Document Legalisation
The People’s Republic of China has not signed The Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (1961) official documents are therefore required to be notarised by a notary public, Authenticated/ legalised by the FCO Legalisation Office and the Chinese Consulate or Embassy. Basically, to be able to use your documents in China you will need to legalise them before you apply for your Z Visa.
Note: documents must be legalised in the country of issue.
To legalise a Canadian public document, you have to follow the three steps outlined below:
Documents:
- Degree Certificate
- Teaching Qualification (TEFL, TESOL, CELTA, ETC)
- Criminal Records Report (original copy) - FYI this document must be within its six-month validity when you arrive in China.
Notarisation is a form of legal certification which certify that a document or a signature is authentic or a true copy. It is the first step in the process of legalisation.
You will need to have your document notarised by a notary public or solicitor.
Non Criminal Record Certificate issued in Canada do not need to be notarised.
By the Authentication and Service of Documents Section of Global Affairs Canada.
It proves that the signature, the position of an official and the seal on a certified document are genuine. Other jurisdictions or countries will recognise your authenticated document as a valid copy.
How to Apply:
Authenticating a document is free.
Processing times: In-person
If the signature on the documents cannot be verified immediately, you will be advised to return to pick up your documents.
We can process up to 15 documents while you wait. If you have more than 15 documents, you must leave them with us and we will contact you when they are ready to be picked up. This could take up to five business days, depending on how many documents you need authenticated.
- 16-30 documents will take 24 hours to process
- 31-50 documents will take 48 business hours to process
- 51-100 documents will take 72 business hours to process
- 101+ will take up to 5 business days
Processing times: Mail or Courier
- The processing time for mailed-in requests is 10 business days from the date we receive your documents.
- Please add at least 10 working days if you choose to send and receive your documents by regular mail within Canada.
Global Affairs Canada
JLAC- Authentication Services Section
1st floor (Look for the signs: “JLAC- Authentication Services Section”)
111 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
K1N 1J1
- No appointment necessary
- Underground public parking is available for a fee
Hours of operation
- Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. until noon, and between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.
- The office is closed Fridays, weekends, civic and statutory holidays
General enquiries center
613-944-4000
1-800-267-8376.
After completing step one and two, please submit your documents to the Embassy or Consulate of the People’s Republic of China for legalisation.
The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Ottowa, Canada no longer deal with legalisation requests. As of the 1st of August 2018 you will have to submit your documents to the Chinese Visa Application Service Center (CVASC).
Note: The Visa Centre in Ottawa can only accept applications submitted by the applicants whose residential or work addresses fall in the following areas: Ottawa Region, Gatineau (QC), Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nunavut. Applications from other provinces or areas of Canada or countries other than Canada are not acceptable.
If you would like to submit your documents to one of the Chinese Consulates-General in Canada for consular authentication (Please click here for the consular jurisdiction of the Chinese Embassy and Consulates General in Canada )The notarised documents need to be authenticated by the authentication office of the corresponding province (territory), if the applicant would like to bring the document to the Consulates General for authentication.
- completed and signed Application Form of Consular Legalisation:
- The original and a photocopy of the documents that has been authenticated by the Canadian authentication authorities.
- The original and a photocopy of passport
- If you entrust someone else to submit your application on your behalf a photocopy of both the entrusted person’s and the applicant’s passport or driver’s license should be provided.
Fee
- Regular service: Civil documents: $30 per document
- Express service: an additional fee of $35 per document will be charged.
- Next-day rush service: an additional fee of $50 per document will be charged.
Payment Method
- Money Order
- Company’s Check
- Debit Card
- Cash
- Credit Card
Personal Check will not be accepted.
Please contact the Chinese Visa Application Service Center (CVASC).
Processing time: Chinese Embassy/consulate
- Regular: 4 working days.
- Express: 2 working days. Documents can be picked up on the 3rd business day.
- Next-day rush service: 1 working day. Documents can be picked up on the 2nd working day.
Please contact the Chinese Visa Application Service Center (CVASC) for further information.
Chinese Visa Application Service Centre in Ottawa
Office Address: 220 Laurier Avenue West,Suite 1450, Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 5Z9,Canada
Business hours:
Business Hours: Monday-Friday(except Chinese and Canadian public holidays)
Application Submission: 9:00AM to 3:00PM (Urgent Application Submission: 9:00AM to 11:30AM)
Payment and Passport Collection: 9:00AM-4:00PM
The Center is closed on Saturdays and Sundays.
Contact information
Phone: 001-613-563-8472
Fax: 001-613-563-8473
E-mail: ottawacenter@visaforchina.org
Ontario :
Ministry of Government Services
6th Floor, 700 University Ave,
Toronto, Ontario M7A 2S4
Tel: 416-325 8416 Fax: 416-3258434
Manitoba:
Department of consumer and corporate affairs
Room 1034, 10th Floor, 405 Broadway
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 3L6
Tel: 204-9452654
British Columbia:
Order in Council Administration
Ministry of Attorney General
Room 208A 553 Superior St.
Victoria, British Columbia
V8V 1X4
Tel: 250-387-4376 Fax: 250-387-4349
Yukon:
Office of the Commissioner
211 Hawkins St.
Whitehorse, Yukon
Y1A 1X3
Tel:867-667-5121 Fax:867-393-6201
Alberta:
Deputy Provincial Secretary’ Office
Room 111, 9833-109 St. Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2E8
Tel: 780-4275069, 3100000, 3104455
Saskatchewan:
Ministry of Justice and Attorney General, Authentication Services
800-1874 Searth Street,
Regina SK, S4P 4B3
Tel:306-7873899
Quebec:
Secretaire de la Chambre des Notaires du Quebec
600-1801 avenue McGill College,
Montreal, QC H3A 0A7
Tel:514-8791793
New Brunswick:
Office of the Lieutenant-Governor
P.O. Box 6000, Fredericton, N.B. E3B 5H1
Newfoundland:
Office of the Lieutenant-Governor, Government House,
P.O. Box 5517, St. John’s, Newfoundland
Northwest Territories:
Legal Registries, Department of Justice
1st Floor, Sourt M. Hodgson Building, 5009-49th Street
PO BOX 1320, Yellowknife, N.T. X1A 2L9
