The Hague Convention: A Game Changer for Canadian Document Legalization
In a significant development, the Canadian Office of International Affairs, also recognized as Global Affairs, made a groundbreaking announcement on May 16, 2023. Canada has taken a monumental step by formally becoming a part of the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents, famously known as the Apostille Convention.
Apostille: The Future of Document Authentication Legalizing Foreign Public Documents Will Be Replaced by an “Apostille” Certificate.
Commencing January 11, 2024, the Apostille Convention will come into full effect within Canada. The apostille will give authenticity to Canadian public documents, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, criminal records, and name changes, on an international scale.
A New Era of Efficiency and Ease Although comprehensive details regarding the document apostille process and the transitional measures during the shift from legalization to apostille authentication are yet to be disclosed, this change undoubtedly ushers in a new era of efficiency and ease.
It is important to note that until January 11, 2024, when the new regulations take effect, Canadian documents will continue to undergo authentication in accordance with the prevailing legalization requirements of their respective destination countries.
Embarking On the Costa Rican Residency Process As a pertinent reminder, for those embarking on the Costa Rican Residency Process, certain documents that are currently subjected to the authentication and legalization process will transition to the apostille authentication process starting January 2024. These documents include:
Birth Certificate (long form)
Criminal Background Check, also known as RCMP (Royal Canadian Mountain Police)
Marriage Certificates (if applicable)
Pension Benefits (if applicable)
The adoption of the Apostille Convention by Canada represents a significant leap forward in simplifying the authentication of foreign public documents. As we await further guidance on the transition, clients can rest assured that Costa Dream Immigration will continue to provide the support and expertise they need. Stay tuned for more updates as we enter this new era of efficiency and ease in document authentication.
