Ontario is making it easier for Windsor residents to authenticate birth certificates, corporate power of attorneys, or diplomas for use outside Canada.
In-person document authentication is now available at the ServiceOntario location at Windsor City Hall.
It is one of four new locations offering the in-person service. The other three are in Ottawa, Sault Ste. Marie, and Thunder Bay.
The standard mail-in option, previously the only avenue available to residents in the city, often takes 15 days to complete.
Those doing business, travelling, or studying abroad often need those documents for international adoptions or visas.
The government anticipates a flood of those requests when Canada joins the Hague Apostille Convention next January. The convention governs the process that legalizes a document issued in one country to be certified for use in another. When Canada joins, Ontario will be solely responsible for authenticating provincially-issued documents.
"Whether someone is preparing for a major life event, a new job, or an adventure abroad, authenticating documents for international use is often a crucial and time-sensitive matter," said Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery Kaleed Rasheed.
Ontario residents can use an online document authentication portal to ensure eligibility before proceeding.
The Official Documents Service office processed nearly 67,000 documents between April 1, 2022 and March 31, 2023.
