FAQs Archive
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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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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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We process all types of Canadian documents. Once we confirm that your documents have been prepared correctly, we can handle the document apostille, or authentication and legalization, process on your behalf. Examples of the most commonly processed documents are:
- Birth Certificate
- Marriage Certificate
- Death Certificate
- University or College Degree
- Criminal Record Check
- High School Diploma
- Single Status Declaration
- Marriage Search Certificate
- Power of Attorney
- Commercial Invoice
- Certificate of Origin
- Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product
- Good Manufacturing Practices Certificate
- Medical Device Licence
For more information on each type of document, you can review our detailed document pages. If you want to speak to an IDC specialist about your documents, feel free to contact us. We are available to answer your questions and make sure your documents meet the criteria of the process. Call us toll-free at 1-888-433-1011 or send us an online enquiry.
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If you do not have your birth certificate, or your birth certificate is not in the correct format, you can easily order a new one. Most provinces provide an online service for ordering new vital statistics documents. Many of our clients also have their new certificates sent straight to our office to save time and additional shipping fees. Here are the websites that provide information on ordering certificates in your Province or Territory:
- Alberta
- British Columbia
- Saskatchewan
- Manitoba
- New Brunswick
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Northwest Territories
- Nova Scotia
- Nunavut
- Ontario
- Prince Edward Island
- Quebec
- Yukon
If you have any questions about ordering your birth certificate, don't hesitate to contact our friendly staff for assistance.
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Yes and no. A document with an apostille can be used in almost any other apostille signatory country without additional requirements. Whereas, a document that has gone through the authentication and legalization process is only ready to use in the country for which it was legalized.
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 certificates are issued by countries that are signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention.
We are available to answer your questions and to discuss your documents. Contact us toll-free at 1-888-433-1011 or send us an online enquiry.
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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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