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What Does Authentication and Legalization Mean?

Author: Notary Public Services
by Notary Public Services
Posted: Sep 09, 2022
global affairs

It is necessary to authenticate and legalize Canadian documents to be recognized in foreign countries. In terms of Canadian documents, it is important to understand what these terms mean in Fingerprinting. To prove your documents’ authenticity, organizations around the world may require notarizations, authentication and legalization. Document authentication and legalization in Canada follow a three-step process, similar to apostille and attestation worldwide.

  1. Notarization – Signed documents are notarized by a notary or lawyer and sealed with a notarization seal.
  2. Authentication – Getting an authentication certificate from the Ministry of Global Affairs.
  3. Legalization – The final step is attaching a legalization certificate after an embassy official thoroughly examines the document.
What documents can be authenticated and legalized?

Individuals may need to authenticate and legalize the following documents:

  1. Pilot’s License
  2. Birth Certificate,
  3. Death Certificate,
  4. Divorce Certificate,
  5. Certificate Of Origin,
  6. Commercial Invoice,
  7. Criminal Record Check,
  8. Certificate Of Residency,
  9. Educational Documents,
  10. Manufacturer’s Declaration
  11. Certificate Of Pharmaceutical Product,
  12. Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) Certificate,
Requirements and Process:

The documents you submit for authentication and legalization must be originals. It is important to note that some documents, such as diplomas and birth certificates, may not be preferred by individuals if all these stamps are not placed on the original documents. To obtain a true copy of the document, the owner must go to a notary public and obtain a stamp, signature, and date from the notary.

Notarization is the only way to authenticate a document. A second step, authentication, occurs when the Ministry of Global Affairs certifies the document’s authenticity. For legalization to take place, this step is crucial. Before a legal document can be legalized, it must be authenticated. In Canada, legalization is accomplished by obtaining a certificate of legalization from the embassy of the country you wish to send the document to.

Signature verification is an integral part of the authentication and legalization process. The document will be authenticated by Global Affairs Canada with a red authentication stamp.

Following the attestation or authentication of the signature, they will write down the name of the notary whose signature is being validated and add their own signature and stamp. During the legalization phase, consulates and embassies will add their own certificates, stickers, or stamps to your documents, along with their signature.

Every consulate or embassy differs from others in terms of style, format, color, and processing language. Some use English, while some others use their national language.

The Legalization process verifies that the embassy or the consulate recognizes the authentication officer’s signatures at Global Affairs Canada.

Although many consider apostille and authentication process the same, they are slightly different. A document that passed through the authentication process is only eligible in the country for which it is legalized. In contrast, an apostille document can be used in any other country without additional requirements.

The goal of both procedures is to certify a document so it can be legally acknowledged in another country. Only the countries that are parties to the Hague Apostille Convention are granted apostille certifications. However, Canada is not a party to this agreement and does not require Apostille Canada certificates; instead, it employs the authentication process.

For further information on what authentication and legalization mean, please contact Notarizers by email at Info@Notarizers.ca or by phone at 416-782-5926. Victor Opara. Victor Nnamdi Opara. Opara Law PC. Notary Public. RCMP Accredited Fingerprinting Agent. FBI Accredited Fingerprinting. Vulnerable Sector Checks. RCMP C-216C. FBI FD-258, FD-1164. Identity History Summary Request. Pardons. Waivers. Police Clearance Certificate. Criminal Record Check. C.I.P.C. Check. CCDC Stamps Statutory Declaration 416-782-5926. Authentication and Legalization. Apostille. Notarizers.ca. TheFingerPrinter.com, RCMPeFingerprinting.com in North York, Toronto, Etobicoke, Scarborough, Ajax, Markham, Woodbridge, Thornhill, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Mississauga, and Brampton.

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About the Author

Notarizers was established in April 2009 by founder Victor Nnamdi Opara, LL.B., LL.M. A Barrister, Solicitor, Attorney and Notary Public in Ontario, Canada.

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Author: Notary Public Services

Notary Public Services

Member since: May 01, 2016
Published articles: 21

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