How to Get an Apostille for New Brunswick Documents
New Brunswick documents destined for use abroad follow a single route: because the province has no designated competent authority under the Apostille Convention, apostilles for New Brunswick documents are issued by Global Affairs Canada. Whether you are in Moncton, Fredericton, Saint John, or a smaller community, the process is the same — and it is entirely workable by mail.
Who Apostilles New Brunswick Documents
Since Canada's accession to the Apostille Convention on 11 January 2024, provincial competent authorities exist in Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan. New Brunswick is not on that list, so Global Affairs Canada apostilles documents issued or notarized in New Brunswick — the same office that handles federal documents like RCMP criminal record checks.
There is no walk-in apostille service anywhere in the province. Every New Brunswick apostille request travels to Ottawa, which is why most people handle the process remotely from the start.
A Bilingual Province: English and French Documents Both Work
New Brunswick is Canada's only officially bilingual province, and its records reflect that: Service New Brunswick issues vital statistics certificates with bilingual formatting, notaries practice in English and French, and Université de Moncton issues credentials in French while UNB and Mount Allison issue them in English.
For apostille purposes the language of the document does not matter — Global Affairs Canada verifies signatures and seals, not language. What matters is the destination: a French-language document may be accepted as-is in France or Belgium, while an English-language document going to a non-English-speaking country may need a certified translation after the apostille. Check the receiving authority's expectation before commissioning translations.
Preparing Each Type of Document
Vital records — birth, marriage, and death certificates — should be recent originals from Service New Brunswick, since worn or laminated certificates are commonly rejected. Personal and legal documents such as powers of attorney, statutory declarations, and certified copies must first be notarized by a New Brunswick notary public, because it is the notary's signature that Global Affairs Canada verifies.
Degrees and transcripts from UNB, Université de Moncton, Mount Allison, or St. Thomas are typically prepared as notarized copies unless the institutional signature can be verified directly.
- Vital records: fresh originals from Service New Brunswick
- Legal and personal documents: notarized by a New Brunswick notary public
- University credentials (UNB, Moncton, Mount Allison, St. Thomas): notarized copies in most cases
- RCMP checks and other federal documents: go to Global Affairs Canada as issued
Submitting to Global Affairs Canada — and the Non-Hague Detour
The prepared package goes to Global Affairs Canada with the request forms and the destination country identified. Fees and processing times are set by the government and vary, so start early relative to your deadline.
If the destination is not an Apostille Convention member, Global Affairs Canada authenticates the document instead, and the final stamp comes from the destination country's embassy or consulate in Canada. The document preparation is identical either way.
How Visa Jet Helps New Brunswickers
Visa Jet is a private Canadian document agency — not a government office and not affiliated with Service New Brunswick or Global Affairs Canada. We work remotely with clients across New Brunswick: reviewing documents by email, arranging notarization, ordering fresh records where needed, submitting to Global Affairs Canada, coordinating certified translation in either official language, and returning everything by secure courier.
We never guarantee government processing times or acceptance by foreign authorities — no legitimate agency can — but we do make sure each document enters the chain correctly prepared. Reach us at info@visajet.ca or +1 819-635-8787.
Frequently asked questions
No New Brunswick city has an apostille office, because the province has no designated competent authority. All New Brunswick documents are apostilled by Global Affairs Canada, and the process runs by mail or courier from anywhere in the province.
No. Global Affairs Canada verifies the signature and seal regardless of language. Whether the destination country requires a certified translation afterward depends on its own rules, so confirm with the receiving authority.
Only if the destination country requires it. A French-language credential going to France or another francophone destination typically needs no translation, while other destinations may require a certified translation into their language after the apostille is attached.
Timelines are set by Global Affairs Canada and vary. Factor in time to order fresh Service New Brunswick records, notarize, translate if needed, and courier. Visa Jet helps you sequence the steps but cannot guarantee or shorten government processing.
Important: Visa Jet is a private travel, visa, and document support agency. We are not a government office, embassy, or consulate. We assist with document preparation, legalization support, application review, embassy submission, and tracking. Final approval and processing times are determined by the embassy, consulate, government office, or destination country. We do not provide immigration, permanent residence, or citizenship advice or representation — including programs such as the Start-up Visa, Express Entry, and provincial nominee streams — which require a licensed immigration consultant or lawyer.
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