Canada acceded to the Hague Apostille Convention on January 11, 2024. Here is how the apostille process now works for Canadian documents going abroad.
What changed in January 2024
Canada deposited its instrument of accession to the Hague Apostille Convention (formally, the Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents) in May 2023, and the Convention entered into force for Canada on January 11, 2024. Before that date, Canadian documents going to foreign countries needed authentication by Global Affairs Canada followed by consular legalisation at the destination country’s consulate or embassy. After that date, for documents going to other Hague Convention countries, a single apostille replaces consular legalisation.
What an apostille is
An apostille is a standardized certificate, attached to or printed on the document, confirming the authenticity of the signature and seal of the official who signed the document (typically a notary public). It is not a certification of the document’s contents — only of the authority and authenticity of the signing official. The apostille is recognized by all Hague Convention countries (currently more than 120 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, most of Europe, Mexico, India, Argentina, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and many others).
Who issues apostilles in Canada
Apostilles in Canada are issued by “competent authorities” designated under the Convention. For documents issued by federal Canadian authorities, the competent authority is Global Affairs Canada (Authentication Services Section). For documents issued by Ontario provincial authorities or notarized by an Ontario notary public, the competent authority is the Ontario Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery, Official Documents Services (ODS). Other provinces have their own designated authorities. Confirm which authority applies before submitting.
The three-step Hague path
The process for Hague Convention destinations is now generally three steps: (1) Get the document notarized by an Ontario notary public, if it is not already issued by a public authority. (2) Submit the document to the appropriate competent authority (ODS for Ontario notarizations; Global Affairs Canada for federally-issued documents). (3) Send the apostilled document directly to the receiving party in the destination country. No consular legalisation step.
Documents going to non-Hague countries
For destinations that are not party to the Hague Convention — examples include the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia — an apostille will not be accepted, and a multi-step authentication and legalization process still applies. However, you do not send Ontario documents to Global Affairs Canada. Instead, you must submit the document to Ontario’s Official Documents Services (ODS), which will issue a traditional Certificate of Authentication. Once authenticated by ODS, the document must then be legalized at the destination country’s consulate or embassy in Canada.
Common document types we apostille for clients
Diplomas and academic transcripts for foreign employment or study; powers of attorney for foreign real estate transactions; certified copies of passports or birth certificates for visa applications or marriage abroad; corporate documents (articles of incorporation, certificates of good standing, board resolutions); marriage certificates for residency applications abroad; affidavits and statutory declarations for foreign legal proceedings.
What this change means for older guidance
If you have read older guidance on Canadian apostille that says “Canada does not issue apostilles” or “Canadian documents cannot be apostilled” — that guidance is out of date and was correct only until January 10, 2024. As of January 11, 2024, Canada issues apostilles for documents going to other Hague Convention countries.
Frequently asked questions
Is an apostille the same as authentication and legalization?
No. An apostille is a single certificate issued by one competent authority. Authentication and legalization is a two-step process involving Global Affairs Canada and a foreign consulate or embassy. For Hague countries, the apostille replaces the older two-step process. For non-Hague countries, the older two-step process still applies.
Where do I send my document for an Ontario apostille?
For Ontario notarizations and provincially-issued documents, the Ontario Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery — Official Documents Services. For federally-issued documents, Global Affairs Canada. Confirm the current submission address and intake hours on the authority’s website.
Will an apostille from one country be accepted in another Hague country?
Yes — that is the whole point of the Convention. An apostille issued by the competent authority in Canada is recognized in every other Hague Convention member country.
Do I still need to notarize the document before apostilling it?
For private documents (POAs, affidavits, declarations) — yes, you typically notarize first, then apostille the notarization. For public documents issued by a government authority (birth certificates, court orders, etc.) — usually no separate notarization is needed before apostille.