Updated October 2026. Canada joined the Hague Apostille Convention, effective January 11, 2024. US documents going to Canada no longer need Canadian consulate legalization. They need an apostille instead, which is a single certificate attached by the US authority that oversees the document. Which office issues the apostille? It depends on who issued the document. State-issued documents, such as birth, marriage and death certificates, divorce decrees, court records and notariz

If you're looking to expatriate from the United States and move to Canada, it's likely that you've heard that some of your US documents require an Apostille. You'll be required to obtain paperwork and have them authenticated by the Secretary of State of the state of origination. Some common documents that require an Apostille are: FBI Background Check State Background Check Diplomas and Transcripts Employment Verification Single Status Affidavit Divorce Decrees Driver License