Apostille & Document Authentication in Canada

A simple guide to authenticating your documents for Croatian citizenship applications

What You Need to Know

All Canadian documents except for the Criminal Record must be authenticated before Croatia will accept them
Ontario, Alberta, BC, Quebec, and Saskatchewan handle apostilles directly. Rest of Provinces is with Global Affairs.
Cost up to 65 CAD / Processing times range from 10-25 business days depending on your province

Documents That Need Apostille

Birth Certificate

Your Canadian birth certificate

Marriage Certificate

If applicable to your application

What is an Apostille?

An apostille is a certificate that verifies the authenticity of a public document. Since January 2024, Canada has joined the Apostille Convention, which simplifies the process of using Canadian documents in other member countries, including Croatia.

What This Means for Your Application

Your Canadian documents—such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, and other public records—must be authenticated with an apostille before they can be submitted as part of your Croatian citizenship application.

Important Note

Since January 11, 2024, Canada has implemented a new system where some provinces handle apostilles directly, while others require authentication through Global Affairs Canada. This page has been updated to reflect that.

Source: Global Affairs Canada

The Authentication Process

Check Your Province's Process

The authentication process varies depending on which Canadian province issued your document. Some provinces handle apostilles directly, while others require you to go through Global Affairs Canada.

Submit Your Documents

Follow your province's specific guidelines (detailed below) to submit your documents for authentication. Note that fees and processing times differ by province.

What's Next? Document Translation

After authentication, have your documents translated into Croatian by a certified translator.Learn more about the translation process →

Provincial Authentication Categories

Provinces with Direct Apostille

These provinces handle apostilles directly without requiring Global Affairs Canada authentication:

Ontario
Alberta
Saskatchewan
British Columbia
Quebec

Provinces Requiring Global Affairs

For these provinces, documents must be sent directly to Global Affairs Canada:

Manitoba
New Brunswick
Newfoundland and Labrador
Northwest Territories
Nova Scotia
Nunavut
Prince Edward Island
Yukon

Official Website:

Quebec Document Authentication

Source: Information compiled from official provincial government websites, April 2025

Global Affairs Canada Authentication

For documents from Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Prince Edward Island, and Yukon, authentication is handled directly by Global Affairs Canada.

Fee:

Free

Processing Time:

15-25 business days (processing + shipping)

Same-day service available in person

Official Website:

Global Affairs Canada Authentication Services

Source: Global Affairs Canada - Authentication Services

Common Questions

Do all documents need to be authenticated?

For Croatian citizenship applications, all official Canadian documents (birth certificates and marriage certificates) must be authenticated.

Do I need to apostille my criminal record?

No, you only need to translate your criminal record for the Croatian citizenship by descent application.

How long is an apostille valid?

An apostille does not expire.

How do I translate my documents?

To translate your documents, they need to be translated into Croatian by a certified translator.Learn more about the translation process →

Need Help with the Apostille?

We can tell you exactly what to do, saving you time and guaranteeing your Croatian citizenship application.