DocumentAuthentication & Legalization

If you have Canadian documents that will be used in another country, they will likely need to be authenticated and legalized. You should ask the recipient abroad whether your documents need to be authenticated and legalized, also known as apostille or attestation. You can also contact our friendly staff to discuss your situation.

There are a few different aspects to consider when preparing your documents for authentication and legalization.

1. The recipient abroad should advise you what document they need, whether it must be an original, and how they want it processed.
2. You must meet the criteria of the authentication process. Whether you will authenticate with Global Affairs Canada, or the appropriate provincial office, they each have specific criteria for authentication.
3. Each embassy or consulate has their own specific requirements and rules for submission of documents for legalization.

We will happily discuss and review your documents for authentication and legalization. Contact an IDC expert for more information and to answer your questions.

Both the apostille and the document authentication and legalization process have the same purpose - to certify a document created in one country so that it can be officially recognized in another country.  Apostille stamps are issued by countries that are signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention of 1969.  However, Canada is not a signatory to this convention, so instead of issuing apostilles, Canada uses a process called authentication and legalization.

The only practical difference between these two processes is that an apostille stamp will be recognized by any country that has signed the Hague Apostille Convention, whereas a document that has been authenticated and legalized will only be recognized by one specific country (the country that legalized the document).

Attestation is a term used in some countries to describe a similar process as authentication and legalization. The Canadian process is document authentication and legalization. You may review our services for more information about the authentication and legalization process. Feel free to contact our friendly experts to answer any questions you may have.

The processing times for authentication and legalization can vary depending on the diplomatic mission involved. Each embassy or consulate has its own processing time, subject to consular availability. Some will also offer rush services for an additional fee.

If you decide to handle the process yourself by mail, the process will take some time. Global Affairs Canada takes 10-15 business days to authenticate documents submitted by mail. Following the authentication, typical processing times at most embassies and consulates range from 2 to 5 business days.

We can expedite the authentication process by attending in person, saving you weeks of waiting. We will also help you prepare the documents and ensure they meet the criteria of the process. IDC experts are standing by if you have any questions or concerns you need to discuss. Contact IDC for your free consultation.

The authentication and legalization process is essentially a process of signature verification.

During authentication, the authentication officer at Global Affairs Canada will add a red authentication stamp, they write in the name of who's signature they have authenticated, and then they add their signature.

During the legalization portion of the process, the embassy or consulate will add their own stamp, sticker, or certificate. Each embassy or consulate differs in the format, style, colour and language of legalization.

We can handle the process on your behalf and ensure it is processed accurately. Contact us for a free consultation.