The Canadian apostille process involves two to three steps:
- Prepare your documents – The first step is to ensure your documents meet the requirements of all the authorities involved, from the apostille office to the destination country. You will need to consider some or all of the following: is your certificate an original, was it issued by the province, when was it issued, do you need a long-form certificate, in what language is the certificate written.
- Apostille of your documents – The second step is to submit your marriage certificate to the appropriate Canadian government authority for apostille. These offices each have their own rules, requirements, fees and timelines. They also function on a jurisdictional basis, determined by the origins of the document. Once apostilled, the marriage certificate is ready to use in the other apostille countries.
- Legalization of your documents – This third and final step is only required if your documents are destined for a non-apostille country. You will need to submit your marriage certificate to the appropriate embassy or consulate of the destination country to have it legalized. Before submitting your documents, it is important that you understand the specific requirements of this embassy or consulate. Unfortunately, each embassy and consulate sets its own rules around document legalization, so each situation will be different.
Is there anything I need to watch for when having my marriage certificate apostilled?
The most important thing to watch out for when having a Canadian marriage certificate apostilled, is to make sure you have the correct type:
The official long-form marriage certificate issued by the province CAN be legalized.
Marriage documents issued by a priest or religious institution CANNOT be legalized.
Our other important piece of advice is to make sure you have the information you need about requirements for both the apostille office and the destination country before you start the process. If your documents don’t meet one or more requirements they will not be accepted, wasting your time and forcing you to re-start from the beginning. Our website has a wealth of information on the Canadian apostille process and is a great place to start.
Can I get help with the marriage certificate apostille process?
If you need to get your Canadian marriage certificate apostilled, we can help! We specialize in managing the entire apostille process for our clients. You send your documents to our office and we handle the rest. As the leading apostille service provider in Canada we manage the process for thousands of people and companies every year.
The best way to see if our services are a good fit is to give us a call (toll-free 1-888-433-1011) for a free consultation. We’ll figure out your specific needs, outline your various options, and answer any questions you have. Then we’ll provide you with a detailed quote, so you have the information you need to decide the best way to proceed.
Where can I get more information on the marriage certification apostille process in Canada?
Contact our friendly staff to answer your questions or to get the process started. Call us toll-free at 1-888-433-1011 or send us an online enquiry. We would be happy to hear from you.
