Canada · Americas
Global Affairs Canada Authentication
Complete document authentication through Global Affairs Canada for all federally and provincially issued documents, including coordination with the correct provincial authority for your document type.
Global Affairs Canada (GAC) authentication is the required process for legalizing Canadian documents for use in the UAE. Unlike countries that use the Hague Apostille, Canadian documents destined for the UAE must be authenticated by GAC and then legalized by the UAE Embassy in Ottawa. Green Apple Attest manages this two-step process end to end from the UAE.
Canada is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, but the UAE authentication process for Canadian documents still involves Global Affairs Canada (GAC) as the authenticating authority. GAC verifies that the signatures, seals, and stamps on your Canadian documents are genuine before the document can be presented to the UAE Embassy in Ottawa for legalization. Without GAC authentication, the UAE Embassy will not accept your documents.
This two-step process — GAC authentication followed by UAE Embassy legalization — replaces the single-step apostille used by many other countries. It requires precise knowledge of which documents GAC accepts, which require prior provincial authentication, and which supporting materials the UAE Embassy demands. Green Apple Attest has built deep expertise in this specific authentication chain and manages it daily from our UAE offices.
Whether you need personal documents (birth certificates, marriage certificates, police clearances) or commercial documents (corporate records, powers of attorney, trade documents) authenticated for UAE use, our team ensures each document follows the correct path through GAC and the UAE Embassy without delays or rejections.
Green Apple Attest provides a seamless experience: one point of contact, one timeline, and one delivery. You submit your documents in the UAE, and we return them fully authenticated and legalized, ready for whatever UAE authority needs them.
Documents required
- 01 Original Canadian document or certified copy requiring authentication
- 02 Provincial notarization or authentication (completed beforehand, or arranged through Green Apple Attest)
- 03 Clear photocopy of your valid passport (data page)
- 04 Completed Green Apple Attest service request form
- 05 Authorization letter granting Green Apple Attest permission to process the document through GAC and the UAE Embassy
- 06 Details of the UAE authority or entity requesting the authenticated document
Special requirements
- § Documents issued in Quebec follow a distinct provincial authentication path through the Chambre des notaires du Quebec or the Quebec Ministry of Justice before GAC submission.
- § Federal documents (such as those from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) may go directly to GAC without provincial authentication, but must bear original departmental signatures.
How it works
- 01 Submit your Canadian document and supporting materials to Green Apple Attest via secure courier or at our UAE office.
- 02 We verify that provincial-level authentication is complete and that the document meets GAC's acceptance criteria.
- 03 Green Apple Attest submits the document to Global Affairs Canada in Ottawa for authentication.
- 04 Once GAC authentication is complete, we immediately forward the document to the UAE Embassy in Ottawa for legalization.
- 05 The fully authenticated and legalized document is securely shipped to your UAE address.
- 06 You receive the completed document along with a processing summary confirming both GAC and UAE Embassy stamps.
Insider tips
Frequently asked questions
An apostille is a single-step authentication accepted between Hague Convention members. GAC authentication is the Canadian equivalent used for countries that require embassy legalization. For UAE-bound documents, GAC authenticates the document first, then the UAE Embassy in Ottawa legalizes it. Green Apple Attest handles both steps.
Yes. All Canadian documents intended for official use in the UAE must be authenticated by GAC and legalized by the UAE Embassy. This applies to personal, educational, and commercial documents alike.
GAC standard processing takes approximately 10-20 business days. The subsequent UAE Embassy legalization adds another 5-10 business days. Green Apple Attest provides a combined timeline estimate and monitors both stages in real time.
Many documents require provincial-level notarization or authentication before GAC will accept them. For example, vital records may need provincial authentication, and notarized documents must be certified by a provincial authority. Green Apple Attest determines the specific pre-requirements for your document.
Yes. Our Provincial Pre-Authentication service covers the provincial step. We can manage the entire chain from provincial authentication through GAC and the UAE Embassy as a single coordinated package.
Other Canada services
Provincial Pre-Authentication
Processing through the appropriate provincial authentication office (Ontario, BC, Alberta, Quebec, and all other provinces) as the required first step before Global Affairs Canada submission.
RCMP Police Clearance Bundle
End-to-end service covering fingerprinting coordination, RCMP criminal record check application, and full authentication chain through provincial and federal levels for UAE immigration purposes.
Canadian Degree Attestation
Full attestation of university and college degrees including transcript verification, notarization, provincial authentication, GAC validation, and UAE embassy attestation.
Express Canadian Processing
Expedited handling through all authentication stages with priority submission to Global Affairs Canada and same-day UAE embassy processing upon completion.
Tell us what you're working toward. We'll map every stamp.
Visa, job, university, company formation — share the objective and we'll return a full attestation plan with timelines and fees within one business day.