Preparing B.C. Notarized Documents for Authentication

Examples of notarized documents include:

B.C. public documents notarized in B.C.

• Statutory Declaration
• Power of Attorney
• Affidavits
• B.C. Wills
• ICBC Documents (B.C. Driving Records, B.C. Driver’s Licenses, etc.)
• Notarized Copy (or Certified True Copy) of B.C. Criminal Record Check
• Travel Authorization or Consent Letter for Minors Travelling Abroad
• Translations of B.C. public documents

Certain federal Canadian public documents, only if notarized in B.C. 
(See Apostille transition courtesy service of other B.C.-notarized federal documents)

• RCMP Criminal Record Check
  • ​B.C. can only verify the B.C. notarization, not the federal RCMP signatory. (See When to send your document for federal Apostille)
• Canada Pension Plan (CPP) documents
• Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) documents

In British Columbia, all B.C. lawyers are B.C. Notaries Public, and there are also non-lawyer B.C. Notaries Public.

The notarized 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. See Information for BC Lawyers and Notaries.

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

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

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

Certain federal Canadian public documents (see list above) will be accepted for authentication, only if notarized in B.C.

Apostille transition courtesy service of other B.C.-notarized federal documents

As a temporary courtesy service during the Apostille transition period, all federal Canadian public documents will be accepted for authentication if they have been notarized in B.C.  Please be aware that this policy may change. Please check for updates here before sending in any federal Canadian documents that are notarized in B.C.

When to send your document for federal Apostille

B.C. can only verify the B.C. notary or lawyer, not the federal signatory on the original document that was notarized. You are responsible for contacting the embassy or consulate to find out what they require. If the foreign jurisdiction only accepts apostilled originals (requires verification of the federal signatory), you must send the original to Global Affairs Canada for a federal apostille.

Submitting multiple notarized documents with a Notarial Certificate

Multiple documents notarized by the same notary cannot be submitted as a single request (treated as a set of documents with one apostille) unless the notary has added a Notarial Certificate (signed, sealed, and dated by the notary) that lists all the documents within the notarized (true copy) set of documents. A Notarial Certificate is not required if:

• notarized supporting documentation is added to a B.C. legal document (e.g. affidavit, power of attorney, statutory declaration that references information in the notarized supporting documentation), or
• you are submitting multiple single documents as separate requests (each to be treated as single documents to be apostilled separately).

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

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 B.C. Notaries Public (B.C. lawyers or B.C. non-lawyers) are already on file with our office.
3. All authentication requests sent to the B.C. Authentication Program at 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 . *Reminder that there is no walk-in, drop off or while-you-wait service.

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

Notary signature and seal

Provincial authentication (notary)