The Canadian Apostille Process Explained
Canada has signed the Hague Apostille Convention, and it takes effect on January 11, 2024. But what does that mean for Canadian documents? In the following article, we explore the intricacies of the new Canadian apostille process and explain some of the related terminology.
What is an apostille?
The term “apostille” refers to the Hague Apostille Convention, an international agreement that puts in place a document certification process that is used to verify the authenticity of a public document from one participating country for use in another participating country. This document certification process is called the apostille process.
Now that Canada has signed the Hague Apostille Convention, you can get an apostille on Canadian documents that will be presented in other signatory countries. Your apostilled Canadian document should be accepted by the recipient in the destination country. Check here to see if your destination country is a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention: Signatory Countries. If you will be presenting your Canadian documents in a country that has not signed the Hague Apostille Convention, read on as we review what to do towards the end of this article.
Where do I obtain an apostille on my Canadian documents?
Global Affairs Canada is responsible for issuing apostilles for Canadian documents originating from the Government of Canada and the provinces of Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, the Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Prince Edward Island, and Yukon.
The provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and (eventually) Quebec, will be responsible for issuing apostilles for documents that originate from or are notarized in their jurisdiction.
How do I apply for an apostille for my Canadian documents?
To apply for an apostille you will first need to determine which government body has the responsibility of issuing apostilles for your documents. Once this is determined you will need to research the requirements set by the government department issuing the apostille.
To figure out where to get a Canadian document apostilled, you need to know A) what province the document was issued or created in, and B) what province the document was notarized in (for documents that need to be notarized). With this information, you can use the following two charts to determine what government has responsibility for your specific situation.
Table 1 – Where to get an apostille on Canadian documents that have been notarized
| Document issued by | Notarized in | Send to |
|---|---|---|
| The Government of Canada Manitoba New Brunswick Newfoundland and Labrador Northwest Territories Nova Scotia Nunavut Prince Edward Island Yukon | Alberta | Ministry of Justice of Alberta |
| British Columbia | Ministry of the Attorney General of British Columbia | |
| Ontario | Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery of Ontario | |
| Saskatchewan | Ministry of Justice and Attorney General of Saskatchewan | |
| Alberta British Columbia Ontario Saskatchewan | Manitoba New Brunswick Newfoundland and Labrador Northwest Territories Nova Scotia Nunavut Prince Edward Island Yukon | Global Affairs Canada |
| Alberta | Ministry of Justice of Alberta | |
| British Columbia | Ministry of the Attorney General of British Columbia | |
| Ontario | Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery of Ontario | |
| Saskatchewan | Ministry of Justice and Attorney General of Saskatchewan | |
| Quebec | Quebec | Ministère de la Justice du Québec (French only) Apostille services in Quebec are subject to the process underway to obtain the required government approvals |
| A foreign government | Any Canadian province or territory | Canadian authorities do not authenticate foreign documents, even if they have been notarized by a Canadian notary or notary public. The country that issued the documents may authenticate them or obtain an apostille for them. |
Table 2 – Where to get an apostille on Canadian documents that are not notarized
| Document issued by | Send to |
| Manitoba New Brunswick Newfoundland and Labrador Northwest Territories Nova Scotia Nunavut Prince Edward Island Yukon | Global Affairs Canada |
| Alberta | Ministry of Justice of Alberta |
| British Columbia | Ministry of the Attorney General of British Columbia |
| Ontario | Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery of Ontario |
| Saskatchewan | Ministry of Justice and Attorney General of Saskatchewan |
What do I do if my destination country is not a signatory of the Hague Apostille Convention?
If the destination country is not a signatory member of the Hague Apostille Convention, your documents will likely require an additional processing step called document legalization. This involves submitting your documents to the appropriate embassy or consulate of the destination country. The consular staff will confirm the authenticity of the apostille or authentication on your document. It will then affix a stamp or sticker directly on your document confirming it is legalized.
Note that, unlike the apostille process, every embassy sets its own rules and regulations for the legalization process, so there is no “one size fits all” set of instructions. This means you will need to carefully research the requirements set by this embassy or consulate for their legalization process.
Can we help with Canadian document apostille and document legalization?
Absolutely! We specialize in Canadian document apostille and document legalization. Over the last decade we have helped many thousands of people and companies with this process. We will work with you to determine which path forward is applicable in your situation. Our friendly staff will provide you with a free consultation, answering all your questions. Contact us by calling toll free at 1-888-433-1011 or complete a brief Contact Us form online. We will get right back to you!
