Canadian Document Authentication Apostille & Legalization Service

We look after the details, so you don’t have to!

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Centro Legal Works is a premier provider of document Authentication, Apostille and Legalization services. We work with several of Canada’s largest law firms and corporations and have legalized some of the most complex documents destined for countries across the globe! With almost 3 decades of experience, you can rely on our expert knowledge of the intricate government, consulate, and embassy requirements to simplify the complicated process of Apostille and Legalization.

Consulates and Embassy’s each have their own unique procedures and requirements. It can be a daunting and time-consuming task to prepare and understand each one, however, this is what we do!

We look after the details, so you don’t have to.

Here are a few considerations which we will answer for you!

Will my document be Apostilled or Legalized?

Are specific supporting documents required?

Does the consulate, or embassy require an application form to be completed?

Do I require a copy of my ID like a passport?

Do I need to provide additional photocopies of my documents?

Do I need a certified translated copy of my document?

Let’s breakdown the process!

We are ready to start your document!

Take the first step and request a detailed quote.

Request a Quote

Why use Centro?

Industry experience

Close to 3 decades of servicing the legal and corporate markets!

Quick turn-around

Once your document is received the process begins!

Straight forward pricing

We are proud to offer some of the most competitive rates on the market. There are no hidden fees or surprises. All fees charged will be clearly itemized on your invoice.

All-in-one bill and pay once!

We cover all banking, government, translation, and legalization fees. Pay one invoice!

Volume discounts, special pricing

Custom discounted pricing available for large orders.

Request more information? Contact Us!

If you have a question about a document, or you are not sure where to start, complete the information request form below and our staff will provide an explanation of the steps and requirements. Information Request Form

Name

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Complete this Legalization Request form and we’ll provide details on the process and related costs.

Full Name(Required)

Phone

Email(Required)

What is the destination country?(Required)

Number of Documents(Required)

Describe the type of document(Required)

Example: Copies of company documents, Corporation Profile Report, Business Power of Attorney, etc.

What Province was the document issued?(Required)

Has the document been notarized in Ontario?(Required)

Yes

No, in another Province

Is the document in another language other than English or French?(Required)

Yes

Is it two languages?

Yes, both languages are on the same document (aka dual language).

No, there are 2 versions, one copy in each language.

What is the other language?(Required)

Select the service required

Caution – these processing times are only available for documents Apostilled in Ontario. Processing times for document legalization vary.

FAQ’s

What is document legalization?

For countries that are not members of the Hague convention it is the process of authenticating or certifying a document for it to be accepted in another country. More specifically, it is the third step in the legalization process and involves taking a notarized document that has been authenticated to a consulate, or embassy office where they will validate the signatures and details of the authentication and attach a consulate/embassy stamp or seal, which legalizes the document.

For country members of the Hague convention, it is the process of taking a notarized document to the relevant Provincial competent authority where an Apostille

What does having a document Apostilled mean?

This is a simplified method of legalization introduced by the Hague Apostille Convention, where a Hague Apostille certificate is attached to a public document that verifies it’s authenticity and shows the signature and seal that guarantees its legality.
Canada is now a signatory of the Hague Convention and as of January 11^th, 2024m the single step ‘Apostille’ process is available for any Hague Apostille Convention member countries. For countries that are not members of the convention, the two-step process of document authentication and legalization applies.

What is the Hague Apostille Convention?

It is an international treaty drafted by the Hague Conference on Private International Law signed at the convention of October 5, 1961, and abolished the requirement of legalization of foreign public documents. It is intended to simplify the procedure through which a document, issued in one of the contracting states can be certified for legal purposes in any other contracting states. The certification under the convention is called Apostille. Canada is now a Hague member and the new Apostille process began January 11th, 2024.

How long does it take to authenticate and legalize a document?

For documents being processed at the Official Document Services office in Toronto the Authentication or Apostille process can take 1 to 3 business days depending on current volumes.

For documents processed by Global Affairs in Ottawa the posted processing time is 45 business days minimum. The processing time varies for documents processed by other Provincial authorities in Alberta, British Columbia, Quebec, or Saskatchewan. Additional time is required for courier delays.

If a document is in two languages, is a certified translation required?

Global Affairs (Ottawa) – If a document is written in two languages (dual language, even if English is one of the languages), or in a language other than English or French, a certified translation must be provided.  The translation must also be Notarized.
 
Official Document Services (Toronto) – If a document is written in two languages (dual language) with English being one of the languages a certified translation is NOT required (if properly notarized).  If the document is in any other language other than English or French, a certified translation must be provided.
 
For both offices mentioned above, a certified translation will not be required if:
The Canadian Notary public is fluent in both languages and adds the following statements to their declaration when notarizing:
– They attest to speaking both languages
– They certify the accuracy of the translation