Is a Canadian Notary Seal Recognized Outside of Canada?

Key Takeaways

• Contact a consulate or embassy’s before getting any document notarized for international use to confirm specific requirements with the destination country.
• A notary public certifies that a photocopy matches an original document through verification, sealing, and signing.
• Global Affairs Canada (GAC) authenticates the notary’s signature and seal so they can be recognized in another country.
• Foreign embassies require legalization of the submitted documents following GAC authentication, and that may involve translation and the creation of a cover letter.
• Entrust the notarization of your documents to NotaryPro and make the process faster and easier.

Step 1: Verify Requirements

Contact the appropriate consulate/embassy to verify their requirements.

Step 2: Get Your Document(s) Notarized

Notarizing a document means verifying it to be a true copy of the original. The notary need only to obtain the original document and a photocopy from the client. When notarizing a document, the notary compares the original to the copy, and if the two are identical, certifies and attests that the copy is a true copy of the original. The notary then executes the certificate and affixes a notarial seal.

Step 3: Authentication

Authentication is a certification of the genuineness of the signature and seal or the position of an official who has the authority to execute, issue, or certify a document so that a document executed, issued or certified in one jurisdiction may be recognized in another. Authentication does not certify the genuineness, legality or credibility of the documents or their contents.

Global Affairs Canada (“GAC”) authenticates documents for the public through their JLAC branch for a wide range of documents.

You may request that a Canadian public document be authenticated by asking GAC to confirm that a Canadian public official’s signature, seal or stamp on the document is genuine.

​Step 4: Legalization

After being authenticated by GAC, embassies require that documents be legalized. The general requirements to legalize documents in embassies are:

• The document must be an original or certified true copy of the original by a notary public or commissioner of oaths.
• It must be stamped by GAC.
• Some embassies require translation.
• Some embassies require a cover letter explaining the purpose of use.

Some embassies require supporting documents linking authentication with the provided document (business/work contracts, travel visas, educational offers, etc.).