On May 16th 2023, Canada announced that it has joined the Hague Apostille Convention. The abolishment of the requirement to legalize foreign public documents under the Apostille Convention will come into effect on January 11th 2024 when Canada will begin to Apostille Documents.
Until January 11th 2024, “Canadian documents will continue to be authenticated according to the specific legalization requirements of their countries of destination and the procedures currently in place”, says Global Affairs Canada
As of that date, on January 11th 2024, Canadian citizens and businesses will be able to use Canadian public documents (e.g. birth and marriage certificates, education certificates and corporate records) with the authenticity certificate called an ‘apostille.’ This certificate will allow the documents to be used in any of the 124 member countries, including NICARAGUA. Click here for list of “contracting states” (member countries).
Global Affairs Canada say that “Over 200,000 Canadian public documents are authenticated every year”, therefore the accession to the Apostille Convention will provide Canadians with a cost-effective and streamlined method for getting their Canadian public documents accepted abroad. Click here for full statement from Global Affairs Canada.
They will be updating their information between now and January 11th 2024 when the convention comes into effect. Until it does, Canadian documents will continue to be authenticated according to the specific legalization requirements of their countries of destination and the procedures currently in place. (Residency Applications)
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What is the Apostille Convention?
The Hague Convention of the 5th of October 1961 (HCCH 1961 Apostille Convention) abolished the requirement of public document legalization and thereby facilitates the use of public documents abroad.
It eliminates the need for the more traditional method of legalization which can be tedious and costly for the applicant needing their document s accepted by a foreign country.
The procedure creates a single Apostille certificate by a competent authority at the place where the document originated from.
Over 120 countries now participate in the 1961 Apostille Convention and as a result it stands a one of the most widely applied multilateral treaties assisting the legal process worldwide with several million Apostilles each year.
Trivia: Apostille – French, meaning a marginal or bottom note and derived from the Latin term “postilla”, an explanatory note. In modern times it means a certification.
