Outside the Apostille Convention · By quote

Consular Legalization of Canadian Documents

Need to use a Canadian document in a country where an apostille is not enough? Asiatis checks the required process, coordinates authentication in Canada and legalization by the embassy or consulate, and arranges certified translation if your file requires it.

How do you get a Canadian document legalized for use abroad?

Consular legalization takes two steps: the competent Canadian authority authenticates the document, then the embassy, high commission or consulate of the destination country legalizes it. It is used when the Apostille Convention does not apply between that country and Canada. Asiatis checks the required process and coordinates the steps, with certified translation if needed.

Start by sending us a copy of your document and telling us which country it is for. We'll tell you which process applies and provide a personalized quote.

Process checked before anything is sent

Consular fees itemized in the quote

Certified translation if needed

Apostille, legalization or no formality?

The process depends on the country and on the organization that will receive the document:

The Convention applies

The apostille from the competent Canadian authority replaces legalization: the embassy does not need to be involved.

The Convention does not apply

The document is first authenticated in Canada, then legalized by the destination country's embassy, high commission or consulate: this is consular legalization.

Another route exists

Some missions legalize a Canadian document directly, and some countries require no formality at all. We check these routes before starting a process.

The Convention applies between two party states unless one has objected to the other’s accession. To check your destination country, see the Hague Conference status table.

Apostille for Canadian documents →

How consular legalization works

1
Authentication in Canada
The competent authority is the same as for an apostille: it depends on the province or territory where the document was issued or notarized, or on whether it is a federal document. Global Affairs Canada and Ontario then issue a certificate of authentication. Quebec issues an apostille, which the destination country may require to be legalized.
2
Legalization by the country's representation
The embassy, high commission or consulate of the destination country, located in or accredited to Canada, legalizes the authenticated document. It sets its own requirements, fees and timelines. Global Affairs Canada can forward the authenticated document directly to the embassy, high commission or consulate of the destination country in Canada.
3
Translation, if required
Global Affairs Canada requires a certified translation of any document that contains a language other than English or French. The foreign representation may also ask for a translation into its language, sometimes authenticated or legalized in turn: we check the order of the steps before translating.

The competent authority by province →

Other routes, depending on the country

Global Affairs Canada describes alternatives, to be confirmed with the destination country's representation:

Direct legalization: some embassies and consulates legalize a Canadian document without prior authentication, including civil status documents (birth, marriage, death) and RCMP criminal record checks.
Private documents (power of attorney, contract, declaration): some missions offer notarial services or keep a roster of notaries in Canada who act on their behalf; Canadian authentication is then generally not required.
If you are abroad, a Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate can sometimes authenticate your Canadian documents.

We check whether one of these routes suits your file before starting a process.

Example: a federal document for the United Arab Emirates

You are moving to the United Arab Emirates for work, where the Apostille Convention does not apply, and your employer asks for a legalized RCMP criminal record check. This federal document is first authenticated by Global Affairs Canada, then legalized by the UAE representation in Canada. You send us one request: we check the requirements and coordinate both steps. If a translation is required, we first check which translator the employer accepts.

Documents concerned

The same documents as for an apostille, 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.

How it works

1
Send a copy of the document.
Scan the front and back, including any seals, signatures and attachments. Tell us the destination country and, if you know it, the organization that will receive the file.
2
Receive a personalized quote.
We check the required process (apostille, legalization or another route), the competent Canadian authority, the representation involved, any translation or notarization 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 authentication and legalization, then tell you how your documents will be returned or shipped.

Timelines and fees

Authentication by Global Affairs Canada is free; the provinces set their own fees.
The embassy, high commission or consulate sets its legalization fees and the payment methods it accepts.
Our quote separates our fees, official and consular fees, and other applicable items, such as translation and shipping.
The total timeline adds up authentication, legalization and shipping. 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.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between an apostille and legalization?

An apostille is a single certificate issued by the competent Canadian authority; it is enough in countries where the Hague Convention applies with Canada. Legalization generally involves several authentications: the Canadian authority’s, then that of the embassy or consulate of the country where the document will be presented.

How do I know whether my document must be legalized?

The requirement to authenticate or legalize a Canadian document comes entirely from the laws and practices of the destination country; no Canadian law imposes it. Some countries require neither formality. Check the requirement with the organization asking for the document or with the destination country's representation; the Hague Conference status table shows whether the Apostille Convention applies between that country and Canada. We check this with you before the quote.

Can a document be legalized without being authenticated in Canada?

Sometimes. Some embassies and consulates legalize Canadian documents directly, including civil status documents and RCMP criminal record checks. For a private document, some missions also offer notarial services. These options vary from country to country and must be confirmed with the mission.

Who legalizes the document?

The embassy, high commission or consulate of the destination country. The authentication before it is done by the competent Canadian authority: it attests that the public official's signature and seal on the document are genuine, without validating its content. Asiatis coordinates the request and can arrange the certified translation.

How much does consular legalization cost?

There is no single fee. Authentication by Global Affairs Canada is free, the provinces set their own fees and each foreign representation sets its own. Our quote separates our fees, official and consular fees, translation and shipping.

How long should I allow?

The timeline adds up authentication in Canada, legalization by the foreign representation and shipping, and each authority sets its own. 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. Plan your request well ahead of your file's deadline.

Should the document be translated before legalization?

It depends on the country. Global Affairs Canada requires a certified translation if the document contains a language other than English or French. The foreign representation may also require a translation into its language, sometimes authenticated or legalized in turn. We check the order of the steps and the accepted translator before starting the translation.

My document has the old red authentication stamp. Can it still be used?

Possibly. A country that is not party to the Apostille Convention may still accept a document authenticated with the red stamp, while a party country accepts only the apostille. Check with the country's representation before applying again.

Can you have a foreign document legalized for use in Canada?

No. Canadian law does not require a foreign document used in Canada to be authenticated, but some organizations ask for it. It then falls to the country of issue: an apostille from its competent authority if it applies the Convention, otherwise a request to its ministry of foreign affairs or its consular office in Canada. If the document is to be used in Canada, Asiatis can prepare its certified translation.

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 process, the document's eligibility and the representation's requirements before anything is sent, to limit the risk of a file being returned.

Rules checked on November 8, 2026 on the Global Affairs Canada, Ontario, Quebec and HCCH websites.

Request a quote

Send a legible copy of each document, front and back, with its seals, signatures and attachments, and tell us:

the country of use and, if you know it, the receiving organization;
the type and number of documents;
the province or territory of issue, or whether it is a federal document;
where the document was notarized, if applicable;
your preferred date;
the translation language, if needed;
the city and country where your documents should be returned.

We'll review the documents and the receiving organization's requirements before sending you a quote and sending instructions. Keep your originals until you receive our instructions.

Online payment is for certified translation only. Legalization requests are always quoted first.

To process a legalization request, we send your documents to the competent Canadian authority, to the destination country's representation and, depending on the file, to specialized service providers involved in the process.