1. Sent to the Wrong Authority – Federal documents go to GAC; provincial documents must go to the correct provincial office.
2. Incomplete Forms – Missing signatures, blank fields, or incorrect details on the EXT-2165 or provincial forms.
3. Wrong Payment – Incorrect amount or wrong payee name will cause your package to be returned.
4. No Prepaid Return Envelope – Apostilled documents are only returned if you include a tracked envelope or courier waybill.
5. Damaged or Altered Documents – Torn, laminated, or corrected documents cannot be processed.
6. Photocopies Instead of Originals/Certified Copies – Only original or notarized/certified copies are accepted.
7. Unregistered Signatures – The official who signed the document must be in the GAC or provincial registry.
8. Missing Notarization for Private Documents – Degrees, affidavits, powers of attorney, and other private documents require notarized copies before submission.
9. Poor Packaging or Documentation – Stapled, folded, or unorganized submissions can delay or invalidate your request.
10. Notarized vital statistics document instead of certified copy – Birth, marriage, or death certificates must be official certified copies from the issuing registry. Notarizing adds nothing and can confuse authorities.
11. RCMP name mismatch – Ensure the full legal name (including middle names) on your RCMP check exactly matches your passport to avoid consulate flags.

Pro Tip: Double-check the issuing authority, complete all forms, pay accurately, notarize private documents, and always use tracked return shipping.