US Certificate of Incorporation Apostille in Canada

Sample certificate of incorporation

US certificate of incorporation apostille is mandatory if you are trying to use your US issued certificate of Incorporation in Canada. COI with apostille has lots of Advantages in legal or official affairs in Canada. 

If you are planning to use your US Certificate of Incorporation in Canada, authenticating it with an apostille is mandatory. An apostille authenticates your certificate of incorporation for international use under the Hague convention. This article will explain in detail about the process, requirement and timeline of getting an apostille for a US certificate of incorporation. 

What is a US Apostille in Canada?

A US apostille in Canada involves getting an apostille stamp on your US issued documents while you are in Canada. An apostille is a certification issued for a document by designated authority in a country, as per the guidelines of Hague Apostille convention. It makes a public document issued in one country legally valid in another country. 

Since the US is a federal state, unlike other countries there are multiple apostille issuing authorities. The US department of state secretary will provide apostille for federal documents, and the respective state secretary provides apostille for state issued documents.

4 Easy steps to get US Apostille on the documents

  1. Register on Apostille Portal 
  2. Collect certificates that need US Apostille
  3. Deposit the photocopies / original certificates
  4. Receive Documents with Apostille directly at your doorstep

What Is the Certificate of Incorporation?

Certificate of incorporation which is also known as articles of incorporation is a document confirming the formation of the company as per the corporate law of the respective state. In the United States it is generally issued by the secretary of the respective state. 

A certificate of incorporation includes following details: 

  • Company name
  • Business purpose
  • Legal Address
  • Number of shares the corporation can issue
  • Name, address and signature of one or more incorporators

Why Do You Need a US Certificate of Incorporation Apostille in Canada?

The reasons why you need to get an apostille for a US certificate of incorporation in Canada are: 

  • To open a business bank account in Canada while your company is registered in the US.
  • To register your US company in Canada
  • To enter into international contracts or partnerships with Canada
  • To comply with Canadian legal or administrative requirements 

Step-by-Step Process for Apostilling a US Certificate of Incorporation in Canada

  1. Confirm whether you are going to submit your certificate of incorporation in a Hague apostille country or not. Your document with an apostille will be accepted legally only if the country is a Hague member country. 
  2. Get a certified copy of your certificate of incorporation from the secretary of the state where your company is registered. Certified copy is mandatory in case of COI apostille; notarized copy is not accepted.
  3. Submit the certified copy to the SLS : You can send the  certified copy of the COI to our US head office. 
  4. Pay the apostille fee online
  5. The office of the secretary of the state verifies the authenticity of the certificate of incorporation by checking whether it is an official certified copy and the signature and seal are from an authorized state official. If there is any discrepancy they will ask you for resubmission.
  6. Issuance of apostille: Once verified, the Secretary of State attaches an apostille certificate to the document. This certificate is either stapled or affixed with a ribbon to your original document. 
  7. Delivery of Apostille: We deliver your apostilled certificate of incorporation to your home whether it is in the US or anywhere else in the world.

Details Included in an Apostille

The apostille usually includes:

  • Name and title of the issuing state official
  • Seal/stamp of the state
  • Unique apostille number and date of issuance
  • Reference to the Hague Apostille Convention (1961)

Cost of US Certificate of Incorporation Apostille in Canada

Cost of getting an apostille for Certificate of Incorporation Apostille varies depending on factors such as: 

  1. State of issuance of certificate of incorporation
  2. Services you choose- expedited services will cost more than the normal cost. 
  3. Courier charges to Canada after apostille

Legalization of US Certificate of Incorporation for non Hague Countries in Canada

If you are in Canada and you want to submit your US company’s certificate of incorporation in a non-Hague country, you need to follow a different method. For non Hague countries the secretary of the state issues an Authentication Certificate verifying the signature and seal on your corporate document. Instead of an apostille, this certificate is called a Certificate of Authentication. Then follow below steps to legalize COI for a non Hague country. 

  • Submit the document to the U.S. Department of State – Office of Authentications in Washington, D.C and get a Federal Authentication Certificate. 
  • Finally, the authenticated document must be legalized at the embassy or consulate of the destination country (located in the U.S.). For example, if it is submitted in the UAE, attestation should be obtained from the UAE embassy in the USA.

Obtaining an apostille for your US certificate of incorporation in Canada is critical for legitimate international business activities in Canada. With the help of an authorized apostille service for US documents in Canada, you can get an apostille for a US issued certificate of incorporation in Canada fast and secure from anywhere in the world.

US Certificate of Incorporation Apostille in Canada Application form Based on State of Issuance

Name of the state Email ID for Apostille Application Apostille Application form
Apostille for Alabama State issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for Alaska State issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for Arizona issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for Arkansas issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for California issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for Colorado issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for Connecticut issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for Delaware issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for Florida issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for Georgia issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for Hawaii issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for Idaho issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for Illinois issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for Indiana issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for Iowa issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for Kansas issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for Kentucky issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for Louisiana issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for Maine issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for Maryland issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for Massachusetts issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for Michigan issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for Minnesota issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for Mississippi issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for Mississippi issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for Montana issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for Nebraska issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for Nevada issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for New Hampshire issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for New Jersey issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for New Mexico issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for New York issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for North Carolina issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for North Dakota issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for Ohio issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for Oklahoma issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for Oregon issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for Pennsylvania issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for Rhode Island issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for South Carolina issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for South Dakota issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for Tennessee issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for Texas issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for Utah issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for Vermont issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for Virginia issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for Washington issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for West Virginia issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for Wisconsin issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada
Apostille for Wyoming issued Certificate of Incorporation in Canada

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Frequently asked questions

No. Only the country that issued the document can provide an apostille. Thus, a document issued in the US can get an apostille from the US only. Canadian authorities cannot give apostille for US documents. 

Yes. With the help of authorized US apostille service providers such as Secure Legalization Services with their presence in Canada, can get the entire process done on behalf of you.

Processing time varies by state and service method:

  • Standard mail service: 1–3 weeks

Expedited or in-person requests: 1–3 business days

Each U.S. state has its own Secretary of State office that issues apostilles. For example, Delaware corporations must request an apostille directly from the Delaware Division of Corporations.

Generally, no. A Certificate of Incorporation issued directly by a state’s Secretary of State is already an official document. If you are submitting a copy, it must be a certified copy from the issuing office.

US Birth Certificate Apostille Services in Canadian Cities

Location Contact Number Email ID
US Apostille Service in Brampton, Ontario
US Apostille Service in Calgary, Alberta
US Apostille Service in Edmonton, Alberta
US Apostille Service in Halifax, Nova Scotia
US Apostille Service in Hamilton, Ontario
US Apostille Service in London, Ontario
US Apostille Service in Mississauga, Ontario
US Apostille Service in Montreal, Quebec
US Apostille Service in Ottawa, Ontario
US Apostille Service in Quebec City, Quebec
US Apostille Service in Surrey, British Columbia
US Apostille Service in Toronto, Ontario
US Apostille Service in Vancouver, British Columbia
US Apostille Service in Winnipeg, Manitoba
US Apostille Service in Windsor, Ontario