Unpacking Notary Services Costs in Canada
Table of Contents
The cost of a notary in Canada depends on how many documents you need signed, what kind of documents they are, and whether you meet the notary online or in person. Most notaries charge per seal or per document, and extras like travel, urgent appointments or certified true copies add to the total. NotaryPro lists all of its current prices on our prices page.
Key Takeaways
- Notaries usually charge per seal, per document or per appointment, so the number of documents you bring matters most.
- Complex documents, extra signers, urgent appointments and travel can all raise the cost.
- Meeting a notary online saves travel time and costs for affidavits, statutory declarations and other documents that can be signed by video.
- Certified true copies and documents that need a seal on the original are done in person.
- Count your documents before you book, then check the current prices to estimate your total.
See what your appointment will cost
How Do Notaries Charge?
Notary fees in Canada aren’t set by law, so each notary or company sets its own. Most use one of these pricing models:
- Per seal or stamp: you pay for each seal the notary applies. A document with one signature usually needs one seal, while a set of documents needs several.
- Per document: you pay a set price for the first document and a lower price for each additional one in the same appointment.
- Per signature: common for documents with several signers, where each signature is witnessed separately.
- Per appointment: a flat fee for the meeting, sometimes with a limit on how many documents are included.
When you compare notaries, check which model each one uses. A low first-document price can end up costing more if every additional seal is expensive.
What Affects the Cost of a Notary?
Number of Documents and Seals
This is the biggest factor. Each extra document, page that needs a stamp, or certified copy usually adds to the total. Bringing everything to one appointment is almost always cheaper than booking several.
Type of Document
Simple documents, like an affidavit, a statutory declaration or a travel consent letter, usually cost the least. Documents that need more review cost more, such as wills, powers of attorney, real estate documents, and separation, cohabitation or prenuptial agreements.
Number of Signers
If several people need to sign, each signer’s identity has to be checked and each signature witnessed. Some notaries charge per signer.
Online vs. In-Person Appointments
Meeting a notary online removes travel, parking and time off work, and you can book from anywhere in Canada. Affidavits, statutory declarations and many other documents can be signed with a notary online. Some services still need an in-person visit, like certified true copies and documents that need a wet-ink signature or a seal on the original.
Mobile Notary Travel
If a notary comes to your home, office or a hospital, expect a travel fee on top of the regular price. A mobile notary is useful when someone can’t travel.
Urgent or After-Hours Appointments
Same-day, instant or evening appointments often cost more because they’re scheduled on priority.
Extra Services
Some documents need more than a signature. Each of these usually adds a separate charge:
- Certified true copies of your originals
- Additional witnesses
- Authentication or an apostille for documents used outside Canada. Government fees, if any, are separate and paid to the government.
- Translation of documents that aren’t in English or French
How to Estimate Your Notary Cost
You can estimate your total in three steps:
- List every document you need signed or certified. Include copies, exhibits and anything that needs a seal.
- Count the seals or signatures for each one. If you’re unsure, ask the notary or check the document’s instructions.
- Check the current prices for your appointment type. Apply the first-document and additional-seal prices from our prices page, then add any extras.
Example: You need to swear a statutory declaration and get two certified true copies of your diploma. That’s three seals in total. Because certified true copies need the original, book one in-person appointment for all three instead of splitting them up. If you only needed the declaration, you could meet a notary online.
See what your appointment will cost
How to Compare Notary Prices
The lowest advertised price isn’t always the lowest total. Before you book, ask:
- Is the price per seal, per document, per signature or per appointment?
- What does each additional document or seal cost?
- Are taxes included?
- Are there fees for travel, parking, urgent booking or evenings and weekends?
- Can the document be signed online, or does it need an in-person visit?
- Will the receiving organization accept the type of appointment you’re booking?
To understand who can sign your documents in the first place, read who is a notary public in Canada and who can notarize a document in Ontario.
Notary Costs for Businesses
Businesses that need documents signed regularly can usually lower the cost per appointment by buying in bulk. NotaryPro offers bulk appointment packages for teams that sign documents often, such as HR, real estate, construction and legal offices.
How to Save on Notary Costs
- Bring everything to one appointment. Additional documents usually cost less than a new booking.
- Meet a notary online when you can. You save travel and time off work. Our guide to preparing for your online notary appointment covers what you need.
- Fill in your documents ahead of time, but don’t sign until the notary tells you to.
- Bring valid government-issued photo ID so you don’t have to rebook.
- Book ahead to avoid urgent or after-hours fees.
- Check what the receiving organization needs first, so you don’t pay for the wrong service.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to notarize a document in Canada?
It depends on the notary’s pricing model, the type of document and how many seals it needs. Simple documents like affidavits cost the least, while wills and agreements cost more. NotaryPro lists all of its current prices on our prices page.
Is meeting a notary online cheaper than going in person?
Often, yes. You avoid travel and parking, and you don’t need to take time off work. Online appointments work for affidavits, statutory declarations and many other documents, while certified true copies are done in person.
Do notaries charge per page or per document?
Most charge per seal or per document, not per page. A multi-page document signed once usually needs one seal. Ask the notary how they count seals before you book.
What extra fees can a notary charge?
Common extras include additional documents or seals, extra signers, certified true copies, mobile notary travel, and urgent or after-hours appointments. Government fees for authentication or an apostille are separate.
Are there discounts for businesses that need documents signed often?
Yes. Many notary services offer bulk packages that lower the cost per appointment. NotaryPro offers bulk packages for businesses.
Why do wills and powers of attorney cost more?
They take longer to review and often need more than one witness or signer. Separation, cohabitation and prenuptial agreements are priced higher for the same reason.
Know Your Cost Before You Book
Notary costs come down to how many documents you have, what kind they are and how you meet the notary. Count your documents, check what the receiving organization needs, then look up the current prices to estimate your total.