Authenticate your documents - Get your document notarized (Step 3)

On this page

• Does my document need to be notarized?
• Who can notarize my document?
• How do I find a Canadian notary?
• How is my document notarized?
• What can my notary do?

Does my document need to be notarized?

Find out if your document needs to be notarized before it can be authenticated by our office. Use our triage portal to review the notarization requirements for your document. You may also find the information by consulting the specific requirements for your document in step 2.

If your original document cannot be authenticated, we may be able to authenticate a notarized copy. Some countries will not accept notarized copies of certain types of documents. Please confirm with the country of destination if this is the case before obtaining a notarized copy of your document.

Who can notarize my document?

Any Canadian notary whose signature we recognize can notarize your document.

Please consider that the province of notarization may affect where you submit your documents. Please refer to step 1 for information on which provinces are designated as competent authorities.

How do I find a Canadian notary?

Search online for "notary public". The rules governing Canadian notaries vary between provinces and territories. The notary will tell you what they are able to do to notarize your document.

How is my document notarized?

A Canadian notary signs and seals your document. The notary can also prepare a separate certificate (sign it and attach it to your document).

When signing your document, the notary must:

• have a valid certificate of appointment
• handwrite their signature in ink
• apply a stamp or seal showing their full name as it appears on their certificate of appointment and the Canadian province or territory in which they have been appointed
• indicate the act they performed (e.g. certifying a true copy)
• indicate the date on which they performed the act
• indicate the date on which their appointment as a notary expires (if applicable)

What can my notary do?

In signing your document, the notary may, for example:

• witness a signature
• receive a declaration or affidavit
• certify that a document is a true copy of the original

Translated documents

A Canadian notary may also be able to certify a translation to be true if they speak both languages. If that is the case, ensure that the notary indicates on the document both of the following:

• They attest to speaking both languages
• They certify the accuracy of the translation