Canada and the Apostille: Improving Processes Abroad

by | Aug 18, 2023 | Articles, GLC Abogados, Immigration Division

Canadá y la Apostilla gestión de procesos en el exterior

Canada and the Apostille: positive changes for the management of processes abroad

On May 16 of this year, the Government of Canada formally announced its accession to the Convention for the Elimination of the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents, also known as the Apostille Convention. It will come into effect in the North American country as of January 11th, 2024.

This decision means that Canadian citizens will now be able to authenticate, through the apostille, Canadian public documents such as birth, marriage and education certificates, criminal records and any other document to use them abroad. Like any other apostilled document, they will only be accepted and be effective in any of the 124 countries that have currently signed and ratified the Convention.

Why is this good news?

Because authenticating documents through the apostille is much simpler, faster and less expensive than the current legalization process (see the table below). This represents an ideal opportunity for Canadian citizens to take advantage of it and to invest abroad.

Differences between the current and future process to authenticate a public document

Legalization (current process) Apostille (starting on January 11th, 2024)
 

  1. Documents are requested from the corresponding Public Office in Canada.
  2. The person issuing them must sign them on behalf of the Public Office.
  3. The documents must be presented before the nearest Consulate of Costa Rica, so the Costa Rican Consul certifies the authenticity of the signature, the capacity of the signatory and the seal or stamp it bears.
  4. The documents are sent to Costa Rica.
  5. In the country, the documents must be submitted to the Authentication Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship of Costa Rica, to attest the legitimacy of the signatures on the documents.
  6. After this, the documents will be valid and officially recognized in Costa Rica (provided they have an official translation to Spanish).
 Apostille (starting on January 11th, 2024)
1. Documents are requested from the corresponding Public Office in Canada.
2. The person issuing them must sign them on behalf of the Public Office, and attach the apostille.
3. The documents are sent to Costa Rica.
4. Once in Costa Rica, the documents are valid and officially recognized in the country (provided they have an official translation to Spanish).

 

If you are interested in the immigration process, please do not hesitate to contact us by phone at +506 2105-3100 or via e-mail at eugenia@glcabogados.com

Written by Eugenia Víquez and Gabriel Porras

 

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