Procedure for Apostille of Canada Marriage Certificate

Apostille of Canada marriage certificates is essential for couples who married in Canada and are returning to their home country. This process is necessary for various reasons, including handling real estate transactions, spouse job placement, divorce litigation, visa extensions, and applying for long-term residency.

1.Apply for Marriage License: Prospective spouses can apply for a marriage license either online or at designated registration offices. Once the online application is completed, both applicants must bring the necessary documents to the registration office, where they can obtain the marriage license on the same day.

2.Conduct the Wedding Ceremony: Holding the wedding ceremony requires the presence of both marrying individuals, the officiant (who must hold a professional license to officiate), and witnesses. Witnesses can be chosen from the relatives or friends of the couple. After selecting a venue and setting the ceremony time, follow the prescribed procedures to conduct a simple yet comprehensive wedding ceremony.

3.Apply for the Marriage Certificate: Couples can apply for a marriage certificate on the official website 24 hours after the wedding ceremony. Fill in the required information as per the instructions, and it typically takes around 10 weeks to receive the marriage certificate.

An Apostille is a specialized form of authentication recognized by countries that are parties to the Hague Convention. The process aims to simplify the authentication of documents for international use by eliminating the need for further Consular legalization.

There are two approaches to authenticate a Canada marriage certificate for Hague recognition. One option involves authenticating a copy of the marriage certificate, while the other requires authenticating the original document. Applicants have the flexibility to choose the method that best suits their individual circumstances.

STEP 1. Notarization
Get Canada Marriage Certificate notarized by a solicitor or a Notary Public.

STEP 2. Apostille Issuance
The final step is obtaining the Apostille from competent provincial authorities , or Authentication by Global Affairs Canada. This endorsement ensures the Canada Marriage Certificate’s acceptance in Hague Convention member countries.

A scanned copy of the marriage certificate

Obtaining apostille on a copy of the Canada marriage certificate typically takes around 5 business days, excluding shipping time.

Marriage Certificate issued in Ontario is sent to Ontario for authentication;
Marriage Certificate issued in British is sent to Ministry of the Attorney General of British Columbia for authentication;
Marriage Certificate issued in Alberta is sent to Ministry of Justice of Alberta for authentication;
Marriage Certificate issued in Quebec is sent to Ministère de la Justice du Québec for authentication.

Apostille by competent authorities of its issued province is around 5 business days, excluding shipping time. While obtaining apostille on the original Canada marriage certificate by Global Affairs Canada typically takes 2-3 months for authentication.