In June 2025, Canada launched an online apostille verification register. The register allows any party - a foreign institution, employer, or embassy - to confirm the authenticity of a Canadian apostille without contacting the issuing office.

Apostilles issued by these authorities can be verified through the Canadian apostille verification portal:

• Global Affairs Canada
• Alberta
• Saskatchewan
• British Columbia

Ontario ODS and Quebec's Ministère de la Justice apostilles are not yet in the register as of mid-2026. An Ontario or Quebec apostille cannot currently be verified through the portal. The receiving party must contact ODS or the Ministère directly to verify.

Check current coverage before relying on online verification for a time-sensitive submission.

Apostille fraud has occurred in international document contexts. The register makes fabrication or alteration significantly harder - receiving parties can confirm the apostille reference number against the issuing authority's record in real time. Some foreign authorities now require online verification as part of their standard document intake.

Canada currently issues apostilles in physical paper format only. GAC referenced e-apostille development in its initial 2023 Convention announcement. No implementation date has been set as of mid-2026. When e-apostilles become available, the physical process will remain available - e-apostilles will be an additional option, not a replacement for the existing method.