Four stations. One office.
Translation, notarization, apostille and consular legalization, handled end to end, so your document is accepted the first time it is presented abroad.
Global Apostille Canada Inc. is an independent private company. We are not affiliated with the Government of Canada, Global Affairs Canada, or any provincial government.
Translation
Certified translation into the language your destination requires.
Notarization
A notary or commissioner certifies the copy, the signature or the translator's affidavit.
Apostille
The competent Canadian authority issues the apostille certificate.
Legalization
Embassy or consular stamp, for destinations outside the Hague Convention.
If requiredWhich steps does your document actually need?
The route depends on where the document is going. Pick the destination country and we will show you the chain.
This is a preliminary route, not a legal opinion. Convention membership and embassy requirements change; we confirm the exact chain for your file in writing before any work starts.
Start a request for this routeThe full chain, under one roof
Most delays happen at the handoffs: a translation the notary won't accept, a notarization the authority rejects, an embassy that wants a different order. We own every handoff.
Translation
We arrange certified translation by a recognised translator, in the language and format your destination will accept, and we make sure the translation itself can be notarized and apostilled downstream.
- Diplomas and transcripts
- Birth, marriage and death certificates
- Court judgments
Notarization
Your document is notarized so that a public authority can act on it. For private documents this is the step that makes an apostille possible at all.
- Powers of attorney
- Copies of passports and IDs
- Translator affidavits
Apostille
We file with the competent authority and return the apostilled original. Since Canada joined the Hague Convention in January 2024, this single certificate replaces the old two-step authentication for most destinations.
- Documents for Hague member states
- Federal and provincial issuers
- Notarized private documents
Legalization
For destinations outside the Convention, we present the document to the embassy or consulate, pay the consular fees, and follow it through to release.
- Gulf states, several African and Asian countries
- Embassy fees paid on your behalf
- Courier to and from Ottawa missions
Documents we handle
If yours is not listed, ask. We have almost certainly seen it.
Why work with us
One file, one contact
You are not handed off between a translator, a notary and a courier. One reference number covers the whole chain, from the first translation to the final consular stamp.
Written route before you pay
Before any work begins you receive the exact sequence your document needs, the government and consular fees involved, and a realistic timeline. No open-ended estimates.
Your document is tracked
Originals are logged at every transfer and you can check the current station at any time with your reference number. Rush handling is available when a deadline is fixed.
Questions we get every week
What is an apostille?
An apostille is a certificate attached to a public document confirming that the signature, seal or stamp on it is genuine. Countries that are party to the Hague Apostille Convention accept it directly, with no embassy step.
Canada joined the Hague Convention. Do I still need legalization?
Only if your destination country is not a party to the Convention. For those countries the old route still applies: the document is authenticated and then legalized at the embassy or consulate. Use the destination checker to see which applies to you.
Do you need my original documents?
Usually yes. Most authorities apostille an original or a certified copy, not a scan. Send us digital copies first so we can confirm the route, then we tell you exactly which originals to bring or ship.
How long does it take?
An apostille-only file for a Hague destination is typically a matter of days once the document is in order. Files that need translation, notarization and consular legalization take longer, and the embassy's own processing time is outside anyone's control. We give you a dated estimate with your quote and a rush option when your deadline is fixed.
What does it cost?
It depends on the number of documents, whether translation and notarization are needed, and the consular fees of the destination country. Those fees are set by the embassy, not by us. Send your documents through the request form and you get an itemised quote at no charge.
Are you a government office?
No. We are a private company that prepares and carries files through the authorities on your behalf. You can complete these steps yourself directly with the competent authority; people use us to avoid rejected filings and repeat trips.
Do you serve clients outside Montreal?
Yes. Documents reach us by courier from anywhere in Canada and abroad, and we ship the finished file back to the address you choose.
Send us the document. We will tell you the route.
A quote is free and comes with the exact sequence of steps your file needs.