FAQs Archive
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The Hague Apostille Convention, formally known as the “Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents”, is an international agreement governing how a document issued in one country can be certified for legal purposes in another. This certification is called the apostille process. Any country that is a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention will legally recognize documents from other signatory countries, as long as these documents have first been “apostilled”.
The United States of America is a signatory of the Hague Apostille Convention. If you need to use your documents in a non-apostille country, the documents will need authentication and legalization.
For more information on the Hague Apostille Convention, feel free to contact us. We would happily discuss your documents and how to best have them processed for use abroad. 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.
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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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If you want to process documents in the mail, the length of time it will take will depend on a few factors. For example, where you sent the documents will affect the length of processing time.
When handling the document apostille process (also known as attestation) by mail, it may a few days or several weeks.
This is because the processing times at each office varies. As of January 2024, Global Affairs Canada has a posted processing time of a minimum of 30-45 business days (although in reality they are taking over 60 business days). Provincial offices vary from 5-15 business days.
If you need to expedite the apostille process, or simply want someone else to navigate this confusing process for you, we can help! Contact our expert staff for a free detailed quote. We will happily discuss your situation and answer your questions. Call us toll-free at 1-888-433-1011, or send us a quick online enquiry.
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A document that has an apostille will be officially recognized by any country that has signed the Hague Apostille Convention. By contrast, the legalization process certifies a document for use in one specific country. If you have a Canadian document that you need to present in several countries, you will need to determine whether these countries are members of the Hague Apostille Convention. If yes, the apostille is sufficient. If not, then you will need to legalize this document separately for each of these countries.
Starting in January 2024, Canada will be able to issue apostille certificates on Canadian documents.
Contact us for more information on how to obtain a Canadian apostille. We would be happy to hear from you and answer your questions. Call us toll-free at 1-888-433-1011 or send us an online enquiry.
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A total of 126 countries have signed The Hague Apostille Convention. You can visit the HCCH website for up to date information and to view the current list of countries.
Canada is now a signatory of The Hague Apostille Convention, which takes effect in January 11, 2024. In the meantime, the process used in Canada to verify the signatures on official documents is called document authentication and legalization.
We can assist you with the apostille of your documents for use in another country. Contact our friendly staff to discuss how we can help. Call us toll-free at 1-888-433-1011 or send us an online enquiry.
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