Understanding Document Authentication and Legalization in B.C.

If you need to have a Canadian document legally recognized in another country, the rules of that country may require that the document be legalized before they will accept it. Our Vancouver notary public can help you go through this process.

The process is not complicated, but it can be time consuming. It is effectively a three-step process:

Step 1

You must make an appointment with a lawyer or notary public to have the document notarized, or have a copy of the document certified. The fee for this ranges depending on the type and quantity of documents. For a quote, please call Morris Notary at 779.819.8553.

Step 2

Once the document has been notarized, it should then be sent to the Ministry of Justice, Order in Council Administration Office in Victoria British Columbia to be authenticated. This step adds to the document a certification that the document was notarized by a person qualified in B.C. to do so.

If you have your documents notarized by a B.C. or Vancouver notary public, the documents must first be sent to the Society of Notaries Public of BC. The society then sends the documents to the Order in Council Administration Office. Their fee is $30 per document.

At Morris Notary, we are happy to take care of this step for you. As Kieran Morris is a B.C. lawyer who is verified by the Order in Council Administration office, the documents can be sent directly to the Order in Council. This may help expedite the process if you are looking to get your documents back quickly.

Step 3

Once you receive the documents back from the Order in Council, you will then need to visit the consulate of the country in which you wish to have the document recognized. They will then legalize the document for you, which is the final step. There are some consulates that will allow you to mail in the documents for the legalization step, but be sure to look at the website of the specific consulate, as they typically have a designated page that outlines their specific legalization process.

Should you have any questions about the notarization, authentication, and legalization process, please call Morris Notary at 778.819.8553 or send us a message below.