Document Authentication
Document authentication in Canada is the first step in the process to have your documents recognized abroad in non-apostille countries. The authentication must be completed by the appropriate government authority before legalization at the embassy or consulate. Our services will help streamline the process and avoid common roadblocks. Read on for more details, or contact our friendly staff to answer your questions.
About Document Authentication
The document authentication process is the first part of the process that is used when you need to have your Canadian document officially recognized in another country that is not a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention.
Document authentication is done with the appropriate authentication authority (based on a pre-determined jurisdiction), who will confirm the authenticity of the signature on your document. When the authentication authority is satisfied, they will place an authentication certificate directly on your document. Once authenticated, your document is now ready for the final step of document legalization.
If you need to use your document in a country that is a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention, you can obtain an Apostille on the document instead of authentication & legalization.
Global Recognition, Local Expertise: Your Documents, Validated Everywhere
From apostilles to attestations, our specialized services ensure global recognition for your documents. We are your trusted partner in Canadian document apostille, handling everything from authentication to legalization, translation, and notarization. Whatever term you have heard – legalization, ratification, and more – we bring clarity and expertise to each step, so your documents make the impact they deserve anywhere in the world.
We are here to help you. Contact us for your free consultation – we will explain your options and answer your questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
The following are answers to the most common questions we get about the document authentication process.
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Document authentication is one step of a multi-step process called document authentication and legalization. The document authentication process involves submitting your document to the appropriate authentication office (or apostille office, in most cases).
Global Affairs Canada (GAC), formerly The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAIT), in Ottawa will “authenticate” the official signature on your document by adding their apostille certificate.
In most cases, your document can be “authenticated” with the appropriate Provincial authority. However, you should verify with both the recipient abroad and the Embassy or Consulate of your destination country, whether they accept this form of document “authentication”.
Contact our helpful staff to find out more about the authentication of Canadian documents.
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The length of time it takes to authenticate a document will depend on which authentication (or apostille) office holds jurisdiction over your document. For example, an Ontario document can be apostilled in as little as 1 day. However, Global Affairs Canada may take up to 65 business days.
In addition, if you have made any errors in preparing your documents, they will be returned to you unprocessed, further delaying the process.
When using our services for document authentication, we can confirm your documents in advance of the process, ensuring they are acceptable.
We take care of all steps of the authentication and legalization process for our clients. Contact our friendly specialists for more information on the authentication process.
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Global Affairs Canada and each provincial office has specific requirements for how documents need to be prepared for authentication. These requirements will depend on the type and origin of your documents. Global Affairs Canada does outline these requirements on their website here: Global Affairs Canada
Also note, that for your documents to be legalized they will have to meet the specific requirements of the appropriate embassy or consulate. These requirements vary and can change often.
Contact our friendly staff to discuss the requirements that apply to your specific situation, or review our instructions on how to prepare your documents for authentication and legalization.
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The JLAC section of Global Affairs Canada is responsible for the apostille of documents that originate from or are notarized in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Manitoba, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories.
They are located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and authenticate hundreds of thousands of documents every year. It can be hard to contact them, although they will respond to emails addressed to docs@international.gc.ca. You may also consult the JLAC website.
Our friendly staff would welcome the chance to answer any questions you have about JLAC and the Canadian document authentication and legalization process – contact us!
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Yes, you can track your documents that you sent through the mail if you used a service that provides you with a tracking number. Some such services are Canada Post registered mail, Canada Post Xpress Post, Canada Post Priority mail, or any professional courier service (i.e. FedEx, Purolator, UPS, DHL).
It is up to you to choose your preferred method of shipping, both to send your documents to our office and for the shipping of your completed documents to their final destination. We always recommend using a traceable method of shipping.
If you would like to discuss your shipping options or prices for the shipping of your documents, feel free to contact our friendly staff. We will happily discuss your shipping options and how to best suit your needs. Contact us today! Call us toll-free at 1-888-433-1011, or send us an online enquiry.
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Yes, if you are using the services of IDC to manage the apostille process, you can check the progress of your documents. Within our proprietary system, we have built in a progress tracker that allows you to monitor the progress of your documents through every stage of the process. By logging in to your workform, you will be able to see which steps have been completed and what will be completed next.
In addition to the progress module that allows you to check the status of your document request, you will also be personally notified by our expert staff when your documents arrive at our office, whether we require any additional documents or information, when your documents have been completed, and finally when they have been shipped to the final destination. It is important to us that you know exactly what is happening with your important documents and when to expect them to be safely returned.
Whether you still have questions, or you want to get started with our services, we encourage you to contact our office. Call us toll-free at 1-888-433-1011, or send us an online enquiry.
What Our Clients Are Saying
Perfect service!! Very friendly and extremely efficient:-)))
Service was responsive, fast and affordable. I live in Vancouver and some places charge 4x more than idocs did. My biggest reservation was sending original documents across the country but I got them back safe and in good condition.
In my opinion and after my personal experience with International documents canada, what can i say regarding the service is excellent. I have dealt professionally with professional people via e-mail and telephone and they are familiar with all the necessary requirements. I also noted the great precision, efficiency and commitment to Authenticate documents from Global affairs of Canada to perform this service in a distinctive and skilled professional with a high quality and performance. I would recommend dealing with this office as I recommend myself to deal with them in future.
From the first contact until I received my documents everything was clear and efficient and the customer service was superb. Due to a tight timeline I was not at all convinced that I would be able to get all my documents processed on time but everything was done for me as quickly as possible. I would recommend this service to anyone who is needing to get documents processed for a move overseas and I wouldn’t hesitate to use this service again in the future. A big thank you for helping me in an extremely stressful and busy time.
Communication was prompt and clear, and service exceeded expectations. I discovered only a month before my wedding in Portugal that one of my Canadian documents lacked necessary processing that would, under regular circumstances, take at least a month to complete. Heather and Evey made a potentially stressful experience easy and worry-free, processing and returning my document to Portugal two days after having received it. This is an excellent option for those needing expedited processing.
Excellent, fast, efficient and professional service.
Documents
We are your trusted service for document apostille, or authentication and legalization. We offer services for a wide range of personal and commercial documents. Our team helps to ensure your documents meet global standards securely and efficiently. For a detailed list of the most common documents, visit our Documents Page.
Pricing
Our prices for document services, such as apostille, authentication, legalization, and more, can vary depending on many factors. These factors may include the origins of your documents, the destination country where they will be used, or the desired speed of service. For a list of our service fees, visit our Pricing page.
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