Apostille in Prince Edward Island
Provincial authentication service discontinued (December 15, 2023)
Official page: "Effective December 15, 2023, the Government of Prince Edward Island will no longer be providing authentication services"; requests received after that date "will be returned to the sender... advised to forward the request to Global Affairs Canada."
Prince Edward Island does not issue its own apostilles
There is no apostille authority in Prince Edward Island. Documents issued or notarized here are apostilled by Global Affairs Canada, Authentication Services Section (JLAC), and you deal with that office directly.
Everything under the headings below is that office's own published process, not Prince Edward Island's — each heading says so. Remote-notarization rules further down the page ARE Prince Edward Island's own.
Which documents this office will accept at Global Affairs Canada, Authentication Services Section (JLAC)
- Wet ink
The document must carry an original, hand-signed signature (and seal where one applies).
An electronically notarized document — what a remote online notarization produces — cannot satisfy that, so a RON notarization cannot feed this paper chain.
- Copies
Plain photocopies refused. Vital statistics: notarized copies NOT accepted ("if you need a copy, it must be issued by the appropriate vital statistics office")
- From the source
Document must bear "an original, recognized signature (and seal, if applicable)". Pocket-sized certificates and religious-institution documents refused. Laminated/glued documents refused. Non-English/French documents need a certified translation (member of a provincial translators' association) or notarized translator attestation; exceptions: diplomas in Greek/Latin, proof-of-life documents under half a page. Remote-notarization interplay: GAC requires original/wet-ink signatures and seals — remotely executed, purely electronic notarizations are generally unusable for apostille unless printed/wet-signed by the commissioner
By document type
| Document type | What this office requires |
|---|---|
| provincial/territorial vital statistics birth/death/marriage certificates; divorce certificates signed by a court clerk; original university/college diplomas signed by registrar; RCMP HQ criminal record checks with Director General signature + dry seal; court documents with original seal/signature/judge's name | No notarization needed |
| provincial/municipal police checks, bank documents, medical documents, school (K-12) diplomas, business records, private legal documents, etc. | Notarization required |
Certifications you may need first at Global Affairs Canada, Authentication Services Section (JLAC)
No additional certification step is required before the apostille.
The request form at Global Affairs Canada, Authentication Services Section (JLAC)
- Form
A PDF request form.
- Form number
EXT2165
- Where to get it
- From the source
Authentication Request form EXT2165
Requesting online at Global Affairs Canada, Authentication Services Section (JLAC)
- Online route
Part of the request is made online; the documents themselves still reach the office on paper.
- From the source
Partial — online triage portal (launched Oct 30, 2025) to determine document requirements and start a request; physical documents must still be mailed/dropped off
What it costs at Global Affairs Canada, Authentication Services Section (JLAC)
| Fee | Applies to | Details |
|---|---|---|
| No fee | all (requests submitted in Canada) | "We do not charge a fee for our service." |
| $50.00 CAD per document | all (requests at Canadian diplomatic/consular missions abroad) | At Canadian missions abroad: $50/document (Consular Fees (Specialized Services) Regulations; per HCCH page) |
How to pay at Global Affairs Canada, Authentication Services Section (JLAC)
- Accepted methods
The source does not itemize which payment methods this office accepts.
- From the source
N/A (free in Canada). Return shipping is the applicant's responsibility — see returnShipping
Where to send your documents at Global Affairs Canada, Authentication Services Section (JLAC)
- Mailing address
- Global Affairs Canada, Authentication Services Section, 2421 Lancaster Road, Ottawa, ON K1B 4L5, Canada
- From the source
Address in effect since Aug 15, 2024
How long it takes at Global Affairs Canada, Authentication Services Section (JLAC)
- By mail
90% of applications in 25 business days (the site phrases it as currently processing applications received 25 business days ago), plus mailing time "normally 5-10 business days if shipped from Canada."
- Expedited
Priority processing only for "exceptional and urgent circumstances outside of your control."
- From the source
The office runs a rolling date-based queue and posts the live currently-processing date on its updates page; the reference snapshot records the ~25-business-day figure, not a dated queue position, so this is encoded as fixedRange (rollingDate requires the posted date — never invented)
Getting your documents back
A self-addressed stamped envelope is required.
Courier account numbers are not accepted; only prepaid labels
Applicant must enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope or prepaid courier shipping label for return
Checking status and verifying an apostille at Global Affairs Canada, Authentication Services Section (JLAC)
- Verify an issued apostille
https://apostille-gac.powerappsportals.com/en/eregister-eregistre/
Verification tool launched June 20, 2025; verifies apostilles issued by Global Affairs Canada, Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia
- Check a request's status
Online portal for service request numbers starting "R-"
Remote online notarization
- Status
No remote-notarization framework was located for this jurisdiction — nothing authorizing it and nothing prohibiting it.
- How the signer is identified
None prescribed; lawyer client-ID rules (photo ID) apply
- Fee caps
No maximum fee is recorded here for a remote act or for a standard notarial act. A missing cap is not the same as “no cap” — the reason is in the notes below.
- From the source
No framework found. No PEI statute, regulation or Law Society of PEI guidance on remote/virtual commissioning or notarization located (law society site has no such content). Default: physical presence before a commissioner (Affidavits taken under the Evidence Act) / notary (Notaries Public Act). COVID-era accommodations, if any, were informal and have lapsed (unverified). Who can do it: notaries public and commissioners for taking affidavits (lawyers ex officio) — in person. Fee rules: no statutory cap found (unverified)