FAQs Archive

Whether your Single Status Document needs to be notarized before it can be apostilled will depend on what type of Single Status Document you have and where it was issued.

For example, a provincial marriage search certificate from Ontario will require notarization. However, a provincial marriage search certificate from British Columbia would not need to be notarized. This is because the provinces prepare these differently.

However, if you are preparing a Single Status Declaration, it must be signed in front of a Canadian Notary Public. The Notary Public will add their signature and seal to the declaration. Now it is ready for apostille.

If you have any questions about whether your Single Status Document requires notarization, feel free to contact our friendly specialists. We would welcome the chance to speak with you and help in any way we can.

The process of apostille for a Single Status Document involves the following steps:

Step 1 - Prepare the document for processing
Step 2 - Submit the document to the appropriate apostille office in Canada
Step 2 - Submit the document to the relevant embassy or consulate for legalization (if applicable)

For more information on these steps, click on each step above. We would certainly be happy to walk you through the apostille of your Single Status Document and answer any of your questions. Contact our expert staff by calling us toll-free at 1-888-433-1011, or send us an online enquiry.

Yes, you will likely need to have your Single Status Document apostilled to have it officially recognized in a foreign country. To be sure, you should confirm with the authority abroad who has requested the Single Status Document. Requirements can vary by situation, by region, and by agency abroad.

For non-apostille countries, you may also need to have the Single Status Document legalized by the embassy or consulate of the destination country.

Contact our friendly specialists for more information on the apostille of Canadian Single Status Documents.

How long it will take to apostille your Single Status document will depend on where it was signed and notarized, as well as where it will be used. The apostille offices across Canada take between 5 to 65 business days. Beware that if there are any errors or omissions in the documents, they will be returned to you unprocessed.

If your document also requires legalization (for non-apostille countries), there will be additional requirements and processing time.

Using a service like ours can expedite the process and avoid stressful roadblocks. We remove mailing times and ensure your documents are prepared correctly the first time, avoiding any lengthy delays.

Contact an IDC expert for an estimate on how long it will take to apostille your Single Status document.

If you have been asked for a Statement in Lieu of Certificate of Non-impediment to Marriage Abroad, it can be requested from Global Affairs Canada in Ottawa. 

The documents required to get your Statement in Lieu are: 

• Single Status Declaration (notarized by a Canadian Notary Public)
• Canadian Birth Certificate, or Canadian Passport copy, or Record of Landing form and Canadian Citizenship Card (originals or certified true copies)
• Divorce/Death Certificate (if applicable)

The above documents can be submitted to Global Affairs Canada by mail, along with their Request Form (available on the Global Affairs Canada website). Be sure to check the Global Affairs Canada list of eligible countries.

However, you should confirm with the recipient abroad that the Statement in Lieu of Certificate of Non-impediment to Marriage Abroad is in fact what they require. Many institutions abroad will simply ask for a Single Status Certificate, which can be one of three different types of documents in Canada. Because Canada does not issue Single Status Certificates, you need to determine what equivalent document will be acceptable.

If you like, we can get the Statement in Lieu for you, if you provide us with the above documents. Contact us to find out how we can expedite the process. 

A Statement in Lieu of Certificate of Non-impediment to Marriage Abroad is issued by Global Affairs Canada. It will already obtain a signature and stamp of the apostille office at Global Affairs Canada. Therefore, it does not require further apostilles.

The need for legalization will depend on where it will be used. You should ask the authority in the destination country if they want their embassy or consulate in Canada to also legalize the Statement in Lieu of Certificate of Non-impediment to Marriage Abroad.

If you have any questions about whether your Statement in Lieu of Certificate of Non-impediment to Marriage Abroad needs to be legalized, don't hesitate to contact our friendly specialists. We would be happy to answer your questions.