To utilize your marriage certificate in Canada, it must undergo legalization. Depending on the country, the process includes apostille certification (for apostille countries), or embassy attestation (for non-apostille countries) where needed.
In this article, we will cover how to obtain marriage certificate attestation in Canada, the requirements for apostille marriage certificates, and the distinctions between marriage certificate apostille and marriage certificate attestation.
What Is The Difference Between Apostille And Embassy Legalization?
As a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention, Canada permits the issuance of documents to be legalized by means of an apostille certification. This approach supersedes the conventional attestation procedure.
Apostille does ease the process for Canada but some non-apostille countries still have restrictive requirements that require additional authentication or embassy legalization.
Apostille Process (For Hague Convention Countries)
If the country of destination accepts an apostille, below are the steps to follow:
- Go to the Vital Statistics office in your province to get a certified original copy of your marriage certificate.
- Check if you need to notarize it.
- Show the document for Global Affairs Canada(GAC) for authentication and issuance of Apostille.
Once the document is apostilled, it is valid in all Hague convention countries without the need for further authentication.
Embassy Legalization Method (For Non-Apostille Countries)
Here are steps to follow if the country you are traveling to doesn’t accept apostille:
- Collect the original marriage certificate from the Vital Statistics department.
- Get it notarized from an approved public notary.
- Authenticate the documents at Global Affairs Canada (GAC).
- Give the authenticated copies to the embassy or consulate of the target country for legalization.
Countries That Accept Apostille:
Suppose your Canadian marriage certificate is meant for use in any of the following Hague Convention countries. In that case, you simply need to obtain an apostille from Global Affairs Canada—no further legalization is required:
- Saudi Arabia
- Oman
- Bahrain
- United States
- United Kingdom
- Australia
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Spain
- Netherlands
- South Korea
- Japan
Countries that Require Embassy Legalization:
As said, if your destination country does not practice the Hague Apostille Convention, you will need additional embassy verification following Global Affairs Canada authentication. Non apostille countries comprise of but are not limited to:
- United Arab Emirates (UAE)
- Qatar
- Kuwait
- Egypt
- Vietnam
These nations require further legalization after authentication from Global Affairs Canada by the specific embassy or consulate in Canada.
In Canada, where can one get a Marriage Authentication?
There are various locations where one can have their marriage certificate authenticated:
1. Provincial Authentication Offices
Every province has criteria that marriage certificates must meet before going to Global Affairs Canada. Examples of major provincial authorities include:
- Vital Statistics Office of Ontario where you can obtain certified copies of your marriage certificate
- Official Document Services (ODS) in Ontario
- Other provincial authentication offices (British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec, etc.)
2. Global Affairs Canada (GAC)
All relevant requirements for Canadian documents for international travel must be authenticated or apostilled through Global Affairs Canada.
3. Embassies and Consulates (For Countries That Do Not Accept Apostille)
In case you are going to a country that does not accept the apostille, you must provide an authenticated document to the Embassy or Consulate of the respective country for final legalization.
4. Professional Attestation Services
The majority claim that in order to prevent delays and mistakes, it is best to work with established authentication and apostille service providers.
Why Select Helpline Group For the Authentication of Marriage Certificates in Canada?
Whether you need a marriage certificate authentication, apostille, or legalization in Canada, Helpline Group does this extremely quickly and efficiently for all visa, immigration, or legal documents.
- Comprehensive Service: We take care of everything, from notarizing your documents to final legalization.
- Speedy and Dependable Services: You don’t have to go through tedious waiting times and blunders.
- Document Review Compliance: We make it a point that all of your documents will pass all legal jurisdictions.
- Multinational Coverage: We provide apostille & legalization services for many other countries, such as the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Canada, the UK, the USA, etc.
Reach out to Helpline Group to receive the best tips and guidance for marriage certificate attestation in Canada.
Recent Comments