OUR SERVICES

Apostille Services - Every Canadian Authority, One Office

Since Canada joined the Hague Apostille Convention on 11 January 2024, apostilles for Canadian documents have been issued by six competent authorities.

Document Genie processes apostilles through every one of them - so no matter where in Canada your document was issued or notarized, we can have it apostilled for use in 120+ member countries, all from our Edmonton office.

The authority which issues your apostille depends on where the document was issued or notarized - not where you live:

Processing times are set by each authority, are current as of the date of writing, and are subject to change without notice.

We handle the entire process end-to-end: checking if your documents are eligible for an apostille, notarizing your documents (when required), completing the required government forms and payments, tracked courier submission, monitoring the progress of your documents, and secure return of your completed documents to our office.

Why You May Need an Apostille

An apostille is a standardized certificate that verifies the signature, seal, and capacity of the official who signed a public document, so it can be legally recognized in another Hague Convention country without further embassy legalization. Common reasons include:

Immigration and residency abroad: Apostilles of original birth, marriage, divorce, name change, and police clearance certificates may be required for visa, permanent residency, and citizenship applications abroad.
Work and study overseas: Apostilles of degrees, diplomas, transcripts, professional licences, and reference letters may be required by foreign employers, licensing bodies, regulators, and universities before your Canadian credentials are recognized.
Marriage abroad: Apostilles of single status declarations, birth certificates, and divorce certificates may be required by foreign civil registries before a marriage ceremony can be performed or registered abroad.
Business and legal matters: Apostilles of certificates of incorporation, corporate resolutions, powers of attorney, affidavits, and notarized instruments may be required for foreign business transactions, property purchases and sales, inheritance and estate matters, or court proceedings in another country.
Dual citizenship and pension claims: Apostilles of vital statistics certificates, Canadian tax and pension documents, bank statements, and identity records may be required by foreign governments when applying for dual citizenship, ancestral citizenship, or foreign pension and benefit entitlements.

The Six Apostille Authorities We Work With

Federal: Global Affairs Canada

If your document is federal in origin, such as an RCMP police certificate, a federal corporate record, or similar, or was issued in Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon, Northwest Territories, or Nunavut, your apostille must be issued by Global Affairs Canada in Ottawa.

Our office is well-equipped to handle apostilles sent to Global Affairs Canada, ensuring your documents are carefully prepared and follow all guidelines to protect our clients against excessive wait times.

It is essential to note that Global Affairs Canada accepts documents by mail only, with no expedited service and the longest queue in the country, so the earlier your file starts, the better. We'll set clear timeline expectations from day one.

Here's an insider tip we share at every consultation: if your document can instead be notarized in Alberta (depending on the requirements of your accepting authority), we may be able to route it provincially and save you weeks.

Alberta: Alberta Apostille Department

This is our home jurisdiction, and it's where our team truly shines. If your document was issued or notarized in Alberta, such as a vital statistics document (full-size original only, no lamination), an educational or corporate document, or a document notarized by an Alberta notary, our team can expertly handle everything under one roof.

Our Edmonton-based notaries can notarize your document on the spot, and the complete package can be on its way to the Alberta Apostille Department the same day you walk in.

Although Alberta is also mail/courier-only, with our same-day preparation and dispatch, plus the department's quick turnaround, this is one of the fastest apostille departments in the country - we'll confirm your exact timeline when you visit.

British Columbia: OIC Administration Office

If your document was issued or notarized in British Columbia, it goes through the OIC Administration Office (BC's Authentication Program). Our office regularly apostilles documents through British Columbia, so rest assured, our team handles this process with the utmost professionalism and expertise.

However, here's the catch most people don't know: notarized BC documents are only accepted if the notary is registered with the OIC Administration Office, which is one of the most common reasons for rejection. Our team verifies this for you before anything ships, ensuring your documents are not rejected due to a lack of notary registration.

It is essential to note that BC is a mail/courier-only authority with no expedited option, so we recommend starting early - we'll give you a realistic door-to-door timeline at consultation.

Ontario: Official Documents Services (ODS)

If your document was issued or notarized in Ontario, your apostille is issued by Official Documents Services (ODS). Our office regularly processes Ontario apostilles, so rest assured, our team manages the entire ODS submission on your behalf with professionalism and expertise.

Ontario government documents and recent postsecondary degrees and transcripts qualify for an apostille directly, while most other documents must first be notarized by an Ontario notary.

Keep in mind that we process Ontario submissions by mail/courier with no expedited option available, so an early start is your best friend here - our team can help map out a realistic door-to-door timeline at your consultation.

Quebec: Ministère de la Justice du Québec

If your document was issued or notarized in Quebec, your apostille is issued by the Ministère de la Justice du Québec - Quebec has the most distinctive process in Canada, one that confuses many of our clients.

Documents signed by a Quebec notary or lawyer must first pass signature verification - at the Chambre des notaires du Québec or the Barreau du Québec - before the Ministère de la Justice will issue the apostille. Our office manages both steps as one seamless process, ensuring your documents move through this two-step chain without unnecessary delays or rejections.

Quebec is a mail-only authority, and there's no way to jump the queue, we recommend starting early - we'll give you a realistic door-to-door timeline at consultation. And since many Quebec documents are issued in French, our team can provide a certified translation of your document and its apostille wherever your accepting authority requires it.

Saskatchewan: Ministry of Justice and Attorney General

Good news if your document comes from Saskatchewan: this can be the fastest apostille office in Canada. Original vital statistics certificates, original degrees, court documents, and instruments notarized by a Saskatchewan notary are all processed by the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General in Regina - often in just a few days.

However, here's the catch: the Saskatchewan office rejects incomplete applications outright , so first-time accuracy is everything. Our team prepares every Saskatchewan package against the office's requirements before anything ships, ensuring your documents are not rejected and you keep the speed advantage this authority offers.

Saskatchewan works by mail/courier as well, but with its short processing window, your total turnaround often comes down to courier time - we'll give you an honest end-to-end estimate at consultation.

Our Process: Step-by-Step

Step 1: Free consultation and eligibility check:

Bring in, email, or WhatsApp us a copy of your document. We confirm the correct competent authority, whether notarization is needed first, and your destination country's requirements, including whether it is a Hague member and whether a certified translation will be required after the apostille.

Step 2: Document preparation:

Our on-site notaries notarize documents or prepare notarized true copies the same day where required. We complete the correct government request form and handle every submission requirement. Our fees include express courier to the relevant authorities, return shipping to our office, and all applicable government fees.

Step 3: Submission:

Our office couriers the complete package - documents, forms, and prepaid return packaging - to the correct authority with full tracking.

Step 4: Monitoring and return:

We track processing, follow up on any deficiencies, verify the returned apostille, and email you the final version of your document, and securely hold it for pickup at our Edmonton office. release your document. In case you are unable to visit our office for pickup, Document Genie Ltd. also provides trackable and non-trackable shipping options Canada-wide and worldwide.

Step 5: After the apostille:

Our team handles your apostille first, then translation. If your destination requires another language, we certified-translate the document and its apostille certificate (we translate 150+ languages, visit our Translation services page for more information).

For non-Hague countries, we can also provide embassy/consulate legalization services.

Lastly, our team can also provide competitive quotes for Canada-wide or International shipping via DHL Express, Purolator, or Canada Post.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Choose Document Genie

One office, every authority: all six Canadian competent authorities handled from our Edmonton office - no matter where your document was issued.
End-to-end handling: eligibility check, on-site notarization, government fees, tracked courier submission, monitoring, and secure return.
Apostille and certified translation under one roof: Certified translation in 150+ languages when your destination requires it.
Domestic and international shipping: DHL Express, Purolator, and Canada Post, trackable andEmbassy and consulate legalization for non-Hague destination countries.
non-trackable options available.
Transparent timelines and updates: clear expectations up front and dedicated support until your document is ready for use abroad.

Bring your documents in, or send us a photo by Email or WhatsApp for a free, no-obligation apostille assessment.

Contact Us

• Address: Unit 18, 9186 34A Avenue NW, Edmonton, AB T6E 5P4

• Call/Text: 780-680-7085 | 587-501-2088 (WhatsApp available)

• Email: docugenie1@gmail.com

• Website: oaths.ca

• Hours: Mon, Thu–Sat 9 AM–7 PM | Tue–Wed 9 AM–5 PM | Sunday closed