Home / By document / University degree & transcript

Apostille for a university degree, diploma or transcript

Studying, working or getting licensed abroad almost always means proving your Canadian credential. Here is how degrees, diplomas and transcripts get apostilled, including the one rule that decides whether yours needs notarization first.

Competent authorityDecided by where the document was issued or notarized (see routing below)
NotarizationOften required, except Ontario public post-secondary since Jan 2019
Government fee$0 (Global Affairs Canada) up to $66.50 (Québec), at cost
What gets apostilledThe original (signed + sealed) or a notarized certified true copy

The rule that decides everything: notarize, or not?

An apostille verifies a signature and seal the authority can recognize. So the question is always: can the authority verify your institution's signature directly, or does it need a notary in between?

Direct, no notary

Ontario public post-secondary, 2019+

Degrees, diplomas and transcripts issued since 1 January 2019 by Ontario public colleges and universities are apostilled directly by Official Document Services, no notarization step. The fastest path in the country for academic documents.

Notarized copy

Most other cases

Other provinces, private institutions and older documents generally need a certified true copy made by a Canadian notary (or a registrar signature the authority keeps on file). A plain photocopy, or a signature the authority can't verify, is a leading rejection reason.

Protect your original. A notarized certified true copy lets the apostille go on the copy, so your single sealed original degree stays safe in your hands. For most people sending documents abroad, that's the route we recommend, we arrange the notarization as part of the order.

How your document is routed

The authority is set by where the document was issued or notarized, never by where you live now.

  • Ontario institutions → Official Document Services, Toronto (direct for 2019+ public post-secondary; otherwise notarized).
  • Québec, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan → each province's own authority, usually via a notarized certified true copy. Québec notarizations need Chambre des notaires verification first, build in lead time.
  • All other provinces & territories → Global Affairs Canada (free, ≈ 20 business days). A sealed, signed original may be authenticated directly; otherwise a notarized copy is required.
See fees and timelines for each authority on the by-province overview, or start the free pre-check and we'll confirm the exact routing for your institution and destination.

Degree, transcript, or both?

Degree / diploma

Proves the credential itself. Most common for employment, professional registration and immigration points.

Transcript

Lists courses and grades. Often required for further study, credential evaluation and licensing bodies, and sometimes mailed sealed directly by the institution.

Many destinations also require a certified translation of the apostilled document. Whether you need one, and into which language, depends on the receiving authority; we flag it at pre-check so nothing bounces back.
Common questions
Does my degree need to be notarized first?
It depends. Ontario public post-secondary degrees, diplomas and transcripts from 2019 onward are apostilled directly. Most other documents need a notarized certified true copy, or a registrar signature the authority can verify.
Which authority apostilles a Canadian degree?
Whichever covers the place it was issued or notarized: Ontario, Québec, BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan each have their own; everything else goes to Global Affairs Canada.
Should I do the diploma or the transcript?
Whatever the receiving body asks for, frequently both. We confirm the exact set at pre-check so you don't pay to apostille a document they won't use.
Do I need a translation too?
Often, for non-English/French destinations. The receiving authority sets the rule; we tell you whether a certified translation is required before you commit.
My diploma is only a PDF, can you apostille that?
An apostille goes on a physical document. A digital diploma usually has to be converted to a recognized printed form or notarized copy first, we'll explain the cleanest path for your institution.

Apostille your degree or transcript

Upload a scan and tell us the destination, we'll confirm whether it needs notarization, the exact routing, and a fixed all-in quote within one business day.

Free pre-check