The allonge - the physical apostille certificate - follows the standardized format set by the Convention. Every apostille issued anywhere in the world contains the same 10 fields:

1. Country of origin
2. The person whose signature the apostille certifies
3. The capacity in which that person signed
4. The seal or stamp the document carries
5. Place of certification
6. Date of certification
7. Issuing authority
8. Certificate number
9. Seal or stamp of the issuing authority
10. Signature of the issuing authority

In Canada, the allonge is printed on a separate sheet in both English and French. It is attached to the front of the document - never stamped onto the document itself. The attachment method varies: Global Affairs Canada and some provinces use hole-punch rivets; others use staples with a seal over the fastening.

The certificate number on the allonge is the reference used for online verification in the apostille register. Keep a record of this number for any document you apostille.

The standardized format means a receiving party in Italy, Korea, Australia, or Brazil does not need to translate the apostille. The 10 fields are internationally recognized. Their job is to check that the number, the authority, and the date match what is in the Canadian verification register - and increasingly, they do this in real time through the online portal.