I. What is the apostille?

The Hague apostille (or simply apostille) is a simplified method of document legalization to verify its authenticity for presentation abroad. It is a stamp or sheet attached to the original document or a verifiable digital certificate.

If the state where the document was signed is a party to the "Apostille Convention," you can apostille your document in that country for recognition in other countries that are also party to the Convention. You can check the list of Member States here.

Both the Argentine Republic and Canada are contracting parties to the "Apostille Convention." Canada joined on January 11, 2024.

II. Documents issued in Argentina. How to request the apostille?

The apostille application process is strictly personal; no agents or intermediaries are accepted.

There are 3 ways to request the apostille of a document signed in Argentina:

1. Request for apostille before the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade, and Worship

The procedure is entirely online and requires an AFIP fiscal key. Documents issued by Argentine authorities or organizations in electronic or paper format, attached in PDF format, signed digitally or in handwriting, are apostillable. More information here.

2. Request for apostille before the College of Notaries

An agreement has been reached between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade, and Worship and the Argentine Federal Council of Notaries for the Notaries' Colleges in Argentina to affix the Apostille, without the need for the Ministry's intervention in Buenos Aires. Contact the Notaries' Colleges to learn about the requirements for each case. The CFNA website, www.cfna.org.ar/colegios, provides information on each College.

3. Request for apostille before this Consulate General

Under this modality, only documents with a digital signature and a verifiable signature panel are apostillable. If the document has a handwritten signature, it must be legalized beforehand by the Ministry of the Interior (the procedure is free and online).

The Consulate facilitates the apostille of the document.

The process involves two payments:

i. Consular fee for the service = CAD 42.

ii. Apostille fee = 4,500 Argentine pesos to be paid in CAD at the corresponding exchange rate.

The process may take up to 5 business days. It is not necessary to have a tax ID.

The apostille issued by Argentina is a digital document (PDF) with a digital signature that contains the apostilled document "embedded" within it. The apostilled document can be verified at the following link.

To request the apostille of a document, please follow these steps:

1. Download and complete an apostille request form for each document.
2. Send the PDF file of the document with a digital signature along with the scanned form by email to cgvan@cancilleria.gob.ar.
3. Once it is verified that the document is eligible for apostille, you will receive an email with a link to make the payment of the consular fee (i) with a credit or debit card.
4. Upon payment confirmation, the document will be apostilled.
5. Once the Apostille is received, you will be asked to pay the apostille fee (ii).
6. Subsequently, the Apostille will be sent to you by email.

III. Documents issued by Canada