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Apostille for a Canadian university degree, diploma or transcript
A foreign employer, university, licensing body or immigration office has asked for your Canadian degree with an apostille. The authority that issues it is decided by the province of the university, not by where you live now, and each province has its own rule on what it will stamp. We confirm the route for your exact document, obtain a fresh official copy from the university when you no longer hold the original, and ship the apostilled degree to you anywhere in the world. One contact, one written quote, nothing to pay until we start.
The province of the university, not your address
Canada has six apostille authorities. A McGill or Université de Montréal degree is a Québec document even if you now live in Dubai; a University of Toronto or Seneca diploma is an Ontario document even if you are in Vancouver. Two degrees from two provinces mean two submissions, which we run in parallel. Here is what each authority asks for an academic document.
| Province of the institution | Authority | Government fee | What they accept | Realistic timeline, door to door |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | Official Documents Services, Toronto | $32 per public postsecondary degree, diploma or transcript; $16 per notarized document | Degrees, diplomas and transcripts of Ontario public colleges and universities issued since January 1, 2019, as issued, on paper. Older documents and private institutions: certified true copy by an Ontario notary first | About 1 week with our in-person Toronto service; 3 to 4 weeks by mail |
| Québec | Ministère de la Justice, Montréal | $66.50 per document | An original issued by the university (diploma, official transcript, attestation) with a signature the Ministère can verify. Older diplomas and private non-subsidized colleges: certified true copy by a Québec notary, authenticated by the Chambre des notaires, then the Ministère | 2 to 3 weeks for a university-issued original; 3 to 6 weeks when a notarized copy is needed, 2 to 3 weeks with the Chambre's urgent service |
| British Columbia | Authentication Program, Victoria | $20 per document | Original from the institution, or a certified true copy by a B.C. notary or lawyer; confirmed at pre-check for your university | 3 to 6 weeks (the office quotes 2 to 4 weeks before mail) |
| Alberta | Official Documents and Appointments, Edmonton | $25 per document | Document certified by an official of the institution, with an original ink signature and embossed seal, obtained from the registrar | 2 to 4 weeks (7 to 10 business days at the office, plus mail) |
| Saskatchewan | Authentication Services, Regina | $50 per certificate | Original diploma or transcript issued by a Saskatchewan public postsecondary institution; notarized true copies for high school documents | 2 to 3 weeks (about a week at the office, plus mail) |
| Manitoba, Atlantic provinces, territories | Global Affairs Canada, Ottawa | Itemized on your quote | Paper document bearing an original, recognized signature and seal, from a recognized institution; otherwise a notarized copy. No laminated diplomas | About 35 business days end to end: roughly 25 at the office, plus mail each way |
Two ways to get an apostillable degree without mailing your only diploma
Most graduates who write to us are already abroad, and the framed diploma is either on a wall in another country or too precious to send. Both routes below end with a document the authority will stamp. We tell you at pre-check which one fits your university and your destination.
A fresh official document from the university
You order a replacement diploma, an official transcript or a letter confirming your degree from the registrar's office, and have it mailed directly to our office in Laval. It carries a current signature, which is exactly what the authority verifies, so it moves through cleanly. This is the route we recommend for Ontario public universities (apostilled as issued, $32) and for any case where the destination insists on a document "issued by the institution". Most universities take 1 to 3 weeks to produce it; we can place the order for you, or follow it up once you have placed it.
A notarized certified true copy, made in Canada
A Canadian notary compares a copy with the original, or with a verified scan when the authority allows it, and certifies it. The apostille then goes on the copy and your original stays in your hands. In Québec the notary's signature is first authenticated by the Chambre des notaires, then the Ministère de la Justice apostilles the file; our $229 Québec notarized tier covers both steps. In Ontario the notarized copy is apostilled at $16 instead of $32. This is the route for older diplomas, private institutions and anyone who needs the original back quickly.
What the countries that ask for degree apostilles usually want on top
The apostille is the Canadian half of the file. The receiving country then has its own step, usually a translation, sometimes a recognition procedure. These are the patterns we see most; the institution receiving your degree always has the final word, which is what the pre-check confirms before anyone is engaged.
| Destination | Typical reason | After the Canadian apostille |
|---|---|---|
| Spain | Homologación or equivalencia of the degree, regulated professions, master's admission | Sworn translation (traducción jurada) of the apostilled degree and transcript by a translator accredited by Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, done after the apostille so it covers the certificate too. Degree and transcript are usually both required |
| Italy | University enrolment, professional recognition, public-sector jobs | Translation into Italian and, for most academic uses, a dichiarazione di valore issued by the Italian consulate covering your university, on the basis of the apostilled documents |
| United Arab Emirates | Work visa, MOHESR degree recognition, teaching licence | The UAE is not a party to the Apostille Convention. The Canadian authentication is the first link; the degree then goes through the UAE embassy and Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation, now done online through VFS. Full chain in our UAE degree attestation guide |
| China | Work permit (Z visa), teaching, postgraduate admission | Apostille accepted since November 7, 2023, in place of consular legalization. Employers usually want the degree apostilled; some also ask for a Chinese translation, occasionally notarized |
| South Korea | E-2 teaching visa, university posts | Apostilled degree plus an apostilled criminal record check (the RCMP check goes to Global Affairs Canada, a separate submission). Original sealed transcripts are often requested by the school as well |
| Mexico | Work permits, revalidación de estudios, professional registration | Spanish translation by a perito traductor recognized in Mexico, after the apostille; for recognition of studies, the transcript with course hours is usually required too |
| Brazil | Work visa, revalidação of the degree, postgraduate admission | Sworn translation (tradução juramentada) done in Brazil on the apostilled documents; Brazilian universities frequently ask for the syllabus of each course as well, which the university must issue |
An apostille is not a credential evaluation, and a degree is not a transcript
WES, ICAS, IQAS: not an apostille
A credential evaluation from WES or a similar body states what your foreign qualification is worth in Canada. An apostille does the opposite: it lets a foreign authority trust that a Canadian document is genuine. Evaluators do not issue apostilles, and an apostille does not replace an evaluation when a country's own recognition body asks for one. Some destinations want both; your pre-check tells you which applies, and we only handle the apostille side.
Degree, transcript, or both
Employers usually want the degree. Universities, licensing bodies and recognition procedures such as Spain's homologación usually want the transcript as well, with courses, hours and grades. Each is a separate document with its own government fee, but both travel in the same submission at no extra service fee from us. It is much cheaper to send both in one pass than to discover the gap two months later.
Published prices, one written quote
Our service fee
$139 per submission, whatever the number of documents going to the same authority: degree and transcript together. Québec notarized route: $229 for the first document and $59 for each additional one, Chambre des notaires step included. Ontario in person at ODS within 48 business hours: $239 for the first document and $109 for each additional one. Full pricing.
Government fees and translation
Government fees at cost with the receipt: $66.50 per document in Québec, $32 or $16 in Ontario, $20 in British Columbia, $25 in Alberta, $50 in Saskatchewan. Translation, when your destination needs one, is quoted exactly at pre-check once we have seen the document and the language pair.
Shipping
Inside Canada, a flat $80 both ways by tracked courier, with the prepaid label emailed to you. Free pickup and return in Greater Montréal. Abroad, DHL Express at the live rate, quoted before anything is booked, to you, your employer or the receiving university.
Common questions about apostilling a Canadian degree
Which authority apostilles my Canadian degree?
I live abroad and my diploma is here with me. Do I have to mail it to Canada?
Does my degree need to be notarized first?
How much does it cost to apostille a Canadian degree?
How long does it take?
Can you apostille a digital diploma or a PDF transcript?
Is a WES evaluation the same thing as an apostille?
Do I need a translation too?
More background in our article how to apostille a Canadian university degree or transcript and on the university degree and transcript document page.
“I highly recommend this agency. They keep you informed every step of the way, providing accurate and reliable information and finding solutions to every issue that may arise. They are professional, responsive, and genuinely committed to making the entire process as smooth and stress-free as possible.”
“A very good team and excellent service! A super-organized team that truly cares about its clients. I received my apostille very quickly. I highly recommend them: I got the service in time, before my trip. Thank you to the whole team and all the best!”
“Great team and excellent coordination; I received my apostille in less than 6 days, just in time for my trip. Best of luck to the whole team!”
Send a scan of the degree and the name of the country
We confirm the authority, whether the university must issue a fresh copy or a notary can certify yours, whether a translation is needed, and give you one all-in written quote within the hour, 9 am to 10 pm Eastern, 7 days a week. Nothing to pay until you say go.
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