Degree & Transcript Certification
Notary Stamp Scarborough
Academic Documents for Study, Work and Immigration Abroad
Almost everyone who asks us to certify a degree is sending it somewhere specific — a university abroad, an employer, a professional body, or an immigration file — and the receiving side decides what form the document has to arrive in. There are only two things a notary does with an academic record: certify that a photocopy is a true copy of the original diploma or transcript you brought in, and notarize a document so that Ontario’s Official Documents Services can attach an apostille or a certificate of authentication to it.
Before you pay for either, check one date. Ontario allows public post-secondary degrees, diplomas and transcripts issued on or after January 1, 2019 to be authenticated directly, with no notarization step at all. If your credential comes from an Ontario public college or university and carries a date from 2019 onwards, that part of the job is not ours — and we would rather say so on the phone than after you have paid for something you did not need.
Everything older than that, anything from an institution outside that category, and anything in a language other than English or French still goes through a notary first. Foreign degrees are a separate case again: Ontario cannot authenticate them at all, and the table further down sets out where each type of document actually goes. Bring the original in either case — certified copies exist precisely so your diploma never leaves your hands.
Proudly serving Scarborough, Toronto, Markham, Vaughan, Mississauga, Richmond Hill, Pickering, Ajax and clients across Ontario.
Why Graduates and Students Come to Us
- A notary public — Official Documents Services authenticates a notary’s seal, not a commissioner’s
- We check the January 2019 rule before you pay for anything
- Certified true copies, so the original diploma stays with you
- $20 for the first document, less for each one after it
- Open 7 days a week, walk-ins welcome, free printing on site
Degrees and Transcripts — What You Should Know
What a notary can and cannot do with an academic record
The notary compares your photocopy against the original degree, diploma or transcript and certifies on the copy that it is a true reproduction of the document produced. That is the whole of it. Certification says nothing about whether the credential was earned or the institution is recognised — that is a credential evaluation, a different service from a different organisation.
Official Documents Services draws the same line at the next stage: it verifies that a signature and seal match the records it holds, and states plainly that it does not validate the contents of documents. Nobody in this chain vouches for your degree; they vouch for the paperwork around it. See our certified true copies page for how the copy itself is handled.
The January 2019 rule that decides whether you need a notary at all
Since Canada joined the Hague Apostille Convention on January 11, 2024, Ontario has widened the list of documents that can be authenticated directly. Ontario-issued public post-secondary degrees, diplomas and transcripts issued on or after January 1, 2019 are on that list: they go straight to Official Documents Services without being notarized first.
Anything older, and anything from an institution outside that public post-secondary category, still has to be notarized by an Ontario notary public first. The deciding factors are the issuing institution and the date printed on the document — not how official it looks.
Why the notary matters more than the commissioner here
Ontario will not authenticate a document commissioned by a commissioner for taking affidavits. Authentication works by matching the seal and signature against the records Official Documents Services keeps for notaries public and other signing authorities, so the notarial seal is the one that carries through to an apostille.
One mechanical detail catches people out: every part of the signature and seal has to appear on the same page. If it straddles two pages, the document has to be notarized again.
A degree issued outside Canada cannot be apostilled in Ontario
Documents issued outside Canada are not eligible for authentication here — a foreign diploma has to be authenticated by the authority in the country that issued it, and there is no Ontario workaround. The one narrow exception is worth understanding before you rely on it: Ontario will authenticate the notarization of a signature sworn or witnessed before an Ontario notary public, even where the underlying document was issued abroad. What travels in that case is the notary’s signature on your sworn statement, not the foreign diploma. Ask the receiving authority in writing which of the two they want, because they are not interchangeable.
Ask the receiving institution before you pay for copies
This is the step people skip, and it wastes the most money. Some universities and credential assessment services accept only a transcript sent directly by the issuing institution in a sealed envelope, and a notarized copy will not satisfy them however correct it is. Others want a certified copy and nothing more. Ask in writing and bring their answer with you. If the document is going abroad, our apostille service page covers the step that follows.
Which Route Your Academic Document Takes
| What you have | Notarized first? | Where it goes next |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario public post-secondary degree, diploma or transcript issued on or after January 1, 2019 | No — eligible for direct authentication | Official Documents Services, for an apostille or certificate of authentication |
| The same document issued before January 1, 2019 | Yes — by an Ontario notary public | Official Documents Services |
| A credential from an institution outside that public post-secondary category | Yes — by an Ontario notary public | Official Documents Services |
| A degree or transcript issued outside Canada | Ontario cannot authenticate the document itself | The authenticating authority in the country that issued it |
| A document in a language other than English or French | Yes, and it must have been issued within Canada | Authentication, with a certified or notary-attested translation |
| A copy for a Canadian employer, school or professional body | A certified true copy is usually all that is asked for | Straight to whoever asked for it — no authentication step |
Not sure which line you are on? Call 416-951-3301 with the name of the institution and the date printed on the document — that usually settles it in a minute.
How It Works
Call or Book
Call 416-951-3301 or send us a message. We are open 7 days a week, including evenings by arrangement.
Visit the Office
Bring a valid government-issued photo ID and your unsigned documents. Free printing and copying is available on site.
Signed & Sealed
Your documents are witnessed, signed, and sealed on the spot — most visits take just a few minutes.
What to Bring for Degree or Transcript Certification
- The original degree, diploma or transcript — a copy cannot be certified from a copy
- Valid photo ID — Passport or Driver’s License
- How many certified copies you need
- The destination country, if the document is going abroad
- The instructions the university, employer or authority sent you
- Any translation already prepared, if the document is not in English or French
Free document printing and copying available on site. We accept Cash and e-Transfer.
Service Fees at a Glance
| Service | Fee (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Notarization of Documents | $20 first document · $15 each (2–5) · $10 each (5+) |
| Certification of Documents (Certified True Copies) | $20 first document · $15 each (2–4) · $10 each (5+) |
| Degree & Transcript Certification | $20 first document · $15 each (2–4) · $10 each (5+) |
| Commissioning (Oaths & Declarations) | $20 first document · $15 each (2–4) · $10 each (5+) |
| Consent to Travel Letters (child travel) | $20 per signature |
| Affidavits | $70 |
| Statutory Declarations | $20 per signature |
| OSAP Affidavits (student aid) | $20 per signature |
| Power of Attorney | $70 |
| Wills & Estate Documents | $20 per signature |
| Real Estate & Deed Documents | $20 per signature |
| Loan & Contract Notarization | $20 per signature |
| Single Status Declaration (marriage abroad) | $20 per signature |
| Letters of Invitation | $70 |
| Apostille | $100 |
| Travel Documents (Lieu of Guarantor) | Price upon request |
| Immigration Consulting | Price upon request |
| Landlord & Tenant Board Matters | Price upon request |
| Small Claims Court | Price upon request |
| Criminal Case | Contact for details |
Fees are determined by the number of notarization signatures, not the number of documents. Free printing and copying. We accept Cash and e-Transfer.
What Our Clients Say
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Good work and at an affordable price.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to notarize my Ontario degree before getting an apostille?
Not if it is an Ontario public post-secondary degree, diploma or transcript issued on or after January 1, 2019 — those are eligible for authentication directly. Anything issued before that date, or by an institution outside that category, still has to be notarized by an Ontario notary public first.
Can you certify a copy of my diploma without the original?
No. The original has to be physically in front of the notary so the copy can be compared against it. A scan, a phone photo or an existing certified copy cannot be used as the source document.
Can I get an apostille in Ontario on a degree from another country?
Not on the degree itself. Documents issued outside Canada are not eligible for authentication in Ontario and must be authenticated in the country that issued them. Ontario will authenticate a notary signature on a document sworn or witnessed before an Ontario notary public, which is a different thing — ask the receiving authority which one they are asking for.
Does certifying my transcript prove my degree is genuine?
No, and it is worth being clear about that. Certification confirms that the copy matches the original document you produced. It says nothing about whether the credential was earned or the institution is recognised — that is a credential evaluation, carried out by a separate organisation.
My transcript is not in English. What happens?
Ontario requires that a document in a language other than English or French be issued within Canada, notarized by an Ontario notary public, and accompanied by a translation. The translation is either certified by a member of a recognised provincial translation association, or attested by a notary public who speaks both languages and certifies the accuracy of the translation.
How long does the authentication step take?
That part is handled by Official Documents Services, not by us. Mail-in requests are processed within 15 business days once ODS receives them, and the standard in-person wait is about 30 minutes when the paperwork is complete. Check the current timelines on ontario.ca before you plan a deadline around them.
How much does Degree & Transcript Certification cost?
Service fee: $20 first document , $15 each (2–4) , $10 each (5+). Fees are determined by the number of notarization signatures, not the number of documents. We accept Cash and e-Transfer.
Do I need an appointment?
We are open 7 days a week: Mon – Fri: 10:00 am – 6:30 pm, Sat – Sun: 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm. Call 416-951-3301 before visiting so we can have everything ready — same-day and last-minute visits are usually no problem.
What should I bring?
A valid government-issued photo ID (Passport or Driver’s License) and your documents, unsigned — the notary must witness your signature. If you need certified copies, bring the original documents. Free printing and copying is available.
What areas do you serve?
Yes. Our office at 1225 Kennedy Road, Scarborough, Ontario, M1P 4Y1, Suite 2000, Unit #2020 serves Scarborough, Toronto, Markham, Vaughan, Mississauga, Richmond Hill, Pickering, Ajax and clients from across Ontario.
Fast & Reliable Notary Services
- 416-951-3301
- kershtein@gmail.com
- 1225 Kennedy Road, Scarborough, Ontario, M1P 4Y1, Suite 2000, Unit #2020
- Mon – Fri: 10:00 am – 6:30 pm
- Sat – Sun: 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm