Preparing B.C. Notarized Documents for Authentication

Examples of notarized documents include:

  • Statutory Declaration
  • Power of Attorney
  • Affidavits
  • B.C. Wills
  • Notarized Copy (or Certified True Copy) of B.C. Criminal Record Check
  • Travel Authorization or Consent Letter for Minors Travelling Abroad
  • Canada Pension Plan (CPP) documents
  • Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) documents

The document must be signed, dated and sealed by a B.C. Notary Public (B.C. lawyer or B.C. non-lawyer) who is already on file with our office to avoid delays.

Documents must be notarized (signed, dated and sealed) by the notary in their capacity as a notary, not in their capacity as a commissioner or other non-notary designation. Documents signed or sealed in their capacity as a commissioner or other non-notary designation will not be authenticated.

Notarized copies of B.C. Vital Statistics Documents will not be accepted for authentication.

Notarized copies of foreign documents or non-B.C. public documents will not be accepted for authentication.

Certain federal Canadian public documents will be accepted for authentication if notarized in B.C. Examples include, as listed above: 

  • Criminal Record Check
  • Canada Pension Plan (CPP) documents
  • Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) documents

If your document is over 40 pages in length, you must contact us before submitting the document for authentication.

Note that you are solely responsible for ensuring that an embassy or consulate will accept the documents in the format authenticated.

Step-by-step instructions

  1. Contact the embassy or consulate to determine what is needed.
  2. If documents must be notarized before authentication, email BCAuthentication@gov.bc.ca to find out which signatories are already on file with our office.
  3. All authentication requests sent to the Order in Council (OIC) Administration Office must include a signed and dated B.C. Document Authentication Request form and all applicable fees.
  4. See Submitting your Documents for Authentication for instructions on how to complete the B.C. Document Authentication Request form online. In the form, select "Notarized Documents" as the document type you are submitting.
  5. If you would like documents returned by courier to your address or a different address, please follow all instructions for Return Mail Service.
  6. Mail or courier to the B.C. Authentication Program or leave in dropbox in lobby at 1001 Douglas Street during business hours (8:30 am to 4:30 pm) Monday to Friday. *Reminder that there is no walk-in or while-you-wait service.

See below for samples of a notary signature and seal, and provincial authentication (notary):

Notary signature and seal

Sample image of a notary seal and signature

Provincial authentication (notary)

Provincial authentication of notarized documents in British Columbia