Attestation of documents Attestation of documents

Attestation of documents

ATTESTATION OF DOCUMENTS

  1. GENERAL

     Click here for Declaration for Non-requirement of attestation of apostilled Canadian document.

Note: "The Hague Apostille Convention, 1961, abolishes the requirement of legalization of foreign documents for use in any member country, once an Apostille certificate (including e-Apostille) has been issued by a competent authority of the country where the document originates. Therefore, no further attestation or legalization by an Indian Mission/Post of an apostilled document is required for use in India as India is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention.

The full text of the Hague Apostille Convention and list of its member countries are available at: https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/specialised-sections/apostille.”

  • All Attestation applications have to be submitted with BLS International Services Ltd. Please visit their website https://www.blsindia-canada.com/ for information and appointment.
  • Walk-in service is available at all BLS Centres.
  • The Consulate General of India has not appointed any other agent for giving attestation services.
  • Consulate reserves the right to reject attestation of documents, the contents of which are objectionable or contrary to the rules.
  • The consulate will attest, seal and sign only the back side of relevant page of the main document. Supporting papers attached thereto will not be attested in any case.
  • Please ensure that the seal affixed by the notary (in case of notarized docuemnts) is not tampered/broken.
  • Consular Jurisdiction: Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, Yukon Territory and Northwest Territories.
  • Processing time:
    • 10-12 business days after receiving completed documents in the Consulate.
    • Click here for Check List for Attestation Services.

 

2. DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

  • Documents to be attested in original along with one photocopy of the entire set.
  • Self attested copies of valid passport and PR/study permit/work permit/valid visa as applicable, and proof of address {copy of DL / home utility bill / rent agreement/Provincial Photo ID (any one)} under our consular jurisdiction in Canada.
  • Duly filled up miscellaneous service form by all applicant (s) (To download form, please click here). In case of joint POA/Affidavit/Document, all signatories have to fill Misc service form and should provide self attested copies of all supporting documents.
  • Fees: please see the NOTE 3 below.
  • The Consulate does not prescribe any specific format/type of for Power of Attorney. The same should be as per service seeker’s requirements, on a plain paper. Power of attorney should begin with the name (strictly as per passport), passport number and present residential address of the executant along with his/her photograph affixed at the end of subject matter. It should contain local Canadian address in the first paragraph of the document. The locally notarized document should not be more than three months old.

III. PROCEDURE TO BE FOLLOWED

  1. INDIAN PASSPORT HOLDERS:

In-person applications:

  • Original + one copy of the Power of attorney (POA), Affidavit, Declaration, or other civil documents must be brought to the BLS Centre along with the copies of ‘supporting documents.’ Signature is to be made on the documents at BLS Centre in presence of their authorized officials.
  • Download miscellaneous form, fill it completely, paste photograph and sign it. Attach filled in Misc form with photocopy of the original document/POA and self-attested copies of all supporting documents (passport, address and status proof of the executant (s) in Canada). In case of joint POA/Affidavit/Document, all signatories have to fill Misc service form and should provide self attested copies of all supporting documents.
  • These two sets (original and copy), along with the required fee, can be presented to the BLS Centre by the executant(s) and witnesses, if any required.
  • Indian Passport holders are not required to notarize/authenticate POA/Affidavit from designated Provincial Authorities or Ministry of Foreign Affairs Canada, if submitting documents in-person at BLS Centre. Witness, if any, to the document has to sign in presence of authorized official of BLS Centre.

Mail/courier applications:

  • Power of attorney (POA) in original, Affidavit, Declaration, or other civil documents should be attested by the local notary. Please ensure that the seal affixed by the notary is not tampered/broken. Documents with broken/tampered seal will be rejected.
  • Download miscellaneous form, fill it completely, paste photograph and sign it. Attach filled in Misc form with photocopy of the original document/POA and self-attested copies of all supporting documents (passport, address and status proof of the executant (s) in Canada). In case of joint POA/Affidavit/Document, all signatories have to fill Misc service form and should provide self attested copies of all supporting documents.
  • These two sets (original & copy), along with the required fee, can either be presented in person by executant or a person authorized by the executant, or mailed to the BLS Centre.
  • Do not mail any original supporting documents.
  • The Consulate do not take responsibility for delay caused due to return/refusal of the documents by the mail/courier agency.

2. NON-INDIAN PASSPORT HOLDERS

India is a signatory to The Hague Apostille Convention, 1961 since 26 October 2004. Canada became a member of the Convention on 11 January 2024.

In accordance with the Convention, any Apostille Certificate (including e-Apostille) issued by a competent authority in Canada requires no further attestation/legalization by High Commission of India, Ottawa/Consulate General of India, Toronto/Consulate General of India, Vancouver.

Relevant information in this regard can be seen at the following links:

Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi: https://www.mea.gov.in/Images/amb/apostille_circular_new.pdf

Global Affairs Canada, Ottawa:

https://www.international.gc.ca/gac-amc/about-a_propos/services/authentication-authentification/apostille-convention.aspx?lang=eng

Declaration of non-requirement of attestation/legalization of apostilled Canadian documents by Consulate General of India, Vancouver is given at https://cgivancouver.gov.in/public_files/assets/pdf/vancouver_6sep2024_1.pdf

The above may be downloaded and presented to concerned officials, if needed.

1. IMPORTANT NOTES

AUTHENTICATION AUTHORITIES

Details of the relevant authentication authorities are as follows:

Province

Office

Address

Website

British Columbia

BC Attorney General’s Office

Ministry of Attorney General,

OIC Administration Office,

Attention: BC Authentication Program,

1001 Douglas Street

(PO Box 9280 Stn Prov Govt),

Victoria, BC V8W 2C5

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/government-id/guide-to-the-authentication-of-documents

Alberta

Deputy Provincial Secretary of Alberta

Deputy Provincial Secretary’s Office, Room 111,

Bowker Building 9833,

109 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2E8

https://www.alberta.ca/document-authentication-other-jurisdictions-countries.aspx

Saskatchewan

Attestation Services, Ministry of Justice and Attorney General

Ministry of Justice and Attorney General
Authentication Services
800 - 1874 Scarth Street
Regina SK S4P 4B3

https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/notarized-documents-legislation-maps/authenticating-notarized-documents

North West Territory

Legal Registries,

Department of Justice

Government of the Northwest Territories

Legal Registries

Department of Justice

Government of the Northwest Territories

1st Floor Stuart M. Hodgson Building, 5009 49th Street

PO Box 1320,

Yellowknife, NT, X1A 2L9

https://www.justice.gov.nt.ca/en/divisions/legal-registries-division/corporate-registries/

Yukon Territory

Office of Registrar/Law Society of Yukon

304-104 Elliott Street
Whitehorse

https://yukon.ca/en/legal-and-social-supports/legal-services/find-notary

Ministry of Foreign affairs of Canada

Authentication Services Section (JLAC),

Global Affairs Canada

Global Affairs Canada
Authentication Services Section (JLAC)
125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, ON K1A 0G2
Canada

https://www.international.gc.ca/gac-amc/about-a_propos/services/authentication-authentification/step-etape-1.aspx?lang=eng

https://www.international.gc.ca/gac-amc/about-a_propos/services/authentication-authentification/apostille-convention.aspx?lang=eng#a2

AFFIDAVITS / NOC FOR MINOR’S PASSPORT

For issuing passports to minor, practice of notarized affidavits has been done away with by Ministry of External Affairs vide gazette notification of 26-12-2016. Thus, there is no need to issue affidavits in the format of annexure H & G in India or any Indian Embassy / High Commission / Consulate. It is also confirmed that applications of minor applicants for issue of passport may be processed by RPOs on self-attested Annexure C/D and other documents, as the case may be. All the self-declarations can also be submitted on plain paper.

FEE

In addition to BLS service charges following is the fee chart for various attestation services:

Type of Document

Procedure

Fee

Power of Attorney/Affidavits pertaining to sale, purchase, mortgage, transfer, gift etc. of real estate or moveable properties

As mentioned under para III- PROCEDURE TO BE FOLLOWED

C$27+$3 (Consular Surcharge).
Total fee: C$ 30/-.
Draft, Money Order or Certified Cheque only

Attestation of civil documents, affidavits, Indian passport copy

As mentioned under para III- PROCEDURE TO BE FOLLOWED.

Original Indian passport is required for attestation of its copy.

Note: Ex-parte divorce is not accepted for attestation. Copy of complete judgment order duly authenticated by Provincial authority/GAC is to be submitted along with Passport/Visa/OCI/PCC etc application. No further attestation shall be made by the Consulate.

C$14+$3 (Consular Surcharge).
Total fee: C$ 17/-.
Draft, Money Order or Certified Cheque only

Annexure D for applying passport of minor child in India

As mentioned under para III- PROCEDURE TO BE FOLLOWED

C$14+$3 (Consular Surcharge).
Total fee: C$ 17/-.
Draft, Money Order or Certified Cheque only

Attestation of Lost Indian Passport Affidavit [click here for affidavit]

As mentioned under para III- PROCEDURE TO BE FOLLOWED

Landing paper mentioning Indian passport number duly authenticated by authorized Canadian government at federal/provincial level may be presented along with notarized affidavit with other supporting documents for OCI/Visa applications. Copy of Nationality Certificate should be attached with OCI/Visa applications. No further attestation from Consulate is required for the document duly authenticated by designated authentication authorities.

C$14+$3 (Consular Surcharge).
Total fee: C$ 17/-.
Draft, Money Order or Certified Cheque only

Commercial Documents

As mentioned under para III- PROCEDURE TO BE FOLLOWED

No further attestation from Consulate is required for the document duly authenticated by Provincial/GAC authority.

For attestation of commercial documents, the signatures of Notary Public are required to be authenticated by the designated authorities of the province concerned. A copy of the passport or any other identification document of the Director of the company is required. An authority letter on behalf of the company is required in case it is submitted by anyone else other than the Director of the company.

Purpose of seeking attestation should be clearly mentioned on document itself or should be supported by a separate declaration.

C$68+$3 (Consular surcharge) per document.
Total fee: C$ 71/-.
Draft, Money Order or Certified Cheque only

Attestation of Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Death Certificate issued by Government of Canada

As mentioned under para III- PROCEDURE TO BE FOLLOWED

The documents such as Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Death Certificate, Educational Certificate issued by Canadian Authorities requires authentication by the designated authorities of the province concerned or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

No further attestation from Consulate is required for the document duly authenticated by designated authentication authorities.

C$ 14+ $3 (Consular surcharge) per document.
Total fee: C$ 17/-.
Draft, Money Order or Certified Cheque only

Will Document

As mentioned under para III- PROCEDURE TO BE FOLLOWED

Note: If the executant of the will is deceased then the last will has to be probated from the court and thereafter authenticated from the Provincial Authority or Ministry of Foreign Affairs. No further attestation from Consulate is required for the document duly authenticated by designated authentication authorities.

C$ 27+ $3 (Consular surcharge) per document.
Total fee: C$ 30/-Draft, Money Order or Certified Cheque only

Adoption documents:

As mentioned under para III- PROCEDURE TO BE FOLLOWED

To be notarized by Notary Public and duly authenticated by the designated Provincial Authority concerned.

(Adoption deed to be prepared as per Hague Convention)

No further attestation from Consulate is required for the document duly authenticated by designated authentication authorities.

C$ 14+$3 (consular Surcharge) each document.

Total fee: C$ 17/-.
Draft, Money Order or Certified Cheque only

Documents issued by Indian Authorities

As mentioned under para III- PROCEDURE TO BE FOLLOWED

Birth, Death, Marriage and Educational Certificates etc. issued by the Indian authorities in India can also be attested by the Consulate provided the same have been authenticated by the designated officer of the State Government and validated by the Consular Section of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Patiala House, New Delhi-110001 or any other agency approved by the Ministry of External Affairs. For details, please check the website https://mea.gov.in/apostille-menu.htm

C$ 14+$3 (consular Surcharge) each document.

Total fee: C$ 17/-.
Draft, Money Order or Certified Cheque only

Visit of Consular Officer for service

Consular Officer can visit for the service in case of utmost medical exigency. A prior request with prescribed fee is required to be deposited for the service.

Officer’s travelling allowances and daily allowance C$139 for each visit plus Consular fee for services required