Affidavit for Vaccination Exemption (Religious / Conscience): Notarize Online
Need a sworn statement of religious belief or conscience about vaccination? A notary can commission it online by video. How it works, what to bring, flat $19.90.
Last updated: June 15, 2026
Affidavit for Vaccination Exemption (Religious / Conscience): Notarize Online
Quick answer: A vaccination religious-grounds affidavit is a sworn statement of conscience or religious belief about vaccination. You can swear it before an Ontario notary public online, by secure video: show valid photo ID, swear or affirm the statement, and sign while the notary watches. It costs a flat $19.90 per stamp plus HST. Notarizing confirms that you swore it before a notary — it does not approve an exemption or oblige any employer, school, or authority to accept it. Acceptance is decided by the receiving body and the rules that apply.
If an employer, school, or other body asks for a sworn statement of your religious belief or conscience regarding vaccination, a notary can commission it. The notary's role is narrow and neutral: to confirm your identity and that you swore the statement. For Ontario residents, that swearing can be done online over video, without an office visit.
This guide explains what the affidavit is, what notarizing does and does not mean, how to swear it online, and what to bring. If your affidavit is ready, you can book online or call (613) 434-5555. For the bigger picture, see our guide to online and virtual notary services and the affidavit guide.
Key Takeaways
| Decision point | What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A sworn statement of belief or conscience | The notary commissions the swearing only. |
| What it isn't | An approved exemption | The receiving body decides acceptance. |
| Wording | Any text the receiver asks for | Use it if provided. |
| Identification | Valid government photo ID | Required on camera. |
| Price | Flat $19.90 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 administers the oath or affirmation, witnesses your signature, and commissions the affidavit. A notary does not assess whether your belief qualifies for an exemption, decide whether an employer, school, or authority must accept it, give legal or human-rights advice, or give medical advice. Acceptance and any legal questions are for the receiving body and, if you need advice, a lawyer.
Minute Notary commissions affidavits as an Ontario notary public, including by video under O. Reg. 431/20. The notary's role here is neutral: to confirm that you, identified, swore the statement.
What Notarizing Does — and Does Not — Mean
This is the part to be clear about. When you swear this affidavit before a notary:
- It confirms that a person whose identity was verified swore the statement on a given date.
- It does not make the stated belief "valid," approve an exemption, or require anyone to accept it.
Whether an employer, school, or authority accepts a religious or conscience-based exemption depends on their policies and on the applicable law, including human-rights considerations. Those are decisions for the receiving body, and if the matter is contested or important, for a lawyer. The notary stays strictly on the swearing.
How to Swear It Online — Step by Step
- Prepare the affidavit, unsigned, using any wording the receiving body provides.
- Book the service and a time. Choose affidavits when you book online. Slots run on Ottawa time (America/Toronto).
- Join the video call and verify identity with valid government photo ID.
- Swear or affirm and sign the statement while the notary watches.
- The notary commissions it and applies their seal.
- Submit it to the body that requested it.
What to Bring to Your Online Appointment
| Item | Why you need it |
|---|---|
| The affidavit, unsigned | You swear and sign in front of the notary. |
| Any wording the receiver requires | Use it if provided. |
| Valid government photo ID | Required on camera. |
| A payment method | The flat fee plus HST is taken before release. |
Booking note: You can choose to affirm rather than swear a religious oath — both have the same legal effect. Call (613) 434-5555 with questions about the appointment.
Online or In Person — How to Decide
| Your situation | Best channel | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Affidavit ready, valid ID, stable internet | Online by video | Fastest; commissioned under O. Reg. 431/20. |
| The receiver requires in-person commissioning | In person | Confirm their requirement first. |
| No working camera or quiet space | In person | The notary must see and hear you clearly. |
Why Swear It Online
These requests often come with a workplace or school deadline. The online route lets you swear the affidavit in about fifteen minutes from home, with same-day slots often available. The trade-offs are the usual ones: a working camera, a quiet space, and valid photo ID. Remember the notary commissions the swearing only; acceptance is separate.
A Quick Scenario
A worker in Ottawa is asked by their employer for a sworn statement of their religious belief regarding vaccination. They prepare the affidavit using the wording the employer provided, join a fifteen-minute video appointment, show photo ID, affirm the statement, and sign while the notary watches. The notary commissions it. Whether the employer grants the exemption is the employer's decision under its policies and the law.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming notarization equals approval. It confirms the swearing only; the receiver decides acceptance.
- Signing before the appointment. Swear or affirm and sign in front of the notary.
- Expecting legal advice from the notary. For rights questions, speak to a lawyer.
- Expired ID. Valid government photo ID is required on camera.
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. Confirm any provincial or foreign-authority requirement before booking.
Pricing and Booking
| Service | Fee | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Sworn statement / affidavit | $19.90 per stamp | Flat rate plus HST, online or in person |
| Each additional stamp / seal | $19.90 | Same flat rate, no bulk tiers |
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a vaccination religious-grounds affidavit?
It is a sworn affidavit or statement of conscience or religious belief in which you state, under oath or affirmation, your belief regarding vaccination. People are sometimes asked for one by an employer, school, or other body. The notary commissions your sworn statement; it does not make the belief valid or oblige anyone to accept the exemption — that is decided by the body receiving it and the applicable rules.
Can I notarize the affidavit online?
Yes. You can swear the affidavit before an Ontario notary public over a secure video appointment under O. Reg. 431/20 — show valid government photo ID, swear or affirm the statement on camera, and sign while the notary watches. Whether the receiving organization accepts it is up to them.
Does notarizing it mean my exemption is approved?
No. Notarizing confirms that you swore the statement before a notary and that your identity was verified. It does not approve an exemption or bind any employer, school, or authority to accept it. Acceptance, and any applicable human-rights or policy considerations, are decided by the receiving body — not the notary.
What do I need for the appointment?
A device with a working camera and microphone, a stable internet connection, valid government photo ID, and the affidavit itself, unsigned. You sign in front of the notary, so do not sign beforehand. Use the wording the receiving body asks for, if any.
How much does it cost?
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 before you pay, and nothing is confirmed until payment succeeds.
Final Recommendation
If you have been asked for a sworn statement of religious belief or conscience about vaccination, a notary can commission it online in a short video appointment with valid photo ID. Be clear-eyed about what it does: it confirms you swore the statement, not that any exemption is approved. Acceptance is up to the receiving body, and for rights or legal questions, speak to a lawyer.
Book Your Appointment
Need to notarize a sworn statement of religious belief or conscience about vaccination? Minute Notary commissions it by secure video — flat $19.90 per stamp plus HST.
- Book online: Request an appointment
- Call: (613) 434-5555
- Service page: Affidavits
- Related guide: Notarize an affidavit online
- Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Ottawa time)
Sources
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