Last updated: June 23, 2026

How to Notarize an Affidavit Online in Canada — From Any City, By Video

Quick answer: You can notarize an affidavit online in Canada by joining a secure video appointment with an Ontario notary public. You show valid government photo ID on camera, swear or affirm that the statement is true, and sign the affidavit while the notary watches — then the notary completes the jurat and applies their commission. It is done under Ontario's O. Reg. 431/20, costs a flat $19.90 per stamp plus HST, and works for clients from Toronto to Vancouver to Halifax. The one thing to confirm first is that the court or body receiving your affidavit accepts a remotely commissioned document.

An affidavit is one of the most common documents people need sworn quickly, and one of the most stressful to handle when there is a deadline — a court filing date, an IRCC submission, an insurance claim. The good news is that for most affidavits, you no longer have to find a notary's office and take time off work. You can notarize an affidavit online over video, from wherever you are in Canada.

This guide explains how the online affidavit process works, who can use it, what to have ready, where a remotely sworn affidavit is accepted, and where the line sits between what a notary can do and what needs a lawyer. If you already know what your affidavit says and just need it sworn, you can book online or call (613) 434-5555. For the bigger picture of what an online notary can and cannot do across Canada, see our guide to online and virtual notary services.

Caption: An affidavit becomes valid when it is sworn or affirmed before an authorized official and signed in their presence — online, that presence is a live video call.

Key Takeaways

What a Notary Can and Cannot Do With an Affidavit

What a notary can and cannot do: A notary public in Ontario can administer the oath or affirmation, witness your signature, and commission your affidavit — confirming you swore it. A notary does not draft the affidavit, decide what facts to include, or advise whether it helps your case. Writing the affidavit and deciding strategy is a lawyer or paralegal's role.

This distinction matters most with affidavits, because affidavits are evidence. The notary makes the swearing valid; the content is your responsibility. If you need help deciding what the affidavit should say — especially in a contested family-law or civil matter — speak to a lawyer or paralegal first, then bring the finished affidavit to be commissioned. See notary vs lawyer in Ontario for where each one fits.

Minute Notary commissions affidavits as an Ontario notary public, including over video under O. Reg. 431/20, made under the Commissioners for Taking Affidavits Act. That regulation is what allows the oath to be administered remotely.

How to Notarize an Affidavit Online — Step by Step

The online appointment mirrors an in-person one, with a video link in place of the desk. It usually takes ten to twenty minutes.

1. Have the affidavit ready and unsigned. The text is yours (or your lawyer's). Keep it unsigned — you sign in front of the notary.
2. Gather your exhibits. Any document the affidavit refers to ("Exhibit A") should be ready to show; each exhibit is marked at signing.
3. Book the service and a time. Choose affidavits when you book online. Slots run on Ottawa time (America/Toronto).
4. Join the video call. Use a laptop, tablet, or phone with a working camera and microphone in a quiet, well-lit room.
5. Verify your identity. Hold up valid government photo ID so the notary can confirm it matches you and the affidavit.
6. Swear or affirm, then sign. You swear (on a holy book or by raising your hand) or affirm (a non-religious promise) that the contents are true, then sign while the notary watches.
7. The notary completes the jurat. The notary fills in the jurat — the clause stating when, where, and before whom you swore it — and applies their seal.
8. Pay and receive the affidavit. The flat $19.90 per stamp plus HST and any small fee are shown first; nothing is confirmed until payment succeeds.

Common Affidavits People Swear Online

Affidavits cover a huge range of situations. These are the ones Canadians most often search to have sworn:

• Affidavits for court and family law — affidavits of service, financial affidavits, affidavits in support of a motion. (A notary commissions; a lawyer drafts the legal argument.)
• Affidavit of execution — confirming you witnessed the signing of a will. See affidavit of execution for an Ontario will.
• Affidavits for IRCC and immigration — supporting declarations for sponsorship, proof of relationship, or identity.
• Insurance and loss affidavits — sworn statements about lost, stolen, or damaged property for a claim.
• Affidavits of identity or one-and-the-same person — confirming that two differently spelled names refer to you.
• General affidavits — any sworn statement of fact a bank, employer, or institution requires.

If your statement is for an administrative purpose rather than court evidence, you may actually need a statutory declaration instead — the difference between an affidavit and a statutory declaration is worth a two-minute read before you book.

Available Online From Any Major City in Canada

Because the appointment is by video, you can swear your affidavit from anywhere in the country. Clients connect from every province and territory — these are the major cities and regions we most often see on the calendar:

Where you join the call does not, by itself, decide whether your affidavit is accepted — the body receiving it decides that. Here is the honest picture, because this is the part that protects you:

• Federal and IRCC affidavits are commonly accepted with an Ontario notary public's commission, regardless of which city you join from.
• Affidavits for use in Ontario are squarely within an Ontario commissioner's authority.
• Affidavits filed in another province's court may need a commissioner or notary in that province, and some courts have their own rules on remote swearing. Confirm the receiving court's current practice before you book.
• Quebec operates a civil-law system; documents bound for Quebec institutions often need a Quebec notaire. Federal documents are different and commonly accepted.

We will confirm your affidavit is a fit on the call before any fee applies — and nothing is charged until it is.

Affidavit Scenarios Across Canada

• A Toronto small-business owner swears an affidavit of debt for a small-claims filing, then files it the same week.
• A Calgary newcomer swears an affidavit of identity to reconcile two spellings of their name on an IRCC file.
• A Vancouver parent swears an affidavit of service after serving family-court documents.
• A Halifax executor swears an affidavit of execution confirming they witnessed a will signing.
• An Ottawa insurance claimant swears a loss affidavit after a break-in, on the same day they call.

In each case the notary makes the swearing valid; the content — and whether the affidavit is the right evidence — stays with the deponent or their lawyer.

Online or In Person — How to Decide

Most affidavits can be sworn online, but a few situations are better in person. Use this table to decide before you book.

How Identity Verification Works on the Call

Swearing online does not lower the identity bar — it is the same check as in person, done on camera. The notary will:

1. Ask you to hold your government photo ID up to the camera so they can see your name, photo, and (where present) signature.
2. Confirm the name on your ID matches the name on the affidavit. If you have changed your name, bring supporting proof (for example, a marriage certificate).
3. Check that your ID is valid and unexpired — expired ID is generally not accepted in Ontario.
4. Confirm you are acting freely and understand that you are swearing the contents are true.

A passport or driver's licence usually carries all the details on one document. If your primary ID is missing one element, have a second piece of government ID ready.

What to Bring to Your Online Affidavit Appointment

Booking note: A standard affidavit covers one deponent and one document. Multiple deponents, many exhibits, or unusual court formatting can take longer — mention it when you book so the appointment is the right length. Call (613) 434-5555 if you are unsure.

When to Call a Lawyer or Paralegal Instead

Reach a lawyer or paralegal — not a notary — when:

• You need someone to draft the affidavit or decide which facts to include.
• The matter is contested in family court or civil litigation.
• The affidavit supports a motion or pleading and you are unsure it says the right things.
• An immigration file has a refusal or misrepresentation issue on record.

A notary makes the swearing valid; only a lawyer can tell you whether the affidavit is the right evidence.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Signing before the appointment. An affidavit must be signed in front of the notary. Bring it unsigned.
• Missing exhibits. If the affidavit says "see Exhibit A," that exhibit must be present to be marked.
• Wrong document type. A statutory declaration is not an affidavit. Check which the receiver wants.
• Expired ID. Valid government photo ID is required on camera.
• Assuming every court accepts remote swearing. Most do, but confirm the specific court's current rule.

Pricing and Booking

Online appointments add HST plus a small card processing fee, shown in full before you pay. To book, choose affidavits when you book online, or call (613) 434-5555 to confirm your affidavit qualifies for an online appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I notarize an affidavit online in Canada?

Yes. An affidavit can be sworn or affirmed before an Ontario notary public over a secure video appointment under O. Reg. 431/20, made under the Commissioners for Taking Affidavits Act. You join the call from anywhere in Canada, show valid government photo ID, swear or affirm that the contents are true, and sign while the notary watches. The notary then completes the jurat and applies their commission. Confirm the body receiving your affidavit accepts a remotely commissioned document before booking.

What is the difference between an affidavit and a statutory declaration?

An affidavit is a sworn statement of fact used mainly as evidence in court or tribunal proceedings, and a false affidavit can be perjury. A statutory declaration is a solemn statement of fact for administrative purposes outside court — name changes, lost documents, common-law status. The notarization step is similar, but the wording and the use differ. If you are unsure which you need, ask the organization that requested it.

Does an affidavit have to be notarized?

An affidavit must be sworn or affirmed before an authorized official — a notary public, a commissioner for taking affidavits, or a lawyer. Without that step it is just an unsworn statement. A notary public can commission your affidavit; a notary cannot, however, tell you what the affidavit should say or whether it helps your case. That is a question for a lawyer or paralegal.

Will a court or IRCC accept an affidavit notarized online?

Affidavits commissioned by an Ontario notary public are commonly accepted by Ontario courts, federal bodies, and IRCC. Many courts now accept remotely commissioned affidavits, but rules vary by court and proceeding, so confirm the receiving court's current practice. For foreign use, an affidavit may also need authentication and an apostille.

What do I need to swear an affidavit online?

A device with a working camera and microphone, a stable internet connection, valid government photo ID, and the affidavit itself, unsigned, with any exhibits ready. You sign in front of the notary, so do not sign it beforehand. A quiet, well-lit room makes the identity check faster.

How much does it cost to notarize an affidavit online?

Minute Notary charges a flat $19.90 per stamp plus HST, the same online or in person. Online appointments add HST plus a small card processing fee, shown in full before you pay, and nothing is confirmed until payment succeeds.

How long does an online affidavit appointment take?

Most appointments take ten to twenty minutes once you are on the call and your ID is ready. Affidavits with several exhibits, multiple deponents, or unusual court formatting can take longer. Having the affidavit finalized and unsigned, your exhibits open, and your ID in hand is the fastest path. If you are on a tight court deadline, mention it when you book so we can confirm a suitable slot.

Can more than one person swear the same affidavit online?

Yes. If an affidavit has several deponents, each person joins the video call, presents their own valid government photo ID, and swears their portion in the notary's presence. They can join from different cities on the same call. Let us know how many deponents there are when you book so the appointment is the right length.

Is the online affidavit appointment secure and private?

The appointment runs over a secure video connection, and the notary keeps a record of the commissioning as the regulation requires. Treat your affidavit and ID as you would any sensitive document: join from a private, quiet space, and do not share your screen or documents with anyone other than the notary. If your matter is especially sensitive, you can ask about how your information is handled before the call.

Can I swear an affidavit with an Ontario notary if I am outside Canada?

Sometimes, but confirm first. An Ontario commissioner's authority and the receiving body's rules both matter, and requirements differ for documents used abroad — many foreign authorities require authentication and an apostille after notarization. If you are outside Canada, tell us where you are and where the affidavit will be used when you book, and we will tell you whether an online appointment fits or whether a local notary is the better route.

Final Recommendation

If you need to notarize an affidavit online in Canada, first confirm two things: that you have an affidavit (not a statutory declaration), and that the court or body receiving it accepts a remotely commissioned document. Then book a video appointment, bring valid photo ID and your unsigned affidavit with any exhibits, and have it sworn in minutes. If you need help deciding what the affidavit should say, talk to a lawyer or paralegal first — the notary makes it official, but the content is what wins or loses.

Book Your Appointment

Need to notarize an affidavit online in Canada? Minute Notary commissions affidavits by secure video — flat $19.90 per stamp plus HST.

• Book online: Request an appointment
• Call: (613) 434-5555
• Service page: Affidavits
• Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Ottawa time)

Sources

• Commissioners for Taking Affidavits Act (Ontario)
• O. Reg. 431/20: Administering Oath or Declaration Remotely (Ontario)
• Notaries Act (Ontario)
• IRCC — Application forms and guides