When the Apostille Convention comes into effect in Canada on January 11, 2024, authenticated documents will include a standard certificate called an apostille. The apostille eliminates steps required to get documents accepted in countries where the convention is in effect, including the legalization by a consular office of the country of destination. This will simplify the acceptance of Canadian public documents in the more than 120 countries that have signed the convention.
For more information, consult the list of countries that are signatories of the Apostille Convention.
As of January 11, 2024, competent authorities in some provinces of Canada will be responsible for issuing an apostille and Global Affairs Canada will be responsible for issuing apostilles for documents issued by the Government of Canada and for documents issued or notarized in specific provinces and territories.
Documents for which Global Affairs Canada will issue apostilles
You will send the following documents to Global Affairs Canada:
- Documents issued by the Government of Canada
- Documents issued or notarized in the following provinces and territories:
- Manitoba
- New Brunswick
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- the Northwest Territories
- Nova Scotia
- Nunavut
- Prince Edward Island
- Yukon
If your document was notarized in the provinces and territories listed above, you will send it to Global Affairs Canada no matter where it was originally issued.
Some documents need to be notarized before a competent authority can authenticated them. This may include some documents issued by the Government of Canada. Once the Apostille Convention comes into effect, the province or territory where your document was notarized is what will determine the competent authority where you must send it.
Authentication at Canadian offices abroad
Canadian offices abroad, that currently offer authentication services, will be issuing apostilles as of January 11, 2024. However, these offices will only offer apostille services for urgent cases during the transition period between January 11, 2024, and January 28, 2024.
Documents for which the provincial competent authority will issue apostilles
As of January 11, 2024, competent authorities in the following provinces will be responsible for issuing apostilles for documents issued or notarized in their respective provinces:
- Alberta
- British Columbia
- Ontario
- Quebec (subject to the process underway to obtain the required government approvals)
- Saskatchewan
You will send documents issued in the provinces listed above to that province’s competent authority.
Regardless of where your document was issued, if your document was notarized in Alberta, Ontario, or Saskatchewan, you will send it to that province's competent authority.
In British Columbia and Quebec, the Competent Authority can authenticate a notarized document only if the original document was issued in the province.
Source: Government of Canada
Contact Us
Hello 👋
Chat now by scanning the QR code with wechat.
