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Aug 6, 2025
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Applying for parents sponsorship and require translation of both birth and marriage certificate. Any recommendations for this service? If they are a certified translator, do I still need an affidavit or is that enough?
 
If you are translating your foreign marriage certificate and birth document you need to make sure you that it's an official translator from your home country, once translated you need to get the translation verified, then take it to the Ministry of External Affairs and authenticate it for the document to be used in Canada.

If you are doing the translation here in Canada (for non-legal foreign documents like whatsapp conversations or Canadian-provide documents from am embassy here). I would get it translated by the official translators that are affiliated with the Canadian Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters Council (CTTIC). You do not need an affidavit if you are doing it from Canada.

For example in Ontario (for me), I used ATIO. But if you are in other provinces, each province has their own

ATINS (New Brunswick)
CTINB (New Brunswick)
OTTIAQ (Quebec)
ATIM (Manitoba)
ATIS (Saskatchewan)
ATIA (Alberta)
STIBC (British Columbia)

Once translated by a canadian translater, you need to get it noirized, and then authenticated from your embassy or consulate to your home country.

Please note, if it's a foreign document, it must be translated + verified + authenticated from your home country to be used in Canada before you use your documents in spousal application. A police check and Directorate of Civil Affairs document would be helpful too.
 
If you are translating your foreign marriage certificate and birth document you need to make sure you that it's an official translator from your home country, once translated you need to get the translation verified, then take it to the Ministry of External Affairs and authenticate it for the document to be used in Canada.
...
Once translated by a canadian translater, you need to get it noirized, and then authenticated from your embassy or consulate to your home country.

Please note, if it's a foreign document, it must be translated + verified + authenticated from your home country to be used in Canada before you use your documents in spousal application. A police check and Directorate of Civil Affairs document would be helpful too.
This information is incorrect - ignore this person, has no idea what they're talking about. Authentication is NOT a required step for all countries (indeed I'd say most).

It MAY be required for some countries - but far from all.
 
This information is incorrect - ignore this person, has no idea what they're talking about. Authentication is NOT a required step for all countries (indeed I'd say most).

It MAY be required for some countries - but far from all.
Most countries do. I also speak on experience.

Also it does not hurt to get it authenticated. Why hurt your chances more? You lose nothing by getting it authenticated. And its usually done same day.
 
Most countries do. I also speak on experience.

Also it does not hurt to get it authenticated. Why hurt your chances more? You lose nothing by getting it authenticated. And its usually done same day.
It is, bluntly, incredibly stupid advice to do unnecessary, time-consuming, and (sometimes) expensive procedures. Indeed, idiotic.

The credible advice is: follow the instructions. They are here: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigratio...er-dependent-child-complete-guide.html#gather

Most of the time, it is just as stated: "For any documents that are not in English or French, you must attach the following, unless your checklist specifies otherwise:
  • a certified copy of the original document; and
  • The English or French translation, and
  • An affidavit from the person who completed the translation. See Translation of documents below."
Note the text: unless your checklist specifies otherwise. The checklist will include country-specific information, i.e. if authentication, apostilles, or other steps needed, the instructions will say so.

That is the only credible advice.

And no - it's not 'most.' That's just bullshit.
 
For those doing this: here's how to correctly follow the advice, and not do pointless, idiotic, extra steps. Go to the IRCC webpages and check, using the 'get my application package' part here:
https://ircc.canada.ca/english/information/applications/spouse.asp

Select what type of application package (eg sponsor spouse and dependent children), then countries that are applicable (where the spouse and/or children live and for countries issuing the documents of importance (they are listed eg birth certificates, passports, etc).

As an example of a country that does require specific notarial or other steps, Colombia, here's the text (on document procedures):

Colombia​


  • Copies of all needed civil documents must be notarized by the notary’s office (“notaría”) where the documents were registered.
For countries that do not have specific additional document instructions, it will be something like this: eg "France – Instruction(s) for documents - There are currently no special instructions for documents for this country."

Note, in SOME cases the IRCC instructions may specify something (as in Colombia above) that is difficult to do from abroad, and there may be some alternative - like getting docs authenticated at the country's Embassy, or via some other mechanism (possibly apostilles under Hague Convention). IRCC does not always have perfect up to date information. Up to the applicant to look into it (and deal with it if not accepted by IRCC).

But they do NOT require steps like authentication if they don't ask for them.