You may have heard that the origins of your documents will determine the steps of the Canadian document apostille process. That is why determining the steps of the Ontario apostille process requires an understanding of the role of the Canadian authorities. Throughout this article, we will explain the role and responsibilities of the Ontario apostille offices, as well as the role of apostilles on Canadian documents.
What is a document apostille?
Documents originating from Ontario can be apostilled by one of the Ontario apostille offices. These include documents such as original Ontario vital statistics documents (birth, marriage, and death certificates), Ontario degrees issued after 2018, and notarized documents executed by an Ontario Notary Public.
Ontario document apostilles can be requested from one of the Official Document Services offices of the Ontario government. The two main offices are located in Ottawa and Toronto. The processing times vary by office and depend on whether you are submitting documents by mail, or in person. Although, some of these offices will only accept mail-in requests.
The apostille service fees also vary depending on whether you have an official public document that can be directly apostilled, or if you have a notarized document executed by an Ontario Notary Public.
Do your research in advance to be sure that your documents meet the criteria for apostille. Any errors may result in a rejected submission.
What other offices can apostille a Canadian document?
There are several offices in Canada who can apostille a document in Canada. Each office is responsible for documents from a specific jurisdiction.
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 government offices in the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Quebec, are responsible for issuing apostilles for documents that originate from (or are notarized in) their jurisdiction.
Each of the government authorities described above who are responsible for issuing apostilles, can issue apostilles on Canadian documents that fall under their jurisdiction. Be sure to research the requirements in advance, so that your documents meet the criteria.
How can we help with Ontario document apostilles?
Whether you are looking for more information, or you would like assistance with the Ontario document apostille process, we can help. We are located near the Ottawa apostille office and have a close working relationship with them.
In addition, we can provide you with supplementary services such as notarization or translation, which may be a requirement of the Ontario apostille office, or by the recipient abroad.
We would welcome the opportunity to speak with you about your documents from Ontario and answer any questions. Call us toll free at 1-888-433-1011 or send us your questions through our quick Contact form.
