{"id":6581,"date":"2024-01-31T18:04:08","date_gmt":"2024-01-31T23:04:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.millerthomson.com\/the-apostille-convention-canada-charities-not-for-profits\/"},"modified":"2025-03-17T19:42:30","modified_gmt":"2025-03-17T23:42:30","slug":"the-apostille-convention-canada-charities-not-for-profits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.millerthomson.com\/en\/insights\/social-impact\/the-apostille-convention-canada-charities-not-for-profits\/","title":{"rendered":"The Apostille Convention comes to Canada: How it affects charities and not-for-profits"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Apostille Convention (the \u201cConvention<\/strong>\u201d) was introduced in Canada this month. This development will have a significant impact on individuals or organizations who are required to authenticate documents for use in a foreign country. For Canadian charities and not-for-profits, the main benefit is that it is easier to have public documents accepted abroad.<\/p>\n

Background<\/h2>\n

On January 11th<\/sup>, 2024, the Convention came into effect in Canada and eliminated various authentication steps. Canada submitted documentation to accede to the Convention on May 12th<\/sup>, 2023. Now, all authenticated documents in countries who are a party to the Convention shall include a standard certificate called an apostille. Apostilles confirm the official status of a document for use. It confirms the authenticity of the signature, the capacity in which the person who signed the document acted, and the identity of the seal or stamp on the document. This change is significant for charities and not-for-profits as it eliminates the need for them to navigate complex procedures, making it easier for the documents to gain acceptance in over 120 countries that have signed the Convention, including but not limited to Poland, China, and Brazil.<\/p>\n

Issuing apostilles in Canada<\/h2>\n

Apostilles are issued by Global Affairs Canada for (a) documents issued by the Government of Canada, and (b) documents issued or notarized in Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, the Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Prince Edward Island, and Yukon.<\/p>\n

Apostilles are issued by competent local authorities for documents issued or notarized in Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan. The Government of Canada has designated the following offices as competent authorities that are authorized to issue apostilles:<\/p>\n