Official Canadian Documents for use in the Philippines
Canada is home to nearly one million people of Filipino descent, leading to a significant amount of interaction between the two countries on both personal and corporate levels. This interaction involves the exchange of thousands of documents each year for purposes such as citizenship, employment, inheritance, business partnerships, expanding existing subsidiaries, or merging with a Filipino corporation. To ensure that these documents are legitimate, a verification process has been developed.
You may have heard of an apostille, although Canada has not signed the Hague apostille convention the Philippines has. As a result, Canadian documents must go through the original process of authentication and legalization for use in the Philippines. The same is not true for Filipino documents that need to be used abroad, but this article and our services are only focused on Canadian documents.
Importance of authentication and legalization of Canadian documents for use in the Philippines
The authentication and legalization process is necessary for nearly every Canadian document that needs to be used outside of Canada. A Canadian document must contain two signatures to be considered valid for use in the Philippines: one from an agent at Global Affairs Canada and another from the consul of the consular section of the Embassy of the Philippines.
Step by step explanation of the authentication and legalization process
The first step of authentication requires the signature of an authorized individual such as a lawyer or notary public to attest to the validity of the document. Some documents, such as RCMP police checks and vital statistics documents, are issued with signatures that are already recognized by Global Affairs Canada. However, there may be additional requirements that must be met before an agent at Global Affairs Canada can stamp, sign, and seal your Canadian documents. This process can take up to 15+ business days.
Once the document has been authenticated by Global Affairs Canada, it must then be sent to the consular section of the Filipino embassy in Ottawa. The consular section has its own requirements and fees that must be provided, and these can change frequently. They look for the signature of an agent from Global Affairs Canada and attach a certificate with their own stamp, seal, and signature to make the document valid for use in the Philippines. This process can be challenging and time-consuming, even for those familiar with it, leading to frequent delays and loss of time and money.
Global Document Solutions – A Better Solution
This is where our company, Global Document Solutions, comes in with a cost-effective alternative to the authentication and legalization process. Our company has been providing these services for over 30 years, and we have become the leaders in the industry, developing a process that has become the standard. We have built strong professional relationships with agents at Global Affairs Canada and staff at the consular section of the embassy of the Philippines, allowing us to stay up-to-date on changing requirements and fees.
Our 5 Easy Step System
- Preparing your documents for authentication
- Ensuring all requirements for legalization are met
- Providing you with a choice of authentication services
- Sending your documents to our head office in Ottawa for processing, which you can do through our service centers across Canada
- Keeping you updated throughout the process and providing support as needed.
In conclusion, the authentication and legalization process is essential for Canadian documents to be considered valid for use in the Philippines. Our company, Global Document Solutions, provides a cost-effective and stress-free alternative to this process, with a professional service and guaranteed acceptance of your documents as valid in the Philippines. If you have Canadian documents that need to be used in the Philippines, contact us today
