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Did you know that the origins of your documents will determine the steps of the Canadian document apostille process?

Navigating the Alberta document apostille process requires an understanding of the role of the Canadian government authorities. Throughout this article, we will endeavour to explain the role and responsibilities of the Alberta apostille office, as well as the role of apostilles on Canadian documents.

What is document apostille?

Document apostille is a type of certification that confirms the authenticity of a 

document, so that the document will be officially recognized in other apostille signatory countries. Any country that has signed the Hague Apostille Convention, including Canada, will issue apostille certificates and in turn, recognize apostille certificates issued by other countries.

If the country where you are headed is not a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention, your documents will require an additional step of document legalization. You may find more about document legalization from our website here: Canadian document legalization

Who can apostille a document in Alberta?

Only documents that originate from Alberta can be apostilled by the Alberta apostille office. Some examples of these documents include original Alberta vital statistics documents (such as birth, marriage, and death certificates), Alberta degrees, and notarized documents executed by an Alberta Notary Public.

The Alberta document apostille process is done through the Official Documents and Appointments office of the Alberta government, located in Edmonton, Alberta. The processing time is typically 7-10 business days, and their fee is ten dollars per document.

Your request for Alberta document apostilles cannot be done in person, as only mail-in applications are accepted. The Alberta apostille office requires that you include a completed Apostille Request Form (available on their website), as well as a printed copy of the online payment receipt for the apostille fees. 

Care should be taken to ensure that your documents meet the criteria for apostille. Any errors or omissions will result in a rejected application. Therefore, we suggest a thorough review of their website prior to submitting your documents.

Where else can you apostille a document in Canada?

There are several offices in Canada who can apostille a document in Canada. Each office is responsible for documents from a certain 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 British Columbia, Ontario, 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 are not rejected or delayed.

How can we help with Alberta document apostilles?

Whether you are looking for more information, or you would like assistance with the Alberta document apostille process, we can help. Supporting our clients to navigate the ins and outs of the process is exactly what we do. 

We would welcome the opportunity to speak with you about your documents from Alberta and answer your questions. Call us toll free at 1-888-433-1011 or send us your questions through our quick Contact form. Our friendly staff will get back to you right away!

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