Certified True Copies

When applying for a job, school, or a visa, you are often asked to provide important documents like your passport, birth certificate, or academic transcripts. Instead of risking your original, irreplaceable documents in the mail, you can provide a Certified True Copy (also known as a Notarized Copy).
A Certified True Copy is a photocopy of an original document that has been verified by a Notary Public to be a genuine and complete reproduction. By affixing their signature, seal, and a specific certification statement, the Notary provides assurance to the receiving party that the copy is identical to the original.
When is a Certified True Copy Required?
Certified copies are standard requirements for many domestic and international processes:
• International Travel & Visas: Notarized copies of passports, marriage certificates, and birth certificates.
• Education & Employment: Degrees, diplomas, and official academic transcripts for foreign universities or licensing bodies.
• Professional Licensing: Providing proof of qualifications to regulatory bodies (e.g., nursing, engineering, or law).
• Business & Finance: Copies of articles of incorporation, lease agreements, or utility bills for corporate reporting or residency verification.
Requirements for Your Appointment
To ensure your documents are certified correctly, please keep the following in mind:
• Bring the Original: Under the Notaries Act (Ontario), a Notary must inspect the physical original document. We cannot certify a copy from a scan, a photo, or another photocopy.
• In-Person Requirement: While some notary services in Ontario can be done virtually, Certified True Copies of physical documents must be done in person. The Notary must physically compare the original to the copy.