International FAQ
Questions we get a lot.
What is an apostille?
An apostille is a certificate issued by Global Affairs Canada that authenticates a Canadian public document for use in any country party to the Hague Apostille Convention. Canada joined on January 11, 2024. It replaces the older multi-step legalization for those countries.
Does my Canadian document need translation?
Usually, yes — for non-English destinations. Our Standard and Complete packages include a certified translation by a translator recognized in the receiving country.
How long does the apostille process take?
Global Affairs Canada apostilles in 2–4 business days. End-to-end we budget 1–2 weeks with shipping. Expedited handling is available for urgent matters.
Which countries require legalization instead of apostille?
Non-Hague states: UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, China (mainland, pre-2023), and others. We coordinate consular legalization — including notarization, provincial authentication (where applicable), and the relevant embassy stamps.
Can I authorize someone abroad to sell my property?
Yes. We draft a jurisdiction-specific Power of Attorney, notarize, apostille (or legalize), translate if required, and DHL to the destination. Common for condo sales in Jamaica, land sales in the Philippines, and NRI property transactions in India.
Will a Canadian POA work in my home country?
A POA drafted in Canada must usually be notarized in Canada, authenticated (apostilled or legalized), and translated. The receiving institution (bank, land registry, court) will also have its own acceptance rules. We prepare everything to the receiving country's standard.
Can you draft in my local legal format?
For the common destinations — Philippines, India, Jamaica, Trinidad, Mexico, UAE — we have drafting templates reviewed by counsel in the receiving country. For other jurisdictions we use UNIDROIT or local-counsel review.
Do you handle emergency / same-day?
For Toronto-area clients we offer same-day notarization. Apostille is faster through our courier; 3–5 business days is realistic for time-sensitive matters.
How do you ship?
DHL International with tracking. We can ship to the destination country, to you in Canada, or directly to your local lawyer / attorney-in-fact. Customs paperwork is handled.
Is the fee final or per-service?
You can buy piecewise (draft only, or draft + translate) or buy the Complete bundle. The order flow shows a running total before checkout, with no surprise fees.