Vancouver Apostille Service Global Document Solutions

Vancouver Apostille or Authentication and Legalization Services

Vancouver Apostille Services or Authentication and Legalization Services, is our area of expertise with over 30 years of experience. Our goal is to help individuals use their Canadian documents internationally with peace of mind. Our team has extensive experience in processing a wide range of documents, including British Columbia Birth Certificates, Marriage Certificates, Death Certificates, University Degrees, Power of Attorney, Police Checks, and Corporation Certificates. Our services are easily accessible in Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, Coquitlam, and throughout British Columbia at our Global Document Solutions Vancouver service center located at Suite 1000 – 355 Burrard Street.

How To Get An Apostille In Vancouver

Canada's accession to the Hague Apostille Convention marks a significant development for individuals and businesses in Vancouver and across the country. This international treaty simplifies the process of legalizing documents for use in other member countries, a boon for those engaging in international affairs.

Prior to joining the Hague Apostille Convention, Canadians had to go through a cumbersome process of document authentication and legalization. This involved multiple steps, including obtaining stamps and signatures from various authorities, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the embassy of the destination country. This process was not only time-consuming but also costly.

However, with Canada's entry into the Hague Apostille Convention, this process is now streamlined. The convention replaces the traditional requirement of full diplomatic or consular legalization of documents with a single formality: the issuance of an "Apostille" certificate. This certificate, attached to the public document, verifies its origin. For Vancouver residents, this means they can have their documents apostilled at designated authorities in Canada, making them legally acceptable in all other member countries of the convention.

This development is particularly advantageous for businesses in Vancouver. As a city with a robust international trade and commerce sector, the ease of document legalization enhances the efficiency of conducting business abroad. Enterprises can now authenticate documents like company agreements, power of attorney, or export certificates more quickly and with less bureaucracy.

Vancouver Apostille Service

Navigating The British Columbia Apostille Process With Help From The Experts

For individuals, this change simplifies processes like studying abroad, international adoptions, or handling estates and wills in other member countries. Documents like birth certificates, marriage certificates, educational documents, and legal papers can now be easily apostilled.

In summary, Canada's joining of the Hague Apostille Convention is a positive step, especially for residents and businesses in Vancouver. It streamlines the legalization of documents for international use, reducing the administrative burden and fostering smoother cross-border transactions and personal affairs.

Do I need a Notary for the Apostille or Authentication Process?

Regarding the use of a Notary for the Apostille or Authentication and Legalization process, in most cases, a Notary is not required. Most documents qualify using the signature of the issuing authority. In some countries, only the original document issued by the authority can be used, so a Notary is not necessary. However, if a Notary is required, our experts will advise you.

Authentication and Legalization for Non-Apostille Countries

Ensuring that Canadian documents are authenticated and legalized is essential for their acceptance in countries not part of the Hague Apostille Convention. Some countries may refer to this process as Apostille, but it is essentially the same as authentication and legalization. This involves verifying the legitimacy of documents for use across international borders. Our team specializes in guiding clients through this process, ensuring that your documents fulfill all necessary conditions for authentication and legalization.

British Columbia Authentication Services

The British Columbia provincial authentication office is located in Victoria and only authenticates documents issued within the province. Note that most embassies require the provincial authentication stamp. There are only a few countries that may require an alternative to the British Columbia authentication stamp. Our team will advise you if this is the case for your document.

Global Affairs Canada Authentication Services

Authentication is required from Global Affairs for certain types of documents or for some countries. Global Affairs Canada Authentication services are performed at their one and only office located close to our office in Ottawa. The authentication requirements for documents by Global Affairs Canada may change, but our experts, who work with these requirements daily, will ensure that your document qualifies and is authenticated in a timely manner. If you are unsure if your document is suitable for authentication at Global Affairs Canada, our team will provide a consultation to confirm it.

Document Legalization - The Final Step

The final step in making your document valid for use in a foreign country is the legalization by the Embassy Consulate. This step involves having the document signed and stamped by the Embassy Consulate, which is required to make the document equivalent to an Apostille. If you are in Vancouver, you can attend some of the consulates to complete this step, but keep in mind that they may have specific requirements and fees. If you need assistance, we provide a list of Vancouver Embassy Consulates below and handle the authentication stage for you. Most of our clients prefer that we provide both steps, as the legalization step at the Embassy can be the most challenging. Our expertise ensures a stress-free process with updates on any additional requirements for legalization at the Embassy Consulate.

How Does Using Global Document Solutions Services Benefit You?

Global Document Solutions, with our more than three decades of experience, stands as your go-to source for efficient Apostille, Authentication, and Legalization services in Vancouver. Our process has been meticulously refined for your ease, providing comprehensive support at every stage, along with complimentary overnight FedEx delivery. Engage with our expert team for guidance on your British Columbia, Canadian, or international documents, and learn how we make the procedure effortless for you.

Vancouver Apostille Office Process Instructions

Vancouver Embassy Consular Contact Information

  • Australia  1075 West Georgia Street,  Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 3G2, Canada Tel (604) 694-6160 Fax (604) 684-1856
  • Austria  595 Howe Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 2T5, Canada Tel (604) 687-3338 Fax (888) 665-4615
  • Barbados  19984 - 76th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, V2Y 1S1, Canada Tel (604) 533-4622 Fax (604) 533-4622
  • Belgium  166, West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, V5Y 1R8, Canada Tel (604) 879-7782
  • Belize  P1 - 1250 Blackwood Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V4B 3T9, Canada Tel (604) 531-2212 Fax (604) 648-9095
  • Brazil  666 Burrard Street,Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 2X8, Canada Tel (604) 696-5311 Fax (604) 696-5366
  • Burkina Faso  1185 West Georgia Street,Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 4E6, Canada Tel (604) 688-0788 Fax (604) 688-0778
  • Chile  1250 - 1185 West Georgia Street,Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 4E6, Canada Tel (604) 681-9162/307-2245 (24h) Fax (604) 687-0624 Web www.chilevan.ca(link is external) Email consulado@chilevancouver.com(link sends e-mail)
  • China  3380 Granville Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6H 3K3, Canada Tel (604) 734-7492, (778) 238-0003 (24h), or (604) 731-6863 Fax (604) 737-0154 or (604) 736-4343
  • China  288-1338 West Broadway, Vancouver, V6H 2E6, Canada Tel (604) 734-0704 Fax (604) 734-0311
  • China  2215 Eddington Drive,Vancouver, V6L 2E6, Canada Fax (604) 738-1801
  • Colombia  1090 West Georgia Street, Suite 1340,Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 3V7, Canada
  • Costa Rica  1611 Evelyn Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V7J 3S9, Canada Tel (604) 983-2152 Fax (604) 983-2152
  • Cote d'Ivoire  48-4100 Salish Drive, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6N 3M2, Canada Tel (778) 241 7922 Fax (604) 266-6529
  • Cyprus  435 Donald Street,Vancouver, British Columbia, V3K 3Z9, Canada Tel (604) 936-2268 Fax (604) 936-2168
  • Czech Republic  112-118 Homer Street,Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 6L5, Canada
  • Denmark  101 - 245 Fell Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, V7P 2K1, Canada Tel (604) 982-8892 Fax (604) 985-2855
  • El Salvador 938 Howe Street, Suite 411,Vancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 1N9, Canada Tel (604) 732-8142 Fax (604) 696-0038
  • Estonia  570-1285 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 4B1, Canada Tel (604) 683-3000 x 105 Fax (604) 662-3457
  • Finland  1188 West Georgia Street,Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 4A2, Canada Tel (604) 688-4483 Fax (604) 687-8237
  • France  1130, West Pender Street, Suite 1100, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 4A4, Canada Tel (604) 681-4345 Fax (604) 681-4287 Web http://consulfrance-vancouver.org(link is external) Email consulat_france_bc@mindlink.bc.ca(link sends e-mail)
  • Germany  World Trade Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 3E1, Canada Tel (604) 684-8377/218-1390 (18h to 24h) Fax (604) 684-8334 Web www.canada.diplo.de(link is external) Email info@vancouver.diplo.de(link sends e-mail)
  • Greece  500 - 688 West Hastings Street,Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 1P1, Canada Tel (604) 681-1381 (604)721-6077 or 925-2039(24H) Fax (604) 681-6656
  • Greece  2574 Cornwall Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
  • Guinea  404-999 Canada Place, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 3E2, Canada Tel (604) 641-1393 x 510
  • Hungary  1770 West 7th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6J 4Y6, Canada Tel (604) 730-7321 Fax (604) 730-7339 Web www.hungarianconsulatebc.com(link is external) Email amolnar@telus.net(link sends e-mail)
  • Iceland  940 Younette Drive, Vancouver, British Columbia, V7T 1S9, Canada Tel (604) 922-0854
  • India  325 Howe Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 1Z7, Canada Tel (604) 662-8811 Fax (604) 682-2471/682-3556 Web www.cgivancouver.com(link is external) Email indiapscg@telus.net(link sends e-mail)
  • Indonesia  1630 Alberni Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6G 1A6, Canada Tel (604) 682-8855 Fax (604) 662-8396
  • Indonesia  1300 - 1500 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, V6G 2Z6, Canada Tel 778-373-4916 Fax 604-685-1520
  • Ireland  210-837 Beatty Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 2M6, Canada Tel (604) 683-9233 Fax (604) 683-8402
  • Italy  510 West Hasting Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 1L8, Canada Tel (604) 684-7288, or (604) 688-0809 Fax (604)685-4263 Web www.consvancouver.esteri.it(link is external) Email consolato.vancouver@esteri.it(link sends e-mail)
  • Japan  1177 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 2K9, Canada Tel (604) 684-5868 Fax (604) 684-6939
  • Jordan  950-789 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6H 1H2, Canada Tel (604) 685-9200 Fax (866) 285-8886
  • Korea, Republic  1090 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 3V7, Canada Tel (604) 681-9581/2 Fax (604) 681-4864
  • Korea, Republic  780-999 Canada Place, Vancouver, V6C 3E1, Canada Tel (604) 683-1820 Fax (604) 687-6249
  • Lesotho  555 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 1Z5, Canada Tel (604) 681-9887 Fax (604) 681-8087
  • Lithuania  1088 Salsbury Drive, Vancouver, British Columbia, V5L 4A7, Canada Tel (604) 999-1904 Fax (604) 874-4180
  • Luxembourg  Suite 1100-925 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 3L2, Canada Tel (604) 408-5616 Fax (604) 408-5637
  • Malaysia  1805-111 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 4M3, Canada Tel (604) 685-9550 Fax (604) 685-9520
  • Malta  1880 - 1066 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 3X1, Canada Tel (604) 688-7861 Fax (604) 688-0426
  • Mauritius  1453 Laurier Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6H 1Z2, Canada Tel (604) 520-1013 Fax (604) 520-1413
  • Mexico  1177 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 2K3, Canada Tel (604) 684-3547, 684-1859 Fax (604) 684-2485 Web www.consulmexvan.com(link is external) Email mexico@consulmexvan.com(link sends e-mail)
  • Mexico  200 Granville Street, Vancouver, V6C 1S4, Canada Tel (604) 682-3648 Fax (604) 682-1355
  • Mexico  United Kingdom Building 409 Granville Street, Suite 658, Vancouver, V6C 1T2, Canada Tel (604) 669-2845 Fax (604) 669-3498
  • Monaco  PH-2225 Twin Creek Place, Vancouver, British Columbia, V7S 3K4, Canada Tel (604) 925-0210/cell 862-6878 Fax (604)-925-0210
  • Mongolia  c/o Heenan Blaikie LLP, 1055 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 2E9, Canada Tel (604) 891-1194 Fax (866) 591-8103
  • Montenegro  1177 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 2K3, Canada Tel (604) 608-1766 Fax (604) 608-1744
  • Netherlands  595 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V7X 1C4, Canada Tel (604) 684-6448 Fax (604) 684-3549
  • New Zealand  888 Dunsmuir Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 3K4, Canada Tel (604) 684-7388 Fax (604) 684-7333
  • Norway  1480 - 1188 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 4A2, Canada Tel (604) 682-7977 Fax (604) 682-8376
  • Pakistan  Suite 1400 - 510 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 1L8, Canada Tel (604) 569-1415 Fax (604) 569-2180 Web www.pcgv.org(link is external) Email info@pakistanconsulatevancouver.com(link sends e-mail)
  • Peru  505 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V7X 1M3, Canada Tel (604) 662-8880 Fax (604) 662-3564 Web www.consuladoperu.ca(link is external) Email infovan@consuladoperu.ca(link sends e-mail)
  • Philippines  700 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 1G8, Canada Tel (604) 685-7645 / (604) 613-0942 (24h) Fax (604) 685-9945
  • Philippines  675 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, V6B 1N2, Canada Tel (604) 682-5770 Fax (604) 692-0887
  • Poland  1177 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 2K3, Canada Tel (604) 688-3530/688-4730 or 988-4062 (24h) Fax (604) 688-3537
  • Portugal  925 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 3L2, Canada Tel (604) 688-6514, 806-0990 Fax (604) 685-7042
  • Romania  555 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V7X 1M8, Canada Tel (604) 633-0986 or (604) 369-3286 (24h) Fax (604) 633-0757
  • Russia  212-475 Howe Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 2X6, Canada Tel (604) 559-7877 Fax (604) 620-5009
  • Senegal  555 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V7X 1M8, Canada Tel (604) 684-5356 Fax (604) 443-5001
  • Serbia  7411 Vantage Way, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6J 4J5, Canada Tel (604) 940-3535 Fax (604) 946-5418 Email consul@scgconsulate.bc.ca(link sends e-mail)
  • Singapore  1095 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 2M6, Canada Tel (604) 622-5281 Fax (604) 685-2471
  • Slovak Republic  289 Abbot Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 2K7, Canada Tel (604) 682-0991 Fax (604) 682-0991 Web www.slovak.org(link is external) Email stan.lisiak@gmail.com(link sends e-mail)
  • Slovenia  595 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V7X 1J5, Canada Tel (604) 905-8599 Fax (604) 938-9409
  • Solomon Islands  Suite 500 - 666 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 3P6, Canada Tel (604) 638-6548 Fax (604) 637-9616 Web www.siconsulate.com(link is external) Email canada@siconsulate.com(link sends e-mail)
  • South Africa  1075 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 3C9, Canada Tel (604) 688-1301 Fax (604) 688-8193
  • Spain  1035 Marinaside Crescent, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 3A3, Canada Tel (604)687-8153
  • Sri Lanka  55 Water Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 1A1, Canada Tel (604) 646-3556
  • Sweden  1188 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 4A2, Canada Tel (604) 683-5838
  • Switzerland  World Trade Center, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 3E1, Canada Tel (604) 684-2231 Fax (604) 684-2806 (24h)
  • Syria  1040 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 4H1, Canada Tel (604) 608-4220 Fax (604) 682-3161 Web www.sawsanhabbal.com(link is external) Email sawsan@telus.net(link sends e-mail)
  • Thailand  1040 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 3Z3, Canada Tel (604) 687-1143 Fax (604) 687-4434
  • Thailand  1009-1166 Alberni Street, Vancouver, V6E 3Z3, Canada Tel (604) 687-6400 Fax (604) 683-6775
  • Tunisia  885 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 3H1, Canada Tel (604) 687-5700 Fax (604) 687-6314
  • Uganda  1361 Robson Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 1C6, Canada Tel (604) 687-6631 Fax (604) 687-5724
  • Ukraine  938 Howe Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 1N9, Canada Tel (604) 331-2505 Fax (604) 331-2515
  • United Kingdom  1111 Melville Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 3V6, Canada Tel (604) 683-4421 Fax (604) 681-0693
  • United States of America  1095 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 4E9, Canada Tel (604) 685-4311 Fax (604) 685-5285, 685-7304
  • Uruguay  595 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V7X 1C4, Canada Tel (604) 664-5828 Fax (604) 664-5838 Web www.northstar.ca(link is external) Email s.shepherd@northstar.ca(link sends e-mail)
  • Venezuela  1101-1030 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 2Y3, Canada Tel (604) 998-8080 Fax (604) 630-2111 Internet www.consulvenvancouver.org(link is external) Email info@consulvenvancouver.org(link sends e-mail)
  • Vietnam  605 Robson Street, Suite 800, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 5J3, Canada