Canadian Document Apostille for Residency in Mexico

Thinking about living in paradise? Mexico is a popular vacation and retirement destination for Canadians. Whether purchasing a vacation property, or making a permanent move to Mexico, your adventures are about to begin.

Part of the process of beginning this exciting new chapter in Mexico, will be submission of certain documents. These documents may include purchase agreements, time share agreements, birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce certificates, criminal record checks, or other personal documents. In most cases, these documents will also require an apostille before they will be accepted in Mexico.

What is Canadian document apostille?

Canadian document apostille is a process that confirms the authenticity of a Canadian document, so that this document will be officially recognized in other countries. Any country that has signed the Hague Apostille Convention, including Canada and Mexico, will issue apostille certificates and recognize apostille certificates issues by other countries. A Canadian document with an apostille certificate will be recognized in Mexico and any other country that has signed the Hague Apostille Convention.

If your documents are going to another country that is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, the documents may require a slightly different process called document authentication and legalization. You can find more about that process here: Document authentication and legalization

What is the Document Apostille Process?

Because Canada joined the Hague Apostille Convention in early 2024, Canadian documents can now go through the Canadian apostille process. There are three steps to getting an apostille certificate on your Canadian documents:

Identify the documents required: Determine the type of document you need to apostille. This should be confirmed with the recipient in Mexico or wherever you are submitting your documents. Common documents that typically require apostille include birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce certificates, criminal record checks, and notarized documents. In some cases, you may also need to obtain certified translations.
Determine the appropriate apostille office: Apostilles are issued by either by Global Affairs Canada, or by a provincial office if your documents originate from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, or Ontario. Once you know where your documents can be apostilled, you will need to research how to prepare and submit your documents, as each apostille office has their own unique procedures, requirements, fees, and timelines.
Submit your documents for apostille: Send your prepared documents to the designated apostille authority along with any required forms and fees. Once completed, your documents are ready to use in Mexico.

Researching the Canadian document apostille process in advance will help to ensure that you will not be held back by your paperwork. It is crucial to research and follow the specific requirements of the apostille offices in Canada, as well as the guidelines provided by the Mexico government.

Looking for expert legal advice from Mexico?

If you are looking for a real estate or immigration lawyer in Mexico to assist you with your residency or legal matters, we have now partnered with MexLaw, a full-service law firm with several locations across Mexico and Canada. For more information, we suggest you visit their helpful website here:

How can we help with document apostille?

We provide expert assistance with the Canadian apostille process. As Canada’s leading experts in the Canadian document apostille process, we will manage all aspects of the apostille for you, saving you valuable time and resources. We have experience working with every apostille office across Canada.

Phone us toll-free for a no obligation consultation. We will explain the process, determine the specifics of your situation, and answer your questions. We will then provide you with a detailed quote for our apostille services.