In short: 10 offices in Canada verify, attest or issue the papers a student visa asks for. For each: what it does, the official portal, the steps, the fee as its official page prints it and its offices, read on 16 October 2026.
Global Affairs Canada - Authentication Services Section
Apostille (or authentication) of federal Canadian documents, such as an RCMP criminal record check, and documents from provinces that do not issue their own apostilles. Some provinces (Ontario, Quebec, BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan) do their own documents.
Apostilles for Ontario papers: birth certificates, Ontario public college and university degrees, diplomas and transcripts issued since 1 January 2019, court papers and papers signed by an Ontario notary.
Check with the embassy or university abroad what they need.
Check your document is eligible and start the request on the ODS portal (or use the paper form: https://forms.mgcs.gov.on.ca/en/dataset/002-35-5118).
Send the originals by mail to ODS, or go in person to ODS in Toronto or a select ServiceOntario office (Ottawa, Sault Ste. Marie, Windsor, Thunder Bay).
Pay the fee per document (Canadian dollars).
Mail-in: ready within 15 business days. In person: about 30 minutes if your papers are complete.
Appointment: Book in-person visits online: https://cxp.mgcs.gov.on.ca/eab-web/home
Fee, as the official page prints it: Ontario public postsecondary degree, diploma or transcript: $32; Ontario government official document: $32; Notarized legal document: $16 (fees apply per document) (official source, checked 16 October 2026)
Offices
Toronto: 777 Bay Street, Lower Level, Toronto, ON M7A 2J8. Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed statutory holidays)
BC Authentication Program (Ministry of Attorney General)
Apostilles for British Columbia public documents (for example BC birth certificates) and some federal papers notarized in BC. Papers from other provinces go elsewhere.
Check with the embassy or university abroad what they need.
Check your document type on the BC guide. Some papers must first be notarized by a BC notary; others must not be.
If any part is not in English, add a notarized translation.
Mail or courier the original documents with the fee to the BC Authentication Program.
Wait 2 to 4 weeks plus mail time. A courier is suggested.
Fee, as the official page prints it: The fee is $20 per document authenticated. (official source, checked 16 October 2026)
Offices
Victoria: Ministry of Attorney General, OIC Administration Office, Attention: BC Authentication Program, 1001 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC V8W 2C5 (mail or courier). Not confirmed on an official page; check before you go.
Alberta Official Documents and Appointments (apostille)
Apostilles for Alberta papers: birth certificates (polymer, after 1 February 2008), education records certified by the school's registrar, notarized copies and non-RCMP police checks. RCMP checks go to Global Affairs Canada.
Make sure each document meets the rules (for school records: certified by the registrar with an original signature and embossed seal).
List your documents on the Apostille Request Form or a cover sheet.
Pay online through Alberta eServices and print the emailed receipt.
Mail or courier the documents, the cover sheet and the receipt. Add a prepaid electronic waybill if you want them back by courier.
Allow at least 7 to 10 business days. There is no walk-in or rush service.
Appointment: No in-person service; the front counter is closed.
Fee, as the official page prints it: An apostille costs $25 per document (official source, checked 16 October 2026)
Offices
Edmonton: Official Documents and Appointments, #111, 9833 109 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2E8 (mail or courier only). Not confirmed on an official page; check before you go.
Go to your local police service, or to an RCMP-accredited private fingerprinting company (list: https://rcmp.ca/en/criminal-records/criminal-record-checks/private-fingerprinting-companies-accredited-rcmp).
Give your fingerprints there; they send them electronically to the RCMP.
Pay the RCMP federal fee plus the company's or police service's own fee.
If there is no match to a record, the result is usually ready in 3 business days or less, plus Canada Post mail time. If it needs manual checking, it can take about 120 business days.
If the country abroad wants an apostille on the RCMP check, send it to Global Affairs Canada.
Appointment: Book directly with your local police or an accredited fingerprinting company.
Fee, as the official page prints it: The federal processing fee is 25 Canadian dollar for each criminal record check. (official source, checked 16 October 2026)
Have ready: names, date and city of birth, parents' details, your mailing address and phone, and a guarantor if the person is 9 or older.
Apply and pay online with Visa or Mastercard (credit or debit).
Check status online one business day later: https://www.orgforms.gov.on.ca/status
Regular service: 15 business days plus Canada Post delivery.
Appointment: In-person applications at 47 Sheppard Avenue East, Toronto (the only place for emergency service) or Ottawa City Hall.
Fee, as the official page prints it: Regular online: 15 business days plus Canada Post delivery - $25; Premium online: 5 business days including courier delivery - $55 (official source, checked 16 October 2026)
Offices
Toronto: 47 Sheppard Avenue East, Toronto (Sheppard and Doris). Not confirmed on an official page; check before you go.
Ottawa: Ottawa City Hall. Not confirmed on an official page; check before you go.
Online: order on the Vital Statistics secure site with a credit card (only for yourself, or a parent for a child).
In person: go to any Service BC counter with the birth details and payment.
By mail: send form VSA 430B with payment to Vital Statistics Agency, PO Box 9657 Stn Prov Govt, Victoria, B.C. V8W 9P3.
Mail delivery takes four to six weeks; courier delivery prints the next business day after all details are received.
Fee, as the official page prints it: $27 per birth certificate (mail delivery); $60 per birth certificate (courier delivery) (official source, checked 16 October 2026)
In Alberta: take the form and your ID to a registry agent. Forms sent straight to Vital Statistics are not processed.
Outside Alberta: sign the Statutory Declaration for Proof of Identity in front of a notary or commissioner for oaths, then mail the original forms to Registry Connect or AMA.
Vital Statistics normally processes it within 3 business days, plus delivery time.
Fee, as the official page prints it: There is a $20 government fee for each birth document ordered. (official source, checked 16 October 2026)
U.S. Embassy Ottawa and U.S. Consulates General in Canada; appointments through the official ais.usvisa-info.com system. · Official booking
Get your Form I-20 from the US school and pay the separate SEVIS fee.
Fill in Form DS-160 online at https://ceac.state.gov/CEAC and keep the confirmation number.
Create an account on ais.usvisa-info.com/en-ca, add your details and the DS-160 number.
Pay the visa application fee (the official fee page shows '$185 USD' for (F) Academic Student).
Pick a consulate and book the interview, then go to the appointment with your documents.
Ottawa: Embassy of the United States, 490 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 1G8. Not confirmed on an official page; check before you go.
Toronto: U.S. Consulate General Toronto, 225 Simcoe Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1S4. Not confirmed on an official page; check before you go.
Montreal: U.S. Consulate General Montreal, 1134 Saint-Catherine St. West, Montréal, Québec, H3B 1H4. Not confirmed on an official page; check before you go.
Vancouver: U.S. Consulate General Vancouver, 1075 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 2M6. Not confirmed on an official page; check before you go.
Calgary: U.S. Consulate General Calgary, 615 Macleod Trail SE, Suite 1000, Calgary, Alberta, T2G 4T8. Not confirmed on an official page; check before you go.
Halifax: U.S. Consulate General Halifax, Suite 904, Purdy's Wharf Tower II, 1969 Upper Water Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3J 3R7. Not confirmed on an official page; check before you go.
Quebec City: U.S. Consulate General Québec City, 2, rue de la Terrasse Dufferin, Quebec, Quebec, G1R 4N5. Not confirmed on an official page; check before you go.
German Consulate General in Toronto takes long-stay (national) visa applications for people living in Canada for more than six months. Ottawa, Montreal and Vancouver do not accept visa applications. · Official booking
Check the Visa Navigator (https://visa.diplo.de/en/#/vib) to confirm you need a national visa for studies.
Book a free appointment online with the Consulate General in Toronto in the correct visa category (one appointment per person; wrong bookings are deleted).
Apply no earlier than three months before travel.
Go to the appointment with your documents; any visa fee is charged on the day.
Wait for the consulate to contact you with the decision.
Toronto: Not confirmed on an official page; check before you go.. Not confirmed on an official page; check before you go.