Apostille for Canada: when you need one and when you don’t
Canada joined the Hague Apostille Convention on January 11, 2024. Since then we are often asked whether a Ukrainian certificate, diploma or police clearance now needs an apostille for Canada. The short answer is usually no. Here is why, and when you will need one after all.
Ukrainian documents for Canada: a translation is usually enough
In practice Canadian institutions accept Ukrainian documents without an apostille; a translation certified by a notary is enough. Exceptions do happen and requirements can change, so check with the office you are applying to before you file.
What Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada asks for
With an IRCC application, every document that is not in English or French is filed together with a translation and the translator’s affidavit confirming its accuracy. Outside Canada that affidavit is made before a notary.
- No family translators. The applicant and their relatives — parents, spouse, children, siblings and other family members — may not do the translation.
- The document, translation and affidavit go in together, as one set.
- Names exactly as in the passport. The spelling must match the Latin letters in your international passport.
Diplomas: WES credential evaluation
WES has its own rules: your school sends the education documents directly, and the translation must be complete and word for word. More on the page diploma recognition and translation.
When you do need an apostille
If a Canadian office explicitly asks for an apostille, it is placed in Ukraine, on the original and before translation. Civil registry, court and notarial documents are apostilled by the Ministry of Justice, education documents by the Ministry of Education, police clearance certificates by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Steps and timelines are on the page apostille in Ukraine.
A Canadian document for Ukraine
The other way round it is different: without an apostille a Canadian document will not be accepted in Ukraine, and a notary will not certify its translation. The apostille is issued in Canada — by Global Affairs Canada or a designated provincial ministry, including Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan. After that we translate the document into Ukrainian and have it notarized. Why there is no way around it: see foreign documents without an apostille.
Who can help
If you are already in Canada and need a translation for Canadian institutions, our separate company Global Lingo Canada handles that. Documents from Ukraine — duplicate certificates, police clearance, apostille — we obtain without you travelling and send them to Canada.
Send a photo of your document on Telegram and we will tell you whether your case needs an apostille.