How apostilles work in Ontario
If you need a Canadian document accepted in another country, such as a birth certificate for a marriage abroad or a degree for a job overseas, this is the process.
What changed in 2024
The Apostille Convention came into force for Canada on January 11, 2024. Before that, a document had to be authenticated in Canada and then legalized at the consulate of the country it was going to. For countries that belong to the Convention, a single certificate called an apostille now replaces both steps.
Countries outside the Convention still use the older route of authentication followed by legalization at their consulate.
Which office handles your document
It depends on where the document was issued or notarized, not where you live.
- Issued or notarized in Ontario: Ontario's Official Documents Services, at 777 Bay Street, Lower Level, Toronto.
- Federal documents, such as RCMP criminal record checks: Global Affairs Canada, by mail.
- Issued in another province: that province's own authority, or Global Affairs Canada for provinces that do not have one.
The Ontario government fee
- $32 for an Ontario government issued document, such as a birth, marriage or death certificate, a court document or a degree.
- $16 for a document notarized by an Ontario notary, such as a power of attorney, an affidavit or a certified copy.
Does it need to be notarized first?
Government issued originals usually go in as they are. A document you signed yourself, or a copy of a document, has to be notarized by an Ontario notary before it can be apostilled. The notarization should be in wet ink, in person.
How long it takes
Requests sent to Official Documents Services by mail can take up to 15 business days, plus postage each way. Requests made in person at the counter are usually faster. Federal documents go through Global Affairs Canada, which works by mail only and takes longer.
Doing it through Sparrow
We charge $75 per document plus the government fee at cost, submit in person at 777 Bay Street, and show you each step on a tracking page. If a document needs notarizing, an Ontario lawyer does it for $125.
Fees and processing times are set by the government and can change. Check ontario.ca for the current figures.