Document Apostille at theEmbassy of Portugal

The Canadian apostille process – more properly referred to as the document authentication and legalization process – consists of three steps:

1. Document preparation – to ensure your documents meet the requirements set by Global Affairs Canada and the Embassy of Portugal.
2. Document authentication – at Global Affairs Canada (if applicable).
3. Document legalization – at the Embassy of Portugal.

You may use the links above for more information on each of these three steps. If you have additional questions or are looking for assistance with the Canadian apostille process, please reach out to us. Our friendly staff would be happy to answer your questions and explain your options – no obligation and no pressure. As Canada’s leading apostille experts, we manage the Canadian apostille process for thousands of clients every year and can certainly assist you with the apostille of your Canadian documents for use in Portugal. Contact us to discuss your situation!

Yes, we can certainly handle the apostille process on your behalf. We will work with you to ensure your documents are prepared correctly. Then you send your documents to our Ottawa office and we manage all aspects of the apostille process on your behalf.

Note that since Canada did not sign the Hague Apostille Convention, Canada cannot issue an actual apostille. Instead, Canada uses an equivalent process called document authentication and legalization. So, even though the term “apostille” is used frequently in Canada, what we will be doing for you is authenticating your documents at Global Affairs Canada (if applicable) and then legalizing your documents with the Embassy of Portugal.

Contact our friendly staff so we can assess your situation, answer your questions, and explain your options.

The length of time it takes to legalize documents at the Embassy of Portugal depends on how you go about the process. If you are navigating the process yourself and don’t plan on coming to Ottawa, it may take up to three weeks to have your documents authenticated and then legalized at the Embassy of Portugal. The Embassy of Portugal only takes one day to legalize documents, but first you may need to have your documents authenticated at Global Affairs Canada. This is not required on all documents, so be sure to check in advance. When mailing in documents for authentication at Global Affairs Canada, you should expect to wait a minimum of three weeks. Please note that if you make a mistake in how your documents are prepared or submitted, they will be returned to you unprocessed, forcing you to re-start the process from the beginning.

We specialize in the authentication and legalization process, legalizing many thousands of documents every year for our clients. Because we legalize thousands of documents every year we avoid the common mistakes and pitfalls that can greatly increase the cost and time required for processing. Contact us today to find out how we can expedite the authentication and legalization process for you. Call us toll-free at 1-888-433-1011, or send us an online enquiry.

If you are navigating the apostille process on your own, the cost will consist of the following: the fee charged by the Embassy of Portugal (per document being legalized), the cost of shipping your documents to and from Global Affairs Canada and the Embassy of Portugal, and any costs associated with preparing your documents, such as notarization or translation. Contact our friendly staff to get up-do-date information on the fees being charged by the Embassy of Portugal for document legalization.

If you choose to use our apostille experts to manage the process for you, you should also factor in our service fee. Our service fee varies depending on which services you need and how many documents you have for processing. When you contact us, we’ll answer your questions, clearly explain your options, and provide you a detailed quote so you can see exactly what is involved – no pressure and no obligation. Contact our experts to discuss your situation or review our website for more general information on our pricing.

Document “apostille” certificates are issued by countries that are signatories to the Hague Apostille Convention. Because Canada had not signed the Hague Apostille Convention, we use a different but equivalent process called “document authentication and legalization”. However, in January 2024 Canada will finally be able to issue an Apostille on a Canadian document.

The primary difference between these two processes is that an apostille certificate 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 has legalized the document.

Our friendly staff would be happy to answer your questions about document apostille process. Phone us toll-free at 1-888-433-1011, or send us this online form and we’ll get right back to you.