Schmidt & Schmidt provides services for the retrieval of civil status documents, as well as obtaining duplicates of lost or damaged documents in Canada with their subsequent legalization and translation.

If your personal documents are lost or damaged or you need to obtain current copies of documents it is necessary to request duplicates of documents. Often, those who have left Canada face difficulties in this procedure. Our service allows you to request documents in Canada remotely and we can carry out courier delivery of the document to anywhere in the world.

Validity of civil status documents in Canada

Civil status documents issued in Canada are usually valid for no more than 3 or 6 months, after which they must be replaced with new ones containing up-to-date data. In some federal states, documents are valid indefinitely, so this should be clarified at the place where the documents were issued. In addition, the receiving party may have time requirements.

When to obtain duplicate documents in Canada

A duplicate birth certificate, marriage certificate, name change certificate, divorce certificate, criminal record certificate or death certificate may be required to register a marriage abroad, a newborn child, citizenship, inheritance, data verification for pension applications, opening bank accounts, employment and other bureaucratic issues.

Birth certificate

Types of birth certificates:

• Birth certificate

This certificate includes information such as: name, date of birth, sex, birthplace, date of registration, registration number, date of issue and certificate number. It serves as an extract of information from the original birth registration.

• Birth certificate with parental information

This certificate includes all the information included in the birth certificate and also the names and places of birth from the parents. This certificate is for required parental information. Mostly needed for individuals under the age of 16.

• Certified copy of birth registration.

This certificate includes all details of the registration, is authenticated by the Office of the Registrar General, is printed on legal sized paper with a raised seal for security and verification and contains any name changes and corrections.

People applying for a birth certificate are required to present valid identification such as a Photo ID.

Marriage Certificate

The marriage certificate is a document to officially prove that the marriage is legally recognized. It is required for procedures like changing a last name, applying for spousal benefits or visa or immigration application. It can be obtained through an online application process or in person at the relevant offices which are either Provincial or Territorial Vital Offices.

Required documents

• Full name of both spouses
• Date and location of the marriage
• Identification ( Passport, Valid ID)

Death certificate

The death certificate serves as an official confirmation of an individual's death. It is required for settling the deceased's estate, claiming life insurance and closing financial accounts. These documents can be obtained through the provincial vital statistics office.

Required documents

• Full names of both parties
• Date of the divorce
• Court case number
• Valid identification

Police clearance certificate

This certificate is the verification of an individual's current criminal record status. It is usually required for employment, volunteering, immigration or visa application and adoption processes. It can be obtained via an application process by submitting a request at your local police station in your municipality or region for the certificate which may involve providing fingerprints. In some cases the application must be done through the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)

Required documents

• Identification
• Purpose of the request (employment, immigration)
• Present citizenship

Educational Documents

Foreign educational documents only carry the same legal value as Italian documents if they are exempt from legalization or have undergone the necessary legalization process. Documents from countries with bilateral agreements with Canada are fully exempt from legalization. Documents from countries that are part of the Hague Convention of 1961 undergo a simplified procedure called apostille. If neither countries are part of the convention or have bilateral agreements they undergo consular legalization

Apostille of duplicate documents in Canada

Canada joined the Hague Convention on the Simplified Legalization of Documents on October 5, 1961.
Thus, documents issued in Canada are subject to legalization under a simplified procedure - apostille, after notarized translation into any language, such documents acquire full legal force in the territory of the wished destination.
You can order an apostille for copies and duplicates of documents from Canada from us.