Submitting a foreign-language document in Canada, or sending a Canadian document abroad? Start with the direction: the translation, certification, and apostille rules are not the same.
Requirements reviewed by Sarah Jenkins
Academic Credential Translation Specialist · Last verified June 2026
Reviewed June 2026 · Sarah Jenkins
Canada follows a certified-translation standard: a document not in English or French needs a certified translation by a translator certified by a Canadian provincial or territorial association, or one accompanied by an affidavit. IRCC, universities, and credential evaluators accept this. Canada joined the Hague Apostille Convention on 11 January 2024, so a Canadian document used abroad is now apostilled by Global Affairs Canada or the issuing province — replacing the old authentication-and-legalization process.
Confirm final requirements with the authority receiving the document.
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Quick reference
Confirm final requirements with the authority receiving the document.
| Translation standard | Certified translation |
|---|---|
| Who can translate | Translator certified by a provincial or territorial professional association |
| Apostille | When the receiving authority requires authentication; separate from translation |
| Apostille authority | Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan apostille documents issued or notarized in their province; Global Affairs Canada handles the remaining provinces, the territories, and federal documents. |
| Accepted languages | English or French |
| Responsible authority | Global Affairs Canada / Provincial authorities (for apostilles issued in Canada) |
Official-use requirements
The local certification system, who may translate, and what gives the finished document legal effect.
Cross-border authentication
Canada is part of the Hague Apostille Convention (since 2024), so public documents are authenticated with a single apostille — no consular legalization.
From Canada
Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan apostille documents issued or notarized in their province; Global Affairs Canada handles the remaining provinces, the territories, and federal documents.The Convention entered into force for Canada on 11 January 2024, replacing the previous authentication and consular legalization process.
Toward Canada
A U.S. document going to Canada is apostilled in the United States — the state Secretary of State, or the U.S. Department of State for federal documents — and since 11 January 2024 Canada accepts the apostille in place of consular legalization.
When the receiving authority requires an apostille on the original, obtain it before translation so the apostille certificate can be translated too. See how apostilles work, or order a certified translation.
Submission checklist
IRCC accepts a translation by a certified translator, or a translation accompanied by an affidavit if the translator is not a member of a provincial association.
The translator's stamp and certification, or a sworn affidavit, must accompany the translation.
File them with IRCC, the credential evaluator (WES/ECE), or the university.
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Two directions, two rulebooks
Choose the destination first. It determines the language, certification, and whether an apostille belongs in the packet.
Authorities in Canada accept certified English translations with a signed Certificate of Accuracy. We translate from 65+ languages with 24-hour delivery.
A U.S. document going to Canada is apostilled in the United States — the state Secretary of State, or the U.S. Department of State for federal documents — and since 11 January 2024 Canada accepts the apostille in place of consular legalization.
Common document types
The document types we certify most often — each with its own pricing and requirements page.
Avoid preventable delays
The mistakes we see most often on Canadian documents — and what a correct certified translation does instead.
IRCC requires either a certified translator's stamp or a sworn affidavit; a bare translation with neither is returned.
Even a partly-French Canadian document needs the parts not in English or French translated; leaving them out makes the translation incomplete.
If the translator is not certified by a provincial or territorial association, IRCC requires an affidavit swearing to the accuracy of the translation.
Clear per-page pricing
A one-page certificate is priced as a single page; multi-page transcripts and records are priced by their page count. Standard translation delivery is 24 hours for most 1–3 page orders. Notarization, hard-copy mailing, and apostille service are priced separately because their timelines differ.
Certified translation from
One physical source page, any length.
Start my translation See all pricing and add-onsQuestions people ask before submitting
Yes. IRCC accepts a translation by a translator certified by a Canadian provincial or territorial association, or a translation accompanied by an affidavit if the translator is not certified.
certified translation basicsIf the translator is not a certified member of a provincial or territorial association, IRCC requires an affidavit — a statement sworn before a commissioner of oaths — confirming the translation's accuracy and the translator's competence.
what a certified translation isYes. The Apostille Convention entered into force for Canada on 11 January 2024. Canadian public documents used abroad are now apostilled by Global Affairs Canada or the issuing province, replacing authentication and consular legalization.
how apostilles workYes. WES and ECE accept a certified English translation submitted with the original transcript and diploma. The translation preserves the grading scale so the evaluator can map credits.
WES-accepted translationWe translate from 60+ languages into English, each with a signed certification, for documents going to IRCC, Canadian universities, and credential evaluators.
languages we translatePricing is per page. A one-page certificate is a single page; multi-page transcripts are priced by page count. Notarization and apostille are optional add-ons.
see live pricingNo. IRCC does not accept translations by the applicant or their family members. The translation must be done by an independent translator and certified, or accompanied by an affidavit.
what a certified translation isInformation verified against official sources. Last verified June 2026.
