Authentication at Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada in Ottawa

Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD) Canada recommends our service to Canadians in order to authenticate and legalize their document(s) easily, quickly and effectively.

• If you do not live in the Ottawa-Gatineau area, you can hire an authentication and legalization service. Visaenterprise is one such company. It’s an Ottawa-based professional legalization and authentication company within close proximity to the DFATD.

Department of Foreign Affairs, authentication section

For information on how to have Canadian documents authenticated so that they will be accepted for use abroad, please contact the Visaenterprise Authentication Department. Our main business is serving you and making your documents internationally recognized and legitimate.

The authentication of documents at Foreign Affairs can be completed by applying:

1. Through Visaenterprise with same day or up to 3 business days processing time. The service fees charged by our office is meant to compensate for the effort and time spent to

a) ensure documentation authentication comply with the DFATD procedures.
b) submit the document(s) in person to the authentication office at the DFATD.
c) collect the document(s) in person from the authentication at the DFATD.

Authentication of Documents by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada in Ottawa (DFATD / JLAC):

Foreign Governments and organizations sometimes require documents to be authenticated before they will accept them. To have Canadian documents authenticated for use abroad, AA1 MSQ Visaenterprise Ltd. Legal department can assist you fully in the legalization and authentication procedure in Ottawa, Canada for business, legal and personal purposes for all types of documents. Our professional experts will simplify and expedite the authentication process by the Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (DFATD) and the legalization process by the embassies, consulates and any other legal institution. Please carefully review the information below before you send your document to us.

What is Authentication?

Authentication is a certification of the genuineness of the signature and seal or the position of an official who has the authority to execute, issue, or certify a document so that a document executed, issued or certified in one jurisdiction may be recognized in another jurisdiction. Authentications do not certify the genuineness, legality or credibility of the documents or their contents.
(DFATD) / (JLAC) authenticates documents for the public for a wide range of documents. You may request that a Canadian public document be authenticated by asking (DFATD) / (JLAC) to confirm that a Canadian public official’s signature, seal or stamp on the document is genuine.

Does your document need to be authenticated?

Authentication requirements vary from country to country. Before sending your documents to Visaenterprise’s legalization section for (DFATD) / (JLAC) to be authenticated, please contact consult Visaenterprise’s website and you may call us for obtaining an accurate information about your authentication procedures at various embassy, high commission or consulate of the country where these documents will be used to determine whether the documents need to be authenticated and how?

If you require your documents to be authenticated by (DFATD) / (JLAC), you should ensure to have the documents authenticated prior to arranging for travel outside of Canada. Please note that Canadian missions or embassies abroad are often not able to authenticate Canadian documents.

Short Cut or Urgent Request

• If you are outside Ottawa.
• If you are outside of Canada or your request is urgent, we strongly recommend that you contact and send your documents to Visaenterprise - an authentication, attestation and legalization service specialist - in Ottawa to have them processed on your behalf in person.at DFATD/ JLAC in person, through Visaenterprise the processing time for document legalization, attestation and authentication can be just few minutes and your document will be obtains the stamps that make them internationally and legally recognized.

What documents can be authenticated

• While authentication does not relate to a document’s content, DFATD reserve the right to refuse to authenticate a document if a document’s content is misleading or we believe that a document is to be used for a fraudulent purpose. You will be informed if the document cannot be authenticated. DFATD only authenticate those documents that you specifically request to be authenticated.
• DFATD only authenticate Canadian public officials’ signatures on documents issued in Canada. Exception: DFATD can authenticate the signature and seal of an official of a country’s embassy, high commission or consulate accredited to Canada. Please ensure that the signatory’s name is printed in the Latin (western) alphabet.
• Canadian religious documents will not be authenticated, even if they are certified by a Canadian notary public or Commissioner of Oaths.
• Photocopies must be certified appropriately as true copies by a Canadian notary public or a Commissioner of Oaths. If this procedure is not followed, they will be returned to you without having been authenticated.
• Please refer to the rules of the province or territory where the document is to be certified with respect to who may be able to certify documents appropriately.

What documents cannot be authenticated

• Simple Photocopies; In order to make them go through the legalization process, they must be certified appropriately as true copies by a Canadian notary public or a commissioner of oaths (showing the stamp of the notary public or commissioner of oath plus full printed name and contact information of signatory).
• Canadian religious documents will not be authenticated by DFATD, even if they are certified by a Canadian notary public or Commissioner of Oaths.
• Religious documents will not be authenticated even if they are certified appropriately by a Canadian notary public or Commissioner of Oaths. Examples include:
 baptismal certificates;
 religious marriage certificates; or
 documents issued by a religious institution.
• DFATD do not authenticate funeral homes death certificates.

If the requirements for authentication described below are not followed, your documents will be returned to you without having been authenticated.

• Birth, marriage, divorce or death documents
• Education documents
• Criminal record checks (police clearance) or fingerprint certificates
• Documents originating in a foreign country
• Documents originating in Canada in a foreign language
• Statements In Lieu of Certificate of Non-Impediment to Marriage Abroad

Birth, marriage, divorce or death documents

• DFATD only authenticate original long-form birth, marriage or death certificates issued by the office of vital statistics (mainly signed by the Deputy Registrar or Registrar General) of the relevant province or territory. Note: DFATD do not authenticate plastic, wallet-sized versions of these certificates.
• Marriage search documents issued by the Province of Ontario must be notarized before they will be authenticated.
• Photocopies of birth, marriage or death certificates can be authenticated. However, they must be certified appropriately as true copies by a Canadian notary public or a Commissioner of Oaths.
• Divorce certificates and similar divorce related documents (divorce orders, divorce judgments etc.) must be issued by a Canadian court. They must bear the original signature of the relevant court clerk or registrar as well as the court seal or stamp. If the signature is not legible you must have the clerk print their name or apply a stamp bearing their printed name.

Education documents

• DFATD only authenticate degrees or student transcripts issued by Canadian educational institutions recognized by the provincial/territorial ministries of education.
o Original Canadian university or college degrees, transcripts or letters must be signed and sealed by the relevant office of the registrar, and a full signature, name and title must appear on the document.
o Original Canadian high school or elementary school diplomas and transcripts must be signed by the principal or vice-principal of the school that issued the documents, and a full signature, name and title must appear on the document. School documents other than diplomas and transcripts must be notarized before they will be authenticated.
o If you request your document to be sent directly to Visaenterprise from an educational institution, Please request your transcripts to be accompanied by the "your Full name outside the envelop” so we can related to your file without open it.
• DFATD cannot authenticate the following unless they are notarized:
o course certificates;
o Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) certificates;
o award certificates; or
o other documents issued by educational institutions that are not degrees or transcripts.
• Photocopies of degrees and transcripts can be authenticated. However, these must be certified appropriately as true copies by either the relevant office of the registrar, principal or vice-principal, a Canadian notary public or Commissioner of Oaths.

Criminal record checks (police clearance) or fingerprint certificates

• Criminal record checks, fingerprint certificates and documents originating from any local or provincial police station in Canada must first be certified appropriately as a true copy by a Canadian notary public or a Commissioner of Oaths. Exception: Documents issued directly by RCMP headquarters (black and white version with RCMP seal) in Ottawa do not need to be notarized.
• Contact the embassy, high commission or consulate of the country concerned to verify if a notarized photocopy of the police clearance will be accepted or if you need to have the original document notarized. If you need an original document, you must request the police clearance from RCMP headquarters in Ottawa.

Documents originating in a foreign country

• Documents that originate in a foreign country must be signed and sealed by an official of that country’s embassy, high commission or consulate accredited to Canada. Please ensure that the signatory’s name is printed in the Latin (western) alphabet.
• However, if a translation is required of these documents by the recipient institution, it must be certified appropriately by both a certified Canadian translator and Canadian public notary or Commissioner of Oaths.

Documents originating in Canada in a foreign language

• Documents originating in Canada in a non- Canadian official language must be translated into English or French and certified by a Canadian certified translator, and by a Canadian notary public or Commissioner of Oaths.

Statements In Lieu of Certificate of Non-Impediment to Marriage Abroad

• Some countries require a "Certificate of non-impediment to marriage” before a foreign national can marry within their jurisdiction. In Canada, it is not possible to issue such certificates. However, JLAC can prepare a Statement in Lieu of Certificate of Non-Impediment to Marriage Abroad.
• If you need JLAC to issue a Statement in Lieu of Certificate of Non-Impediment to Marriage Abroad, you must specifically request this on the "request form for Statements In Lieu of Certificate of Non-Impediment to Marriage Abroad” see Forms section below. You must also specify on the form whether you are requesting the authentication of any accompanying documents.
• In order to determine whether you will require such a Statement, or any other documents, you must contact the relevant country’s embassy, high commission or consulate in Canada.
• Please note: Some countries require the Statement In Lieu of Certificate of Non-impediment to Marriage Abroad to be issued in Canada, before you travel, and will not accept a document issued by a Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate abroad.
• You can submit your request for a Statement In Lieu of Certificate of Non-Impediment to Marriage Abroad through Visaenterprise. It will take up to 25 business days to process it, regardless of how the document was delivered to us. The document cannot be provided to you in person.
• You must provide a statutory declaration stating your full name, present marital status and your permanent address in Canada. DFATD do not accept P.O Boxes as a permanent address. Statutory declarations can be done before a Canadian notary public or Commissioner of Oaths.
• If you have been married before, you must submit your original or appropriately certified true copy of a divorce certificate or divorce judgment.
• If you are a widow or widower, you must submit the original or appropriately certified copy of the death certificate of your deceased spouse.
• If you were born in Canada, you must submit your original or appropriately certified true copy of a birth certificate. If you were not born in Canada, you must submit appropriately certified true copies of your Canadian citizenship card, Record of Landing form or Permanent Residency Card. If you have lost your Record of Landing Form, this must be mentioned in the statutory declaration of marital status.

Other documents

The following requirements apply to all documents which have not been listed above:
• Please have your documents appropriately certified by a Canadian notary public or Commissioner of Oaths before sending them to JLAC for authentication.
• A few examples of documents that must first be notarized are:
o Powers of attorney
o Canada Revenue Agency documents
o Citizenship and Immigration documents
o Industry Canada documents
o Documents issued by Service Canada
o Documents issued by professional associations such as accountants’, engineers’ and dentists’ associations
o Apprenticeship certificates


Vital Statistics Offices in Canada: Links and Information

Please take note that the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (DFATD) ONLY authenticates original or a notarized copy of the long form birth, marriage or death certificates issued by the office of vital statistics of the relevant province.
The Registrars of Vital Statistics in each of the provinces and territories in Canada handle the registration of births, marriages, deaths and name changes, as well as issue copies of certificates. Most also provide genealogy searches and certificates. Use these link to find the main Vital Statistics Offices in each province and territory and the services they provide. Listed below the contact information of the Vital Statistics Offices in Canada and for more information you may visit Passport Canada website. http://www.ppt.gc.ca/cdn/cert.aspx

Alberta

Government Services
Alberta Registries
PO Box 2023
Edmonton AB T5J 4W7

Phone: (780) 427-7013
Fax: (780) 422-9117

Non-Alberta Residents:
Registry Connect
PO Box 386
Edmonton AB T5J 2J6

British Columbia

BC Vital Statistics Agency
PO Box 9657 STN PROV GOVT
Victoria BC V8W 9P3

Phone: (250) 952-2681 (Victoria) or
(604) 660-2937 (Vancouver)
Toll free: 1 800 663-8328
Fax: (250) 952-2527


Manitoba

Vital Statistics Agency
254 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg MB R3C 0B6

Phone: (204) 945-3701
Toll free within Manitoba: 1 800 282-8069 ext. 3701
Electronic Information to obtain a birth certificate: (204) 945-7762
Fax: (204) 948-3128


New Brunswick

Vital Statistics Office
Service New Brunswick
PO Box 1998
Fredericton NB E3B 5G4

Phone: (506) 453-2385
Fax: (506) 444-4139

Newfoundland and Labrador

Vital Statistics
Government Service Centre
Department of Government Services
PO Box 8700
St. John's NL A1B 4J6

Phone: (709) 729-3699
Fax: (709) 729-2071

Nova Scotia

Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations
Vital Statistics
PO Box 157
Halifax NS B3J 2M9

Phone: (902) 424-4381
Toll free within Nova Scotia only: 1 877 848-2578
Fax: (902) 424-0678

Northwest Territories

Registrar-General of Vital Statistics
Department of Health and Social Services
Government of Northwest Territories
Bag 9
Inuvik NT X0E 0T0

Phone: (867) 777-7420
Toll free: 1 800 661-0830
Fax: (867) 777-3197

Nunavut

Registrar-General of Vital Statistics
Nunavut Health and Social Services
Government of Nunavut
Bag 3
Rankin Inlet NU X0C 0G0

Phone: (867) 645-8002
Toll free within Canada: 1 800 661-0833
Fax: (867) 645-8092

Ontario

Office of the Registrar General
PO Box 4600, 3rd Floor
189 Red River Road
Thunder Bay ON P7B 6L8

Toronto: (416) 325-8305
Toll free: 1 800 461-2156
Fax: (807) 343-7459

Prince Edward Island

P.E.I. Vital Statistics
Department of Health and Social Services
PO Box 3000
Montague PE C0A 1R0

Phone: (902) 838-0880
Toll free: 1 877 320-1253
Fax: (902) 838-0883

Quebec

In Quebec City:
Le Directeur de l'état civil
2535 boul. Laurier
Quebec QC G1V 5C5

Phone: (418) 643-3900
Fax: (418) 646-3255

In Montréal (by mail or in person):
Le Directeur de l'état civil
Lobby, 2050 rue De Bleury
Montréal QC H3A 2J5

Phone: (514) 864-3900

Elsewhere in Quebec:
Toll free: 1 800 567-3900
Fax: (418) 646-3255

Saskatchewan

Vital Statistics
Information Services Corporation
1301 First Avenue
Regina SK S4R 8H2

Phone: (306) 798-0641
Toll free within Saskatchewan: 1 866 275-4721
Fax: (306) 787-2288

Yukon

Vital Statistics
Health and Social Services
Government of the Yukon
PO Box 2703
Whitehorse YK Y1A 2C6

Phone: (867) 667-5207
Toll free within the Yukon: 1 800 661-0408 ext 5207
Fax: (867) 393-6486

The first step in making a document legally valid is to have it attested by a Notary Public or a Commissioner of Oaths. AA1 MSQ Visaenterprise can assist you with a Notary Public in Ottawa, Canada. In order to validate your document, please send us the original document so it can be validated by our legal department.

*A Notary Public is someone who is legally authorized (licensed) to witness signatures, certify a document's validity, administer oaths, take affidavits and witnesses the execution of certain documents.Commissioners of Oaths
*An oath is a solemn declaration that a statement is true. An oath must be taken before a Commissioner of Oaths or a Notary Public for it to be valid. Oaths are often used to confirm a written statement, known as an affidavit, for use in court, estate or land title transactions.

Our service fees are:
A. Rush service - $98 per document ( same day submission by our office)
B. Regular service - $75 per document (3 day service)
C. Charges ( Our Service fee ) are on the first 7 documents only (non-commercial). Submit more than 7 documents and get free service on the remaining documents.
*taxes are not included.

Embassy fees:
Authentication and legalization services in Ottawa, Canada. If your embassy fee is not listed below, please contact us.

After you find the embassy fee, please fill out form "A" in the form section at the bottom of this page.

A

Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
$125.00 per doc. The Processing time is 2-4 business days.
American Samoa
Andorra
Angola
Anguilla
Antigua Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
$50.00 US per doc. The Processing time is 2-5 business days.

B

Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
$70.00 per doc. The Processing time is 2-4 business days.
Belgium
Belize
Benin
Bermuda
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia Herzegovina
Botswana
Bouvet Island
Brazil
$24.00 Per/doc. The Processing time is 2-5 business days.
British Virgin Islands
Brunei Darussalam
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi

C

Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Canary Islands
Cape Verde
Cayman Islands
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
China
The Processing time is 2-5 business days.
$30.00 Note: for private persons, translation into Chinese is required.
$60.00 Note: for legal entities translation into Chinese is required.
Christmas Island
Cocos Islands
Colombia
Comoros
Congo Democratic Republic
Congo Republic
Cook Islands
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czech Republic

D

Denmark
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic

E

Ecuador
Egypt
The Processing time is 2-5 business days.
DOCUMENT CERTIFICATION FEES for 2-3 business days
1 Power of Attorney or Personal Documents $36.00
2 Commercial Document Certification $82.00
3 Non Commercial Document Certification $30.00
4 Translation of Documents $41.00
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Ethiopia
The Processing time is 2-5 business days.
$138.00 for property, business or court related documents
$131.00 Note: for all other documents like birth certificate, marriage certificate, driver's license

F

Falkland Islands
Faroe Islands
Fiji
Finland
France
French Guyana
French Polynesia

G

Gabon
Galapagos Islands
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Gibraltar
Greece
Greenland
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Guam
Guatemala
Guinea
Guinea Bissau
Guyana

H

Haiti
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary

I

Iceland
India
$16.00 Per doc. The Processing time is 2-5 business days.
Indonesia
$30.00 per/doc. The Processing time is 2-5 business days.
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Ivory Coast

J

Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
The Processing time is 2-5 business days.
$105.00 - Commercial power of attorney - certification by DFAIT. Commercial Invoices, Certificate of origin - must be certified by Board of Trade
$25.00 - Civil status and statistics documents
$155.00 - Other commercial docs

K

Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati
Kuwait
The Processing time is 2-5 business days.
$30.00 - Legal Documents Types of Commercial Documents
- Commercial Invoice
- Certificate of Origin
- Packing list
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE PRICES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE.

The Embassy will legalize documents related to trade or business that are certified by either of the following:
1. Local Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
2. Local Canadian Board of Trade.

Commercial Invoice - $60.00 per document
Certificate of Origin - $90.00 per document
Packing List - $90.00 per document
Other certificates - $30.00 per document

1. All documents must be stamped by Canadian local chamber of commerce or Canadian board of trade
2. Original copies will be stamped and returned. Photocopies required for our files.

$60.00 - Commercial Invoice must be certified by local Chamber
$90.00 - Certificate of Origin, Packing List - must be certified by local Chamber
Kyrgyzstan

L

Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg

M

Macau
Macedonia
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Marshall Islands
Martinique
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mayotte
Mexico
The Processing time is 2-5 business days.
$39.95 - The fee is for August '09 (changes at the begining of each month)
Micronesia
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montserrat
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar

N

Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
Netherlands
Netherlands Antilles
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
The Processing time is 4-7 business days.
$10.00 - 2 copies of the documents, the applicant's ID copy, 1 passport size photo of the applicant
Niue
Norfolk Island
North Korea
Norway

O

Oman

P

Pakistan
The Processing time is 2-5 business days.
$20.00 - for first 3 continuous pages of a single document, additional pages are charged at 20.00/page; copies of documents required along with the originals.
Palau
Palestine
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
The Processing time is 3-7 business days.
$38.00 per/doc.
Pitcairn Island
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico

Q

Qatar

R

Reunion
Romania

Russia

Processing Time 5 business days
LEGALIZATION OF DOCUMENTS FOR NON-RUSSIAN CITIZENS

It's necessary to:
1. verify it (them) at a Canadian Notary Public
2. legalize the document(s) at the Department of Foreign Affairs & International Trade Canada (DFAIT). Please, enclose with it (them): a short letter addressed to DFAIT with a request to legalize it
3. Besides the document(s) mentioned above you should submit to the Consulate General of the Russian Federation a copy of the valid passport and your contact telephone numbers.

The fee for the legalization is per/doc. at Embassy of Russia as follows:
- 39 Canadian dollars per document (for citizens of the Russian Federation)
- 104 Canadian dollars per document (for foreign nationals).

LEGALIZATION OF DOCUMENTS (FOR JURIDICAL PERSONS/CORPORATIONS)
It's necessary to
1. verify it (them) at a Canadian Notary Public
2. legalize the document(s) at the Department of Foreign Affairs & International Trade Canada (DFAIT). Please, enclose with it (them): a short letter addressed to DFAIT with a request to legalize it
3. Besides the document(s) mentioned above you should submit to the Consulate General of the Russian Federation a copy of the valid passport and your contact telephone numbers.
The consul shall also verify the powers of the representative of the juridical person on the basis of:
Availability of his office certificate with a photograph indicating the fact that the person is the CEO
Certified extracts of the minutes about the appointment of the officials empowered to sign documents on behalf of the said legal person
Power of attorney for carrying out a specific action.
Legal competence of a juridical person (office, enterprise, organization) shall be established on the basis of the charter documents (Charter, Foundation Agreement. For not-for-profit organizations - on the basis of General Provisions and registration documents).
The fee for the legalization (i.e. an English version of each Certificate, each Letter from various organizations, each Power of Attorney, a By-Law, each Statement, etc. together with their Russian translations if needed, BUT NOT A SET OF THESE DOCUMENTS) is $60.00 for 4 days and $120.00 for 2 days.
Rwanda

S

Saint Helena
Saint Kitts Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Martin
Saint Pierre Miquelon
Saint Thomas
Saint Vincent Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
Sao Tome Principe
Saudi Arabia
Please see the Saudi Arabian authentication and legalization services in Ottawa, Canada
please contact us at (613)232-6565 for the embassy fee section
The Processing time is 7- 10 business days.
$13.50 per document
See our legalization procedures for KSA
Scotland
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sudan
The Processing time is 2 - 3 business days.
$25.00 per document
Suriname
Swaziland
Sweden
Switzerland
Syria
The Processing time is 2 - 5 business days.
$9.00 per/doc.

T

Tahiti
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania
The Processing time is 2 - 5 business days.
$25.00 per doc.
Thailand
The Processing time is 2 - 4 business days.
$15.00 per doc.
Timor Leste
Togo
Tokelau
Tonga
Trinidad Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
The Processing time is 2 - 3 business days.
$22.00 per doc.
Turkmenistan
Tuvalu

U

Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
The Processing time is 2 - 4 business days.
$50.00 - personal documents, certificate of origin. For legalization of diplomas, educational documents the transcript must be sent DIRECTLY to the UAE Embassy by educational institution. We may request transcript to be sent to the Embassy for additional 65.00

ATTESTATION OF A UNIVERSITY DEGREE in U.A.E. Embassy
1. The degree must be legalized by Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in Ottawa, Canada please contact us @ (613)232-6565 for the embassy fee.
2. Order an official transcript (SEALED and STAMPED by the registrar office) and have it mailed directly from the university to our consular department.
3. If requirements are completed, it will take 3-5 working days to process your document. This processing time does not include shipping/postage times.

See HERE for fees.
United Kingdom
United States
Uruguay
US Virgin Islands
Uzbekistan

V

Vanuatu
Vatican
Venezuela
Vietnam

W

Wallis Futuna Islands

Y

Yemen

Z

Zambia
Zimbabwe

In harmony with international practice and consular practice in China, the purpose of consular authentication is to ensure that notarial deeds issued in one country can be acknowledged by relevant authorities in another country, and the deeds can have its due legal effect, which shall not be affected by doubts on the authenticity of the seal or signature on the deeds.

The Chinese Embassy and Consulates General in Canada can authenticate notarial deeds and other documents issued by relevant authorities of Canada for use in China. The deeds or documents should be authenticated by the authentication office of the Canadian Foreign Affairs Department or the relevant province (territory) before submitting to the Chinese Embassy or Consulate General.

Consular authentication by the Chinese Embassy or Consulate General in Canada is not required for relevant documents to be used in Hong Kong SAR or Macao SAR of China. As long as these documents are notarized by a local notary public, lawyer or Commissioner of Oaths of Canada and authenticated by the authentication office of the Canadian Foreign Affairs Department or the relevant province (territory), they can be used in Hong Kong or Macao.

Requirements and guidelines for Authentication at the Chinese embassy and its Consulates in Canada:

I. A document to be authenticated should meet the following requirements:

1. The document should have been firstly notarized by a local notary public, lawyer or Commissioner of Oaths of Canada, and then authenticated by the authentication office of the Canadian Foreign Affairs Department or the relevant province (territory).

2. The document is truthful, legal and without contents violating Chinese law or threatening to China's national or public interests.

3. A document with more than one page must be properly bound as a volume to avoid any substitution. Sealing wax, eyelet, paging seal or steel seal should be applied to ensure the integrity of the documents.

II. Documents Required for Application

1. One fully completed Application Form for Notarization and Authentication ( from Below)

2. The original and a photocopy of the document to be authenticated.

3. The original of the applicant's passport and a photocopy of the photo/information page of the passport.

4. If the applicant is not a Canadian citizen, the original and a photocopy of the permanent resident card, study permit or work permit, will be required.

5. If the document is a business license, a photocopy of the passport (and a permanent resident card or study/work permit, if you have) of the company's legal representative and the original company document that can prove the person's legal representative status should be submitted.

6. In some cases if necessary, applicant should come in person for an interview as required by the Chinese Embassy or the Consulate General.

III. Other Important Information

1. According to regulations of China, a single status affidavit used for marriage registration in China is valid for only 6 months from the date of issuance. If an applicant needs to use it after it has been issued for 6 months, he or she needs to obtain a new single status affidavit.

2. Documents for use in China for adoption affairs, such as statement of marriage, health status, proof of finance, income or no criminal record, can only be authenticated if the period between the notarized date and the adoption registration date (excluding the processing time taken by China Center for Adoption Affairs) does not exceed 6 months.

3. Consular officials of the Chinese Embassy or the Consulate General will review the documents to be authenticated. If there is any problem, such as uncompleted process, wrong document format, illegal contents, or alteration or substitution of the document, the application will be rejected.

4. Consular officials reserve the right to request additional documents from the applicant.

5. A document that has been authenticated by the Chinese Embassy or the Consulate General shall not be wilfully bound, unbound or altered. An applicant is solely responsible for all consequences and legal responsibilities arising from his or her unauthorized binding, unbinding or altering of the document.

6. The above information is subject to change and explain by the consular officials of the Chinese Embassy or the Consulate General.

Authentication of medical report

- The purpose of the attestation of the College of Physicians and Surgeons is to confirm that the physician is licensed in that province or in that territory. The College of physicians and Surgeons does not attest the test results.
- Ensure that your Medical report you require to be authenticated by the College of Physicians and Surgeons is signed by the physician and that his/her registration number appears on the report. The name of the physician must be printed and clearly legible.
- Ensure that all of the required tests, test results and medical report are fully completed when you are applying for a Saudi Arabian Employment or Residency visa.

Provincial and territorial Canadians College of Physicians and Surgeons

Please find below the list of Provincial and territorial Canadians College of Physicians and Surgeons contact information, for more details you may visit their website at health Canada

Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario
80 College Street
Toronto, Ontario M5G 2E2
Telephone 416-967-2600 or 1-800-268-7096, fax 416-961-3330

Alberta College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta
2700 - 10020 100 Street NW
Edmonton, AB T5J 0N3 Canada
Phone: 780-423-4764 | Fax: 780-420-0651 Public Inquiries: 1-800-561-3899

British Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia
1807 West 10th Avenue
Vancouver, British Columbia V6J 2A9
Telephone 604-733-7758, fax 604-733-3503

Saskatchewan College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan
211 Fourth Avenue South
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7K 1N1
Telephone 306-244-7355, fax 306-244-0090

Manitoba College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba
494 St James Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3G 3J4
Telephone 204-774-4344, fax 204-774-0750

Quebec Collège des médecins du Québec
2170 boul René-Levesque Ouest
Montréal, Québec H3H 2T8
Telephone 514-933-4441, fax 514-933-3112

Nova Scotia College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia
5248 Morris Street
Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 1B4
Telephone 902-422-5823, fax 902-422-5035

New Brunswick College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick
One Hampton Road, Suite 300
Rothsay, New Brunswick E2E 5K8
Telephone 506-849-5050 or 1-800-667-4641, fax 506-849-5069

Prince Edward Island College of Physicians and Surgeons of Prince Edward Island
199 Grafton Street
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island C1A 1L2
Telephone/fax 902-566-3861

Newfoundland Newfoundland Medical Board
139 Water Street
St John’s, Newfoundland A1C 1B2
Telephone 709-726-8546, fax 709-726-4725

Yukon Yukon Medical Board
PO Box 2703
Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C6
Telephone 867-667-5111, fax 867-667-3609

Nunavut and Northwest Territories:

Government of the Northwest Territories
PO Box 1320
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories X1A 2L9
Telephone 867-920-8058, fax 867-873-0281