Certificate of Origin & Commercial Invoice Authentication Legalization: A Guide for Exporters
If you're exporting Canadian-made products to a foreign country, you'll be asked to provide a Certificate of Origin along with a Commercial Invoice. To be accepted as valid with your shipment, these documents need to be authenticated and legalized. The process may be referred to as Certificate of Origin Legalization in countries like Iraq, Egypt, and Kuwait or as an Apostille in others, but it's recognized as equivalent across the board.
Getting Your Certificate of Origin Ready for Authentication
The first step in the authentication process is getting the Chamber of Commerce in your area to assist you with certification. They play an important role in the process and are recognized as the non-government business accreditation agency in most foreign countries. Once they sign and stamp the Certificate of Origin and Commercial Invoice, they're ready for authentication at Global Affairs Canada.
If you're not a member of your local Chamber of Commerce, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce offers a service called "Certification Made Simple – TradeCert" to help you with your certificate of origin needs. They provide all the forms, including a certificate of origin template, and allow you to send them the chamber-certified certificate of origin via email. We also offer free pick-up of your documents from their headquarters in Ottawa.
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Step 1: Global Affairs Canada Authentication
The next step is to have your documents authenticated at Global Affairs Canada's Authentication Services Section, also located in Ottawa. After authentication, they're ready for legalization at the embassy of the country you're exporting to. It's important to start the authentication process as soon as possible, as processing times are longer than ever at Global Affairs Canada. You can find out their current processing time here.
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Step 2: Attestation - Legalization at the Embassy Consulate
The final step in the legalization process takes place at the embassy or consulate of the country you're exporting to. They're usually located in Ottawa and charge a fee for their document legalization services. Processing times and requirements can vary, but our certificate of origin legalization services will handle everything for you to ensure a smooth process.
Other Documents That May Need Authentication and Legalization
You may have other documents, such as a Confirmation of Business Registration, a Manufacturer's Declaration, or a Representational Agreement, that also require authentication and legalization. We can help you with these documents as well.
In conclusion, trust the experts in certificate of origin authentication legalization to help you with your important shipments. Get in touch with one of our friendly agents to find out how we can make the process easy for you.