Documents leaving Canada
Apostille or legalization? Type the country.
The destination decides the route. The answer comes from the Hague Conference’s own list of parties, with the date each one joined and what Ontario attaches.
One starting point. Two roads.
Every document bound abroad is notarized in person first. After that, the destination picks the road: an apostille where the Convention is in force, consular legalization everywhere else. Canada has been on the apostille road since January 11, 2024.
Apostille
147destinations
This country is a party to the Apostille Convention, so one certificate from Ontario is the whole process. No embassy, no consulate.
- 1.Have the document notarized by an Ontario notary public, in person, in wet ink. Official Documents Services does not authenticate a document signed only by a commissioner for taking affidavits, a photocopy, or an electronic file.
- 2.Send or bring the paper original to Official Documents Services (Toronto by mail, or in person in Toronto, Ottawa, Windsor, Sault Ste. Marie or Thunder Bay). ODS checks the notary’s signature and seal against its records and attaches the apostille.
- 3.Use the document abroad as it is. An apostille issued in Canada does not expire.
Certificate of authentication, then legalization
69destinations
This destination is not in the Apostille Convention. Ontario authenticates the notary’s signature, and the country’s own consulate then legalizes the document.
- 1.Have the document notarized by an Ontario notary public, in person, in wet ink. Official Documents Services does not authenticate a document signed only by a commissioner for taking affidavits, a photocopy, or an electronic file.
- 2.Ask Official Documents Services for a certificate of authentication on the paper original. The fee and the processing time are the same as for an apostille.
- 3.Take or send the authenticated document to that country’s embassy, high commission or consulate in Canada. Each mission sets its own fee, forms and turnaround; many want a translation and a copy of your passport.
Joining soon: Thailand from February 28, 2027. Until then those destinations take the legalization road.
Official Documents Services
Six things ODS checks before it attaches anything.
Ontario’s competent authority under the Convention issues both the apostille and the certificate of authentication. Both are refused for the same reasons, so the checks are worth knowing before the notarization, not after.
Read the Ontario page(opens in a new tab)Where to bring it
- ServiceOntario, Toronto College Park, 777 Bay Street, Lower Level (mail-in requests go here too)
- ServiceOntario, Ottawa Courthouse, 161 Elgin Street, Fourth Floor
- ServiceOntario, Windsor City Hall, 400 City Hall Square East, Suite 205
- ServiceOntario, Sault Ste. Marie, 420 Queen Street East, Suite 101
- ServiceOntario, Thunder Bay, 435 James Street South, Suite 113
What Official Documents Services checks
- 01
A paper original
ODS authenticates hard copies only. An electronic document, a scan or a photocopy is turned away, and so is a laminated or glued one at Global Affairs Canada.
- 02
A notary public, not a commissioner
Documents commissioned by a commissioner for taking affidavits cannot be authenticated. The signature and seal ODS compares with its records are an Ontario notary public’s, and they must be on the same page as the notarial act.
- 03
English or French, or a translation
A document in another language must be issued in Canada, notarized by an Ontario notary, and accompanied by a translation: either certified by a member of a recognized provincial translation association, or attested by an Ontario notary who speaks both languages and says so in the declaration.
- 04
Not on the excluded list
Religious documents, documents issued outside Canada (unless an Ontario notary witnessed the signature on them), documents already legalized by a consulate, and pseudo-legal documents are not authenticated, notarized or not.
- 05
Some Ontario originals skip the notary
Vital statistics certificates, business registry documents issued since 1991, Superior Court and Ontario Court of Justice documents issued since July 10, 2023, and public post-secondary degrees, diplomas and transcripts issued since January 1, 2019 can be authenticated directly.
- 06
A fee per document and a queue
ODS charges $16 for each notarized legal document and $32 for an Ontario government, court or post-secondary document, payable to the Minister of Finance. Mail-in requests to 777 Bay Street in Toronto are processed within 15 business days; in person, with an appointment, the usual wait is about 30 minutes.
The full list
Every destination, with its route.
The Hague Conference’s status table as read on November 5, 2026, with each party’s entry-into-force date. Canada has objected to no accession and no party has objected to Canada’s, so every party in force counts for a Canadian document. The table itself (opens in a new tab).
Convention in force
Apostille128 destinations
Parties for which the Convention is in force. One certificate from Ontario; no consulate.
- Albaniasince January 11, 2024
- Algeriasince July 9, 2026
- Andorrasince January 11, 2024
- Antigua and Barbudasince January 11, 2024
- Argentinasince January 11, 2024
- Armeniasince January 11, 2024
- Australiasince January 11, 2024
- Austriasince January 11, 2024
- Azerbaijansince January 11, 2024
- Bahamassince January 11, 2024
- Bahrainsince January 11, 2024
- Bangladeshsince March 30, 2025
- Barbadossince January 11, 2024
- Belarussince January 11, 2024
- Belgiumsince January 11, 2024
- Belizesince January 11, 2024
- Boliviasince January 11, 2024
- Bosnia and Herzegovinasince January 11, 2024
- Botswanasince January 11, 2024
- Brazilsince January 11, 2024
- Bruneisince January 11, 2024
- Bulgariasince January 11, 2024
- Burundisince January 11, 2024
- Cape Verdesince January 11, 2024
- Chilesince January 11, 2024
- Chinasince January 11, 2024
- Colombiasince January 11, 2024
- Cook Islandssince January 11, 2024
- Costa Ricasince January 11, 2024
- Croatiasince January 11, 2024
- Cyprussince January 11, 2024
- Czechiasince January 11, 2024
- Denmarksince January 11, 2024
- Dominicasince January 11, 2024
- Dominican Republicsince January 11, 2024
- Ecuadorsince January 11, 2024
- El Salvadorsince January 11, 2024
- Estoniasince January 11, 2024
- Eswatinisince January 11, 2024
- Fijisince January 11, 2024
- Finlandsince January 11, 2024
- Francesince January 11, 2024
- Georgiasince January 11, 2024
- Germanysince January 11, 2024
- Greecesince January 11, 2024
- Grenadasince January 11, 2024
- Guatemalasince January 11, 2024
- Guyanasince January 11, 2024
- Hondurassince January 11, 2024
- Hungarysince January 11, 2024
- Icelandsince January 11, 2024
- Indiasince January 11, 2024
- Indonesiasince January 11, 2024
- Irelandsince January 11, 2024
- Israelsince January 11, 2024
- Italysince January 11, 2024
- Jamaicasince January 11, 2024
- Japansince January 11, 2024
- Kazakhstansince January 11, 2024
- Kosovosince January 11, 2024
- Kyrgyzstansince January 11, 2024
- Latviasince January 11, 2024
- Lesothosince January 11, 2024
- Liberiasince January 11, 2024
- Liechtensteinsince January 11, 2024
- Lithuaniasince January 11, 2024
- Luxembourgsince January 11, 2024
- Malawisince January 11, 2024
- Maltasince January 11, 2024
- Marshall Islandssince January 11, 2024
- Mauritiussince January 11, 2024
- Mexicosince January 11, 2024
- Moldovasince January 11, 2024
- Monacosince January 11, 2024
- Mongoliasince January 11, 2024
- Montenegrosince January 11, 2024
- Moroccosince January 11, 2024
- Namibiasince January 11, 2024
- Netherlandssince January 11, 2024
- New Zealandsince January 11, 2024
- Nicaraguasince January 11, 2024
- Niuesince January 11, 2024
- North Macedoniasince January 11, 2024
- Norwaysince January 11, 2024
- Omansince January 11, 2024
- Pakistansince January 11, 2024
- Palausince January 11, 2024
- Panamasince January 11, 2024
- Paraguaysince January 11, 2024
- Perusince January 11, 2024
- Philippinessince January 11, 2024
- Polandsince January 11, 2024
- Portugalsince January 11, 2024
- Romaniasince January 11, 2024
- Russiasince January 11, 2024
- Rwandasince June 5, 2024
- Saint Kitts and Nevissince January 11, 2024
- Saint Luciasince January 11, 2024
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadinessince January 11, 2024
- Samoasince January 11, 2024
- San Marinosince January 11, 2024
- São Tomé and Príncipesince January 11, 2024
- Saudi Arabiasince January 11, 2024
- Senegalsince January 11, 2024
- Serbiasince January 11, 2024
- Seychellessince January 11, 2024
- Singaporesince January 11, 2024
- Slovakiasince January 11, 2024
- Sloveniasince January 11, 2024
- South Africasince January 11, 2024
- South Koreasince January 11, 2024
- Spainsince January 11, 2024
- Surinamesince January 11, 2024
- Swedensince January 11, 2024
- Switzerlandsince January 11, 2024
- Tajikistansince January 11, 2024
- Tongasince January 11, 2024
- Trinidad and Tobagosince January 11, 2024
- Tunisiasince January 11, 2024
- Türkiyesince January 11, 2024
- Ukrainesince January 11, 2024
- United Kingdomsince January 11, 2024
- United Statessince January 11, 2024
- Uruguaysince January 11, 2024
- Uzbekistansince January 11, 2024
- Vanuatusince January 11, 2024
- Venezuelasince January 11, 2024
- Vietnamsince September 11, 2026
Convention joining
Joining1 destination
Parties whose entry-into-force date is still ahead. Legalization until that day.
- Thailandfrom February 28, 2027
Territories covered through another state
Apostille19 destinations
Reached by an extension or a declaration of the state responsible for them. An apostille, with the parent named.
- Anguillathrough United Kingdom
- Arubathrough Netherlands
- Bermudathrough United Kingdom
- British Virgin Islandsthrough United Kingdom
- Caribbean Netherlands (Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba)through Netherlands
- Cayman Islandsthrough United Kingdom
- Curaçaothrough Netherlands
- Falkland Islandsthrough United Kingdom
- Faroe Islandsthrough Denmark
- Gibraltarthrough United Kingdom
- Guernseythrough United Kingdom
- Hong Kong SARthrough China
- Isle of Manthrough United Kingdom
- Jerseythrough United Kingdom
- Macao SARthrough China
- Montserratthrough United Kingdom
- Saint Helenathrough United Kingdom
- Sint Maartenthrough Netherlands
- Turks and Caicos Islandsthrough United Kingdom
Outside the Convention
Legalization69 destinations
Not a party and not covered by one. Ontario authenticates the notary; the destination’s consulate legalizes.
- Afghanistan
- Angola
- Benin
- Bhutan
- Burkina Faso
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Comoros
- Congo - Brazzaville
- Congo - Kinshasa
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Cuba
- Djibouti
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Haiti
- Iran
- Iraq
- Jordan
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- Kuwait
- Laos
- Lebanon
- Libya
- Madagascar
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Micronesia
- Mozambique
- Myanmar (Burma)
- Nauru
- Nepal
- Niger
- Nigeria
- North Korea
- Palestinian territories
- Papua New Guinea
- Qatar
- Sierra Leone
- Solomon Islands
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Syria
- Taiwan
- Tanzania
- Timor-Leste
- Togo
- Turkmenistan
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- United Arab Emirates
- Vatican City
- Yemen
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Not an Ontario document?
Federal papers and most other provinces go to Ottawa.
Official Documents Services authenticates what an Ontario notary signed and what Ontario issued. Everything else has another door.
- Federal documents go to Ottawa
- Documents issued by the Government of Canada, and documents issued or notarized in Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut or Yukon, are authenticated by Global Affairs Canada, not by a province.
- Five provinces issue their own
- Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan each have a competent authority. A document notarized in Alberta, Ontario or Saskatchewan goes to that province wherever it was issued; British Columbia and Quebec authenticate a notarized document only if the original was issued there.
- Free, by mail, no counter
- Global Affairs Canada charges nothing. Requests start on its online portal and the paper documents follow by mail, courier or drop-off at 2421 Lancaster Road in Ottawa, where there is no in-person service. Include a prepaid return envelope or label.
- Plan for weeks, not days
- GAC processes requests in the order received and offers no rush service; its site posts the current processing time, counted from the day the documents arrive, plus mailing time each way.
Questions people ask before booking
- Does Canada issue apostilles?
- Yes. The Apostille Convention entered into force for Canada on January 11, 2024. For a document notarized in Ontario the apostille comes from Official Documents Services in Toronto; for a federal document, or one from a province without its own competent authority, it comes from Global Affairs Canada in Ottawa.
- Can an online notarization be apostilled?
- No. Official Documents Services authenticates paper originals only and does not authenticate a document signed by a commissioner for taking affidavits. A document headed abroad is notarized in person, in wet ink, by a notary public, which is why every in-person row in our list says so.
- How do I know whether a country takes an apostille or needs legalization?
- Type the country above. The list is the Hague Conference’s own status table, read on November 5, 2026: a party for which the Convention is in force takes an apostille; anywhere else takes a certificate of authentication followed by legalization at that country’s consulate. Canada has not objected to any accession, so every party in force counts for a Canadian document.
- What does a certificate of authentication cost in Ontario, and how long does it take?
- The same as an apostille: $16 per notarized document and $32 per Ontario government, court or post-secondary document, with mail-in requests processed within 15 business days and in-person requests usually handled in about half an hour with an appointment. The consulate’s legalization fee and time come on top.
- Can you handle the Official Documents Services filing for me?
- Yes. Our apostille and authentication service picks up the notarized paper original, files it with Official Documents Services and returns it to you; the ODS fee and any consulate fee are charged at cost. The notarization itself is a separate per-seal fee.
The step-by-step Ontario process, with the forms and the mail-in cover sheet, is in How to apostille a document in Ontario; the difference between the two certificates is in Apostille vs notarization. The filing service itself is apostille and authentication.
Know the route?
Notarized in person, filed with Official Documents Services, back in your hands.
From $24.95 per seal on a mobile visit anywhere in Ontario. The ODS fee and any consulate fee are passed on at cost, and the paper original comes back to you.