Frequently Asked Questions

An Apostille is a special certification that is used to prove a document’s authenticity when it is being sent overseas. An Apostille certifies a document for international use under the terms of the 1961 Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents (the 'Hague Apostille Convention'). On October 5, 1961, many nations joined to create a simplified method of “legalizing” documents for universal recognition. This group of nations agreed on the Apostille Section of the Hague Convention. They adopted a document referred to as an Apostille that is internationally recognized by all member nations. The official site for the Hague Conference on Private International Law is: www.hcch.net.  However, an Apostille can only be used if both countries are members of the Hague Apostille Convention. As Canada is not a member, Apostilles are not available in Canada. 

Apostilles and Legalizations are for certifying the authenticity of the signature or seal of the person or authority that signed or sealed a document and the capacity in which this was done. Apostilles and Legalizations do not certify the underlying content of the document to which it relates. As such, neither will add any additional weight to the content of an underlying document. 

They have a similar effect, but are actually two very different procedures. The legalization procedure is the historic diplomatic chain method used to verify international documents; whereas the Apostille process is a modern shortcut that came about in 1961.  Although they differ, the authentication & legalization process is the equivalent of the Apostille process. Given that Canada does not issue Apostille certificates, if have been told to get your document Apostilled, you will actually need get your document authenticated and legalized. Foreign notaries and lawyers will often use the wrong term, or use the terms interchangeably.  But we ensure your documentation is processed correctly for the recipient country.

To ‘internationalize’ a document, Canadians must use the diplomatic chain method, which involves notarization, authentication, and consular legalization. These steps establish the authenticity of Canadian documents being sent overseas. As you might expect, international procedures are quite obscure and particular. Each country has different requirements, each consulate or embassy has specific procedures, and certain documents are treated differently from others. Complicating things even further, as Canada isn’t a signatory of the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention, Apostille certificates aren’t actually available in Canada. Instead, Canadians must use the three-step diplomatic ‘chain’ method mentioned above: (a) notarization, (b) authentication, and (c) legalization (aka super-legalization). Vancouver Apostille is Vancouver’s leading document legalization firm, and we provide expedited one-stop service. Once we authenticate and legalize your document, we guarantee it will be recognized as legal and valid in your recipient country, just as if an Apostille had been used.

Vancouver Apostille is a professional company specializing in consular legalization services. Simply put, we process local documents for international use. With all services provided by Vancouver law firm Brosgall Legal, Vancouver Apostille has become western Canada’s leading global document processing company. 

Vancouver Apostille is local – our office is conveniently located in downtown Vancouver, across from the Law Courts. You can visit our office to sign paperwork or drop off your documents. This matters, because when you visit our office, we review your paperwork to ensure that everything is in order. You’ll never be frustrated by delays, returns, rejections, or missing items. 

Vancouver Apostille is independent – you’ll always deal with local lawyer and owner Adam Brosgall at our Vancouver office, not a subsidiary, not a satellite office, and definitely not a ‘canned’ branch office of some far flung company. You’ll get an experienced and knowledgeable expert to handle your file at all times.  Instead of the usual “Good question, I’ll get back to you”, you’ll get answers.

Vancouver Apostille excels at customer service – that’s why we’re the leader in our field. From the first time you contact our company, to the moment you receive your completed documentation, you’ll see our dedication and enthusiasm. We do everything possible to ensure a smooth, timely and professional experience during your document legalization process. 
 

The authentication and legalization procedure is required when a document from one country must be presented in another country. 

Almost any kind of personal or business document can be authenticated and legalized. Vancouver Apostille often assists clients with their personal or corporate transactions, property purchases and sales, estates and probate documentation, educational documentation, and overseas marriages, etc… The most common documents that Vancouver Apostille authenticates and legalizes are powers of attorney, passports, diplomas, and vital statistic certificates.  Some other examples include:

Personal Documents: Adoption Documents, Affidavits, Bank letters, Passports, Bills of Sale, Birth Certificates, Private Documents, Death Certificates, School and College Diplomas, Divorce Decrees, Identity Documents, Marriage Certificates, Passports, Police Records (Non-criminal record Certificate), Powers of Attorney, Proof of non-marriage, Property Deeds, Contracts, Transcripts, University degrees, Warrants and Authorizations, and Wills.

Business Documents: Incorporation Certificates, Articles of Incorporation, Assignments, Bylaws, Bills of Sale, Certificate of Good Standing, Commercial invoices, Letter of Invitation, Patent Applications, and Trademarks.

Vancouver Apostille handles every document authentication and legalization on a case by case basis, as every file is unique. Generally speaking, once we have your document, it must first be notarized, then it is sent to the correct provincial or Canadian authorities to be authenticated, and finally we will have it legalized by the relevant consulate or embassy of the recipient country. However, every document has different requirements, each country has their own particular procedures, and rules constantly change. We handle all these details on your behalf, so you get expedited, seamless service – guaranteed.

The turnaround time for our Embassy Legalization services depends specifically on the type of document you need to be authenticated and legalized, and which consulate or embassy that will be processing the document. We can process some countries in a matter of days, and yet others can take approximately 2 to 3 weeks.  Most countries will take 7 to 10 business days. Please contact Vancouver Apostille directly for a more accurate ETA.

As a part of our authentication and legalization service, Vancouver Apostille takes care of everything, including the payment of administrative, courier, government, agent, money order, and consular fees.

We accept cash, cheque, money order, e-transfer, major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express), PayPal, and wire transfers.

In some cases, a document will need to be translated prior to being authenticated and legalized.  In order to streamline the translation process, Vancouver Apostille works closely with a STIBC certified translation service. We have translated documents (from or to English) in over 100 languages.

The following countries use authentication and legalization: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China - People's Republic, Comoros, Congo - Dem. Rep., Congo - Rep. Brazzaville, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, East Timor, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea - Bissau, Guinea - Republic, Guyana, Haiti, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Libya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Micronesia, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar/Burma, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Palau, Palestine, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

The following countries use Apostille certification: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, China (Hong Kong), China (Macao), Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malawi, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niue (Cook Islands), Norway, Oman, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom (Great Britain), Vanuatu, Venezuela

To get started, simply book an appointment to visit or office. Most people email or call us first to make sure everything is in order before visiting. When you contact Vancouver Apostille, you’ll always speak to an international transaction specialist (not a receptionist), so all your questions will be answered. In certain circumstances, you may even be able to simply courier everything to our office. Either way, once Vancouver Apostille has your documentation, we’ll take care of everything else. The entire process typically takes about 10 business days to complete. You can pick up the completed paperwork from our office, or we can scan you a copy and deliver the originals to your overseas contact.

Yes!  Vancouver Apostille specializes in international transactions. Over the past decade, we’ve authenticated and legalized 1000s of documents for use in over 100 different countries. All services are provided by Adam Brosgall of Brosgall Legal, a Vancouver law firm. Adam Brosgall is an international transaction specialist whose practice focuses on document legalization (Apostille) services. Vancouver Apostille works closely with various government agencies, foreign consulates and embassies in Vancouver, Toronto, and Ottawa. We regularly handle complex foreign transactions; quite often for other BC lawyers or foreign notaries and lawyers. We have significant experience validating personal and business documentation for overseas use. 

Adam Brosgall graduated from the University of British Columbia with a BA degree, and from the University of Leeds in England with an MA degree 'with distinction' - both in geography. He got his law degree from the University of Calgary, and was called to the BC Bar in 1999. Adam is a member in good standing of the Law Society of BC, and is accredited by the BC Ministry of Justice, and Global Affairs Canada. (JLAC/DFAIT).Adam currently sits on the Executive Committee of the Vancouver branch of the Canadian International Council, and is a member of both the Canadian Council on International Law and the International Law Association.

• Email: adam@brosgall.com
• Direct Tel: 604-685-ADAM (2326)
• Address: Suite 615 - 938 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1N9, Canada
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