Three services, one request
Apostille only
We review your document and coordinate the request with the competent authority.
Apostille and certified translation
We coordinate both services in the order required by the receiving organization, including the translation of the apostille certificate if it asks for one.
Consular legalization
If your file requires a step with an embassy, high commission or consulate, we'll explain the process and provide a quote.
Countries where the Convention does not apply: consular legalization →
Documents we can have apostilled
Depending on the document, its format and the competent authority:
- Birth, marriage and death certificates issued by a civil registry
- Divorce judgments and other court documents
- Diplomas and transcripts from recognized institutions
- RCMP criminal record check certificates
- Powers of attorney, official declarations and notarial documents
- Eligible corporate certificates and documents
The document must be on paper and bear an original signature or seal. Global Affairs Canada does not authenticate photocopies, laminated or glued documents, religious certificates (baptism, religious marriage), documents from an unrecognized educational institution or documents issued outside Canada.
For a business, a public record and a commercial or private document do not always follow the same process. A document issued in digital format is assessed case by case.
Some documents, such as a power of attorney or a declaration, must first be notarized. We tell you whether this applies; that step is done with a notary or a lawyer.
Who issues the apostille, by province
According to Global Affairs Canada, the competent authority depends on where the document was issued or notarized:
- Quebec: Ministère de la Justice du Québec
- Ontario: Government of Ontario
- Alberta: Government of Alberta
- British Columbia: Government of British Columbia
- Saskatchewan: Government of Saskatchewan
- Global Affairs Canada: federal documents and documents issued or notarized in Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and the territories.
A document notarized in Alberta, Ontario or Saskatchewan falls to that province, wherever it was issued. In British Columbia and Quebec, a notarized document is apostilled only if the original was issued in the province.
Asiatis coordinates the request whatever the authority, and a single file can involve several.
Example: two authorities, one request
You are moving abroad for work with a birth certificate issued in Quebec and an RCMP criminal record check. The first falls to the Ministère de la Justice du Québec, the second to Global Affairs Canada. You send us one request: we coordinate both processes and, if the destination country requires it, the certified translation.
How it works
- 1
Send a copy of the document.
Scan the front and back, including any relevant seals, signatures and attachments. Tell us the country and, if you know it, the organization that will receive the file.
- 2
Receive a personalized quote.
We check the process, the documents required, any translation, notarization or legalization steps, and the estimated timelines.
- 3
Follow the sending instructions.
Once you accept the quote, we confirm whether an original or an official copy is required and how to send it.
- 4
Receive your documents as agreed.
We coordinate the approved steps and tell you how your documents will be returned or shipped and, where planned, how you will receive a digital copy.
Timelines and fees
- Our quote separates our fees, official fees and other applicable items, such as translation and shipping.
- Timelines are set by the authorities. Global Affairs Canada offers no expedited service, and its processing time is the same whether a request reaches it directly or through a service provider.
- The timelines we give are estimates: they separate file preparation, official processing and delivery.
Frequently asked questions
Do you handle documents from Ontario, another province or the federal government?
Yes. We coordinate requests for eligible Canadian documents from any province or territory. The competent authority depends on the type of document and, in some cases, on where it was issued or notarized.
Can I request the apostille only?
Yes. A certified translation can be added if the receiving organization requires it.
Should the translation be done before or after the apostille?
It depends on the receiving organization and the applicable process. Some organizations want a translation of the apostilled document, including the apostille certificate. Others require the translation first, or separate formalities for the translation. We check the process before starting the translation. If your Canadian document contains a language other than French or English, Global Affairs Canada requires a certified translation by a member of a recognized provincial translation organization.
Who issues the apostille?
The competent government authority issues the apostille. Asiatis coordinates the request and can arrange the certified translation when the file requires it. The apostille authenticates, among other things, the signature, the capacity of the signatory or the seal. It does not validate the content of the document.
What is the difference between an apostille and legalization?
The apostille simplifies the authentication of public documents when the Hague Convention applies between Canada and the destination. In other cases, consular formalities may apply. Requirements should be checked with the receiving organization or its consular representation.
Do I need to send the original right away?
No. A legible copy is enough for the initial review. We then tell you which format the authority accepts and how to send it.
Can you have a foreign document apostilled in Canada?
No. The service covers eligible Canadian documents. A public document issued abroad is normally apostilled by the competent authority of the country that issued it. Canadian law does not require a foreign document used in Canada to be authenticated, but some organizations ask for it. If the document is to be used in Canada, Asiatis can prepare its certified translation.
How much does it cost, and how long does it take?
The quote depends on the documents, the authority, any additional steps and delivery. It separates Asiatis's fees, official fees and other applicable items. The timelines we give are estimates that include processing and shipping.
Is it faster to go through Asiatis?
Not for official processing. Global Affairs Canada offers no expedited service, and its processing time is the same whether a request reaches it directly or through a service provider. Our role is to check the competent authority, the document's eligibility and the required items before anything is sent, to limit the risk of a file being returned.
My document has the old red authentication stamp. Is it still valid?
Not for a country that is party to the Apostille Convention: those countries accept only the apostille, so a new request must be made with a clean version of the document. A country that is not party may still accept the red stamp; check with its representation before applying again.
What if the receiving organization asks for a sworn translator?
We check the professional title required before proposing the translation. If a Canadian certified translator does not meet the requirement, we tell you which options to confirm for that file.
Related pages
- Global Affairs Canada: requirements and competent authority
- Global Affairs Canada: current processing time
- Quebec.ca: applying for an apostille
Rules checked on November 7, 2026 on the Global Affairs Canada website.