Need proof of life or residency for a foreign pension? If the fund accepts your own statutory declaration, an Ontario notary can commission it online by video. What is online, what is in person, flat $24.95.
Last updated: September 23, 2026
Pension Purpose Attestation (Proof of Life): Commission a Declaration Online
Quick answer: A pension purpose attestation — often called a proof of life or life certificate — is the proof a foreign pension authority asks for that a recipient is alive and, sometimes, where they live, so it keeps paying. Where the authority accepts a statutory declaration made by the recipient, an Ontario notary public can commission it online by secure video: the recipient shows valid photo ID and declares on camera. Where the authority wants its own certificate completed by the notary — a box saying the recipient appeared before them — that is an in-person appointment. Either way it costs a flat $24.95 per stamp plus HST. Confirm with the pension authority first which form it accepts.
Many people who retire in Canada still receive a pension from another country, and those authorities periodically ask for proof that the recipient is still alive and resident. Where the authority accepts the recipient's own declaration, the notary step is quick and can be done online over video, without leaving home — which matters a lot for older or less mobile recipients.
This guide explains the two forms a proof-of-life request can take, which one can be commissioned online, who must appear, and what to confirm first. If your declaration is ready, you can book online or call (613) 434-5555. For the bigger picture, see our guide to online and virtual notary services.
Key Takeaways
| Decision point | What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Who appears | The pension recipient | The point is to confirm they are alive. |
| The form | The fund's own certificate, or your own statutory declaration | Only the declaration can be commissioned online. |
| Acceptance | Whether the fund accepts a commissioned declaration | Some insist on their own form, in person — confirm first. |
| Identification | Recipient's valid government photo ID | Required on camera or in person. |
| 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 verifies the recipient's identity and commissions the recipient's own statutory declaration that they are alive and, where the declaration says so, where they live. A notary does not confirm residency independently, guarantee the foreign authority will accept the document, complete the pension paperwork, or advise on your pension. The pension authority decides the form and whether a remotely commissioned declaration is acceptable.
Minute Notary commissions declarations as an Ontario notary public, including online by video under O. Reg. 431/20. Completing a fund's own life certificate — the notary certifying that the recipient appeared before them — is an in-person act at our Orléans office or by mobile visit in Ottawa, Orléans, Barrhaven, Kanata and Nepean.
The Two Forms a Proof-of-Life Request Can Take
A foreign pension authority needs ongoing assurance that it is paying a living, eligible person, so it periodically sends a life certificate or proof-of-life request. The paperwork comes in two shapes, and which one you have decides whether the appointment can be online:
- The fund's own certificate. The form has a box for a notary or other "attesting official" to certify that the named person appeared before them on a given date. That certification is the notary's own statement of what they saw, so it is an in-person appointment — the notary must meet the recipient face to face.
- A statutory declaration by the recipient. The recipient declares, in their own name, that they are alive and (if the fund asks) where they live, and a commissioner takes the declaration. This can be commissioned online by video under O. Reg. 431/20.
The recipient must appear either way, because the whole purpose is to verify they are alive. Because requirements vary widely by country and authority, the single most important step is to ask the pension authority which form it accepts — and, if it accepts a declaration, whether one commissioned by video is fine — before you book.
How to Commission It Online — Step by Step
- Check with the pension authority that it accepts a statutory declaration made by the recipient and commissioned by video.
- Prepare the declaration, unsigned, using the authority's template if it has one.
- Book the service and a time. Choose oaths and affirmations when you book online. Slots run on Ottawa time (America/Toronto).
- The recipient joins the video call and verifies identity with valid government photo ID.
- The recipient declares on camera and signs while the notary takes the declaration.
- The notary commissions it and applies their seal.
- Return it to the pension authority as instructed.
What to Bring to Your Online Appointment
| Item | Why you need it |
|---|---|
| The statutory declaration, unsigned | The recipient declares and signs it on the call. |
| The recipient's valid government photo ID | Required on camera to confirm identity. |
| Any reference number the authority provided | To match the declaration to the file. |
| A payment method | The flat fee plus HST is taken before release. |
Booking note: Helping an older relative? They can join from their own home, and a family member can be present to assist, but the recipient must appear and show ID. Call (613) 434-5555 with questions.
Online or In Person — How to Decide
| Your situation | Best channel | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Fund accepts the recipient's own declaration, recipient has ID | Online by video | Convenient, especially for less mobile recipients. |
| The fund's form has a box for the notary or attesting official | In person | The notary must meet the recipient to complete it. |
| The authority requires in person | In person | Some pension bodies insist — confirm first. |
| Recipient cannot appear at all | Contact the authority | A proof-of-life check needs the recipient. |
| No working camera or quiet space | In person | The notary must see and hear the recipient clearly. |
Why Commission It Online
Proof-of-life requests often land on older recipients for whom travelling to an office is hard. Where the fund accepts the recipient's own declaration, doing it by video — from their own living room, with a family member helping if needed — removes that barrier while still meeting the verification the authority wants. The trade-offs: the recipient needs a working camera, a quiet space and valid photo ID, and the authority must accept a commissioned declaration rather than its own certificate completed in person.
A Quick Scenario
A retiree in Kingston receives a yearly proof-of-life request from a pension authority abroad. They confirm the authority accepts a statutory declaration made by the recipient and commissioned by video, prepare the declaration, and join a short video appointment (online appointments average 3–4 minutes) with their passport. The notary verifies identity, the retiree declares on camera that they are alive and signs, and the notary commissions and seals the declaration. The retiree mails it back in time to keep their pension flowing.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Not checking which form the fund accepts. Its own certificate is completed in person; only a recipient's declaration can be commissioned online.
- The recipient not appearing. A proof-of-life check needs the actual recipient on camera or in the room.
- Signing before the appointment. Declare and sign in front of the notary.
- Expecting the notary to confirm your address. The recipient declares where they live; the notary commissions that declaration and does not verify it.
Where Clients Book From Across Canada
Because the appointment is by video, clients join from major cities across Canada:
- Ontario — Toronto, Ottawa, Mississauga, Brampton, Hamilton, London, Kitchener–Waterloo, Windsor, Kingston
- Quebec — Montreal, Quebec City, Laval, Gatineau, Longueuil, Sherbrooke
- British Columbia — Vancouver, Surrey, Burnaby, Richmond, Victoria, Kelowna
- Alberta — Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Lethbridge, Fort McMurray
- Prairies — Winnipeg, Brandon, Saskatoon, Regina
- Atlantic — Halifax, Moncton, Saint John, Fredericton, St. John's, Charlottetown
- Territories — Whitehorse, Yellowknife, Iqaluit
Where you join the call does not, by itself, decide acceptance — the body receiving your document does. We commission under Ontario law (O. Reg. 431/20); confirm your pension authority accepts an Ontario-commissioned declaration before booking.
Pricing and Booking
| Service | Fee | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Pension proof-of-life declaration | $24.95 per stamp | Flat rate plus HST, online or in person |
| Each additional stamp / seal | $24.95 | Same flat rate, no bulk tiers |
Note: pricing is per seal. The first signer is included; each additional signer on the same document is charged an additional-signer fee of $24.95.
Online appointments add HST plus a small card processing fee, shown in full before you pay. To book, choose oaths and affirmations when you book online, or call (613) 434-5555.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a pension purpose attestation?
It is the proof a foreign pension authority asks for — often called a proof of life or life certificate — that a pension recipient is alive and, sometimes, where they live, so payments continue. It takes one of two forms: the fund's own certificate, which an official such as a notary completes after the recipient appears before them in person, or a statutory declaration the recipient makes themselves, which a notary commissions. The pension authority sets the form and decides what it accepts.
Can a proof-of-life attestation be done online?
Only the statutory-declaration form. If the fund accepts a declaration made by the recipient that they are alive and where they live, an Ontario notary can commission it over secure video under O. Reg. 431/20: the recipient shows valid government photo ID and declares on camera. If the fund's form has a box for a notary or attesting official to certify that the recipient appeared before them, that is an in-person appointment at our Orléans office or, in Ottawa, Orléans, Barrhaven, Kanata or Nepean, a mobile visit. Confirm with the pension authority before booking.
Who needs to appear for the attestation?
The pension recipient must appear, since the point is to confirm they are alive and to verify their identity — on camera for a declaration, or in person for the fund's own certificate. They show valid government photo ID. If the recipient cannot appear themselves, contact the pension authority — a representative usually cannot stand in for a proof-of-life check.
What do I need for the appointment?
A device with a working camera and microphone, a stable internet connection, the recipient's valid government photo ID, and the statutory declaration, prepared and unsigned. The recipient signs on camera while the notary takes the declaration, so do not sign beforehand.
How much does it cost?
Minute Notary charges a flat $24.95 per stamp plus HST, the same online or in person. Online appointments add HST plus a small card processing fee, shown before you pay, and nothing is confirmed until payment succeeds. If more than one person is signing, an additional signer fee also applies.
Final Recommendation
If a foreign pension authority asks for a proof-of-life or residency attestation, first ask which form it accepts. If it accepts a statutory declaration made by the recipient, prepare it and have the recipient appear in a short online appointment with valid photo ID — the notary verifies identity and commissions the declaration. If the authority wants its own certificate completed by a notary, book an in-person appointment instead. The pension authority decides acceptance, so the up-front check matters.
Book Your Appointment
Need a pension proof-of-life declaration commissioned? Minute Notary commissions it by secure video — flat $24.95 per stamp plus HST. If your fund needs its own certificate completed by the notary, book an in-person appointment at our Orléans office or a mobile visit instead.
- Book online: Request an appointment
- Call: (613) 434-5555
- Service page: Oaths & Affirmations
- Related guide: Online & virtual notary in Canada
- Hours: Every day, Saturday and Sunday included, 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM (Ottawa time)
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About the author
Kai Mai
Content Editor, 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.