What apostille and notarization mean for your documents

Answers about apostille and notarization

Documents You Can Authenticate (No Notarization Required) The Ontario government now allows certain documents to be authenticated without notarization. If your document falls into one of the categories below, you can skip the notarization step: Vital statistics documents, including birth certificates (even polymer versions) Ontario business registry documents issued from 1991 onward Court documents from the Superior Court of Justice or Ontario Court of Justice issued on or after July 10, 2023 Ontario college and university degrees, diplomas, and transcripts issued from January 1, 2019 onward Important Notes for Court Documents Court documents issued after July 10, 2023 can be authenticated directly, but processing may take up to 10 business days. If you need faster service, notarizing the document first may help speed things up. Certificates of Divorce issued before July 10, 2023 must either be notarized or reissued to qualify. Other court documents issued before this date still require notarization. Notarized Documents Documents notarized by an Ontario notary public are always eligible for authentication. Documents in Other Languages If your document is not in English or French, you’ll need: The document must be issued in Canada Notarization by an Ontario notary public A certified translation You have two options for translation: A certified translation from a recognized Canadian translator A notarized translation where the Ontario notary: Confirms they speak both languages Certifies the translation is accurate