A one and the same person affidavit confirms that different versions of your name on your documents all belong to you. When you need one, what to list, names on Indian documents, and how to swear it online for a flat $24.95.
Last updated: October 10, 2026
One and the Same Person Affidavit in Canada: What It Is and How to Swear It Online
Quick answer: A one and the same person affidavit is a sworn statement that different versions of your name — a maiden and married name, a different spelling, initials, a missing surname, or the names in a different order — all refer to you. You list each version and the document that shows it, then swear it before a notary or commissioner. An Ontario notary public can commission it online by secure video under O. Reg. 431/20 for a flat $24.95 per stamp plus HST; any copies attached as exhibits are sealed separately. It confirms identity; it does not change your legal name.
Names drift across documents. A marriage adds a surname, a school abbreviates a first name, an immigration form puts the family name first, and a passport issued in another country spells your name the way a clerk heard it. Most of the time nobody notices. Then a bank, an employer, a school, or a government office lines two records up, sees that they do not match, and asks you to prove they belong to the same person. A one and the same person affidavit is the standard way to do that.
This guide explains what the affidavit is, when it is asked for, what to put in it, what to know if your documents were issued in India, and how to swear it online by video. If you have the affidavit ready, contact us or call (613) 434-5555. You can also start from our free one and the same person affidavit template.
Key Takeaways
| Decision point | What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Links name versions that are already on your records | It is not a legal change of name. |
| Who asked for it | The bank, school, employer or office that flagged it | Use their wording or form if they gave you one. |
| What to list | Every version, exactly as written, with its document | Vague lists are the most common reason for redoing it. |
| Exhibits | Copies only if the receiver asks for them | Each exhibit is endorsed and sealed separately. |
| Use in India | Apostille needs a hard copy | Plan the appointment type before you book. |
| Price | Flat $24.95 per stamp plus HST | Same online or in person. |
What a Notary Can and Cannot Do
What a notary can and cannot do: A notary public confirms your identity, administers the oath or affirmation, and commissions the affidavit. A notary does not decide whether two names really belong to you, confirm that a foreign document is genuine, change your legal name, or promise that the receiving organization will accept the affidavit. The truth of what you swear is your responsibility; if the name difference is tied to a legal dispute, an estate, or a contested record, speak to a lawyer.
Minute Notary commissions affidavits as an Ontario notary public, including online by video under O. Reg. 431/20.
What a One and the Same Person Affidavit Is
A one and the same person affidavit is a written statement of facts that you swear or affirm is true, made before a notary public or a commissioner for taking affidavits. It says, in substance: "I am known by these names, they appear on these documents, and they all identify me." Organizations use it to link records that do not match exactly, without asking you to change your name.
You will see it under several names: affidavit of one and the same person, affidavit of identity, name discrepancy affidavit, same name affidavit, or "also known as" (AKA) affidavit. Some organizations ask for a statutory declaration instead of an affidavit; the content is the same, and either can be commissioned the same way. If the office gave you its own form or wording, use it rather than writing your own.
When You Might Need One
The request usually comes from whoever noticed the mismatch:
- A bank or credit union opening an account, releasing funds, or updating records when your ID and an older record carry different names.
- An employer or background-check provider matching your ID to your degree, transcripts or work history.
- A school, credential assessor or licensing body when certificates show a former, shortened or differently spelled name.
- A government office, pension plan or insurer linking two files that should be one.
- A foreign authority or institution — a bank, property office or registry in the country where your earlier documents were issued.
In each case the affidavit answers the same question: are these records about the same person? It does not replace the document the organization actually needs, and it cannot fix an error inside a government record; the issuing office corrects its own records.
What to Put in the Affidavit
A useful one and the same person affidavit is specific. Include:
- Your full name as it appears on your main photo ID — the ID you will show the notary.
- Every other version of your name, written exactly as it appears, letter for letter, including initials, hyphens and order.
- The document that carries each version — the type, the issuing country or office, and where helpful the number and date.
- A short reason the versions differ — marriage or divorce, transliteration from another script, initials expanded or dropped, a surname left off, a clerical error.
- A closing statement that all of the names identify you and no other person.
If the receiving organization wants proof, attach copies of the documents as exhibits; the notary endorses each one. Leave the affidavit unsigned — you sign it in front of the notary.
Names on Indian Documents
This affidavit comes up often for clients whose documents were issued in India, because Indian names are recorded in ways that Canadian forms do not always expect. Common examples:
- A passport with the whole name in the given-name field and the surname field left blank.
- Initials on school or university certificates that stand for a father's name or a family or village name, written out in full elsewhere.
- A father's name used as a middle name on some documents and not on others.
- The given name and surname in a different order on Indian and Canadian documents.
- Different spellings of the same name after transliteration.
For records in Canada, the affidavit lists each version and the document it appears on, and confirms they are all you. That is usually what a bank, employer or school here is asking for.
Changing the name in your Indian passport is a different process. The High Commission of India's passport checklist, under change of name, asks for two documents in the new name issued by government authorities and original newspaper notices of the change from two newspapers — one from the area of your permanent address in India and one from your present address in Canada, in English and less than six months old. An affidavit on its own is not that route. Indian missions in Canada also publish their own affidavit formats for passport and consular services; if they gave you one, bring that form to the appointment.
For use in India, plan the paperwork before you book. India is a member of the Apostille Convention, and Ontario's Official Documents Services issues apostilles for documents notarized by an Ontario notary public. It authenticates hard copies only — soft copy (electronic) documents are not authenticated — so if the receiver in India wants an apostille, contact us first and ask which appointment gives you a paper original that will qualify. Our apostille guide covers the rest of that process.
How to Swear It Online — Step by Step
- Prepare the affidavit, unsigned. Start from the receiving organization's form if it gave you one, or from our free template.
- Gather copies of the documents you list, if the receiver wants them attached as exhibits.
- Book the appointment. Contact us or call (613) 434-5555; slots run on Ottawa time (America/Toronto), 7 days a week.
- Join the secure video call from a phone, tablet or computer and show valid government photo ID on camera.
- Swear or affirm, then sign while the notary watches.
- The notary commissions the affidavit and endorses any exhibits.
- Receive the commissioned PDF by email and send it to the organization that asked for it.
What to Bring to Your Online Appointment
| Item | Why you need it |
|---|---|
| The affidavit, completed and unsigned | You swear and sign it in front of the notary. |
| Valid government photo ID | Required on camera; it should show one of the names. |
| Copies of the documents you list | Attached as exhibits if the receiver asks for them. |
| The receiver's form or wording, if any | Some organizations accept only their own format. |
| A payment method | The fee plus HST is taken before release. |
Online or In Person — How to Decide
| Your situation | Best channel | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A bank, employer or school in Canada asked | Online by video | Quick, and the commissioned PDF is emailed to you. |
| The receiver wants a paper original | In person | A signed paper document, sealed by hand. |
| The affidavit needs an apostille for India | Ask us first | Official Documents Services authenticates hard copies only. |
| No working camera or quiet space | In person | The notary must see and hear you clearly. |
A Quick Scenario
A software developer in Brampton is opening an investment account. Her Ontario driver's licence shows her name as a given name and a surname; her Indian passport has the whole name in the given-name field with no surname; her degree uses an initial for her father's name. The bank asks for proof that the three records are the same person. She fills in the template, listing each version exactly as written and the document it is on, and attaches copies of the three documents. In a short video appointment she shows her passport, affirms the affidavit, and signs while the notary watches. The notary commissions it and endorses the three exhibits, and she uploads the PDF to the bank the same afternoon.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Listing names loosely. Write each version exactly as it appears, including initials and order.
- Leaving out the documents. Say which document carries each version; that is what lets the receiver match them.
- Using it to change a passport name. A passport name change follows the issuing country's own process.
- Ignoring the receiver's form. If they gave you a format, use it.
- Signing before the appointment. Sign in front of the notary.
- Forgetting the apostille question. If the affidavit is going abroad, ask about authentication before you book.
Pricing and Booking
| Service | Fee | Note |
|---|---|---|
| One and the same person affidavit | $24.95 per stamp | Flat rate plus HST, online or in person |
| Each exhibit or additional stamp | $24.95 | Same flat rate; exhibits from the 6th cost less online |
Note: pricing is per seal. The affidavit is one seal; each document attached as an exhibit is endorsed and sealed separately. If a second person swears the same affidavit, an additional-signer fee of $24.95 applies.
Online appointments add HST plus a small card processing fee, shown in full before you pay. To book, contact us or call (613) 434-5555.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a one and the same person affidavit?
It is a sworn statement that two or more versions of a name on your documents — a maiden and married name, a different spelling, initials instead of a full name, a missing middle name or surname, or the given name and surname in a different order — all refer to you. You list each version and the documents that carry it, and attach copies as exhibits if the receiving organization asks for them. It is also called an affidavit of one and the same person, an affidavit of identity, a name discrepancy affidavit, or an AKA affidavit.
Is it the same as a legal change of name?
No. It confirms that names you already use or that already appear on your records refer to one person; it does not change your name. A new legal name is a separate change-of-name process, and changing the name printed in a passport has its own rules set by the country that issued it.
Can I swear a one and the same person affidavit online?
Yes. An affidavit can be commissioned by an Ontario notary public over a secure video appointment under O. Reg. 431/20. Join from a phone, tablet or computer, show valid government photo ID, swear or affirm, and sign while the notary watches. The commissioned PDF is emailed to you afterwards. Confirm that the organization receiving it accepts a remotely commissioned affidavit.
What should I list in the affidavit?
Your full name as it appears on your main photo ID, then every other version exactly as it is written, with the document that shows it — for example a passport, a degree, a birth certificate or a bank record — and a short reason the versions differ, such as marriage, transliteration, initials or a missing surname. Finish with a statement that all of them identify you and no one else.
Do I need to attach copies of my documents?
Only if the receiving organization asks for them. Copies attached to an affidavit become exhibits, and each exhibit is endorsed and sealed by the notary. The affidavit is one seal at $24.95 plus HST, each exhibit is a further seal, and booked online the exhibit seals cost less from the sixth one on.
My Indian passport shows my name differently from my Canadian documents. What do I need?
If a bank, employer, school or government office in Canada needs to link the records, a one and the same person affidavit listing every version is the usual answer. If you want to change the name printed in your Indian passport, that is a different process: the High Commission of India's passport checklist asks for two government-issued documents in the new name and newspaper notices of the change. If an Indian mission gave you its own affidavit format, bring that form.
Can I use the affidavit in India?
Often, but plan it before you book. India is a member of the Apostille Convention, and Ontario's Official Documents Services issues apostilles for documents notarized by an Ontario notary public. It authenticates hard copies only, not electronic documents, so if the receiver in India wants an apostille, ask us which appointment gives you a paper original that will qualify.
Final Recommendation
If an organization has asked you to prove that differently written names are all you, a one and the same person affidavit is usually the quickest fix: list every version exactly, say which document carries it, attach copies only if asked, and swear it online in a short video appointment. Keep two limits in mind: it does not change your legal name or the name in a passport, and an affidavit going abroad with an apostille needs a hard copy, so ask before you book.
Book Your Appointment
Need a one and the same person affidavit commissioned? Minute Notary commissions it by secure video — flat $24.95 per stamp plus HST.
- Book: Contact us
- Call: (613) 434-5555
- Free template: One and the same person affidavit
- Service page: Affidavits
- Related guide: Notarize an affidavit online in Canada
- Hours: Every day, Saturday and Sunday included, 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM (Ottawa time)
Sources
- O. Reg. 431/20: Administering Oath or Declaration Remotely (Ontario)
- Commissioners for Taking Affidavits Act (Ontario)
- Checklist and information booklet for passport applications (High Commission of India, Ottawa)
- Forms (Consulate General of India, Vancouver)
- Authenticate a document for use outside Canada (Government of Ontario)
- Apostille Convention status table (Hague Conference on Private International Law)
This article was written using AI.
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About the author
Kai Mai
Co-founder & Chief Technology Officer, Minute Notary
Kai Mai writes and edits the Minute Notary guides, working from the published federal and Ontario guidance each article links, and from what Ottawa clients actually run into with certified copies, affidavits, statutory declarations, travel consent letters, and immigration paperwork. These guides are general information written by our editorial team — not legal advice, and not a professional opinion on your document. The receiving authority always has the final say.