October 28, 2024 . 5 mins read

How do I get documents attested in Canada?

You might need to authenticate official Canadian documents before the apostille or legalization process if you need to utilize them abroad. This guarantees that the foreign nation will accept the documents' legitimacy. Whether or not the receiving nation is a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention determines the precise procedure. Wondering “how do I get documents attested in Canada?” You can follow this blog to learn how to testify your documents in Canada.

There are two ways to get your documents attested in Canada, depending on the destination country's requirements. Your documents must be apostilled when using them in countries that are signatory to the convention. This is because Canada is now a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. You must get your documents authenticated and legalized for use in nations that have not signed this convention, like the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait.

Document Preparation

Getting your documents ready correctly is the first step in the attestation procedure. Ensuring your documents are prepared for the apostille or legalization procedure may require multiple stages. The main steps in document preparation are as follows:

Notarization: A licensed notary public must notarize specific documents. You can also opt for a trustworthy online notarization platform in Toronto to get your documents digitally notarized.
Certified Translations: You could require certified translations if your documents are written in a language other than the one used as the official language.

Authentication Process

Documents must have an authentication certificate affixed if the foreign nation where they will be used is not a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention. For documents from federal government departments and agencies, authentication is issued by Global Affairs Canada. You will need to apply through the competent authority of the province or territory for documents issued by those provinces or territories. The procedure can be followed as follows:

Prepare Required Documents and submit to the relevant authority like Global Affairs Canada or the proper provincial authority.When submitting your documents, ensure you pay the appropriate cost. Once your document has been processed, Global Affairs Canada or the provincial authority will affix an authentication certificate to it.

Legalization Process

The procedure is different if the destination foreign nation is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention. You will require your documents to be legalized instead of an apostille. The procedures for the legalizing process are as follows:

After authentication, bring your documents to your intended country's Canadian embassy or consulate and pay the embassy or consulate the necessary amount.

This extra legalization step confirms that your authenticated document meets that specific country's requirements and is officially recognized.

Conclusion

It might be intimidating to navigate international border documentation procedures. However, you can make sure your important Canadian documents will be accepted overseas by being aware of the attestation procedure followed in the country you intend to visit or deal with and giving yourself enough time. The most important procedures are to ascertain if you require legalization or an apostille, prepare your paperwork meticulously, and adhere to the necessary requirements.

Written by :

We are a background screening and document verification agency in Toronto. While we cover the Greater Toronto Area for in-person appointments, the bulk of our clientele uses our online services from different countries of the world. Globeia makes it simple and cost-effective for companies and individuals to navigate governmental red tape without breaking the bank.

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