Who can certify documents in Canada?
Certify documents in Canada
Your documents can be certified by Service Canada staff free of charge. You can certify your documents at any Service Canada center.
According to Service Canada, you need to send certified true photocopies of original documents rather than originals. However, in case you need to send the original documents you can do so by sending them by registered mail. Once your documentation is received, the office will return the originals.
In general, Service Canada will only accept a photocopy of an original document if you provide them in a readable format and if someone certifies that the documents are a true copy of the original one.
Who can certify a true photocopy of original documents in Canada?
- accountants
- chiefs of First Nations band
- commissioner for oaths
- uneral director
- justice of the peace
- lawyer, magistrate, notary
- manager of a financial institution
- medical and health practitioner: chiropractor, dentist, doctor, naturopathic doctor, nurse practitioner, ophthalmologist, optometrist, pharmacist, psychologist, a registered nurse
- member of parliament or their staff
- member of a provincial legislature or their staff
- minister of religion
- municipal clerk
- an official of a federal or provincial government department, or one of its agencies
- an official of an embassy, consulate or high commission
- an official of a country with which Canada has a reciprocal social security agreement
- police officer
- professional engineer
- social worker
- teacher
- university professor
Please note that you cannot certify photocopies of your own documents. Also, you cannot ask your relative to do it for you. If anyone above certifies your documents they must meet the following criteria. They must:
- Compare the original document to the provided photocopy
- Note down their official position, and put their signature and print their name
- Note the date they certified the photocopies
- Provide contact details
- Include this statement: This photocopy is a true copy of the original document which has not been altered in any way
Please note that to avoid any delays you must include all the mentioned details above. Otherwise, your application may get refused and you might have to start all over again and provide a new, proper copy.
What is a certified copy?
A certified copy is a photocopy of a document certified by a professional or issued by the government depending on its type. In general, a traditional certified copy refers to a photocopy of a document that is certified by a professional. However, a true certified copy is a copy of a document that is given by the government officials who originally provided the document.
A notarized or certified copy means that a Canadian notary public or commissioner for oaths has put a seal on your document (or signed) or on a separate certificate. The seal or signature means that they have prepared, signed attached the document.
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