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For a Canada visa in 2026 you need a passport, civil-registry certificates, your diploma, a police clearance and — depending on the purpose — financial and supporting documents, with a full certified translation for IRCC. Canada joined the Hague Apostille Convention, in force for it since 11 January 2024, so documents from Ukraine now need only a Ukrainian apostille, with no consular legalization. Below are checklists by purpose — immigration (PR), study and visitor visa — and where an apostille is truly required versus where a translation is enough.
Which Documents You Need for Canada: Lists for Immigration (PR), Study and Visa
Your package depends on the purpose, because IRCC has different checklists for a visitor visa, study permit and Express Entry. For immigration (PR) you typically prepare a passport, birth and marriage/divorce certificates, your diploma with transcript, a police clearance, a language test result and proof of funds. For a study permit — your letter of acceptance, diploma or school certificate and proof of funds. For a visitor visa — passport, bank statements, bookings and an invitation. The passport is not translated. Civil-registry certificates, educational documents and a police clearance for Canada need translation, and for credential evaluation and certain provincial bodies an apostille as well. Check the current IRCC checklist for your exact program.
Apostille for Canada in 2026: Hague Convention Since 11 Jan 2024, Which Authority Issues It and the Cost
Canada has been in the Hague Apostille Convention since 11 January 2024, so documents from Ukraine are legalized with a single Ukrainian apostille — the old claim that Canada is not in the Hague is no longer true. Three authorities issue the apostille by document type: the Ministry of Education and Science (MON) for diplomas, school certificates and other educational papers; the Ministry of Justice for civil-registry and notarial documents; the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the police clearance; and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the rest. It is not a single office. The state fee from 1 January 2026 is UAH 670 for individuals and UAH 1160 for legal entities — a state charge separate from agency services. An apostille on a diploma for Canada via MON is usually needed for credential evaluation and provinces rather than for the IRCC application itself.
Translating Documents for Canada: Certified Translation for IRCC and Credential Evaluation via WES/ECA
IRCC accepts a certified translation — a full, word-for-word translation of the document including every seal and stamp, plus the translator's statement of accuracy; the translator may not be a family member. Ukraine has no sworn-translator institution, so this means a certified or notarized translation. If the translator is outside Canada, IRCC asks for the translator's notarized affidavit rather than an apostille on the original — an apostille is usually not required for the submission itself. For credential evaluation via WES, Ukrainians since December 2020 do not need a certified translation: documents go through ENIC Ukraine (SE Information and Image Centre), though an apostille on educational documents is often still required.
We prepare your documents end to end — apostille, certified translation and full support; order your apostille for Canada documents at the Etalon bureau.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need an apostille to submit documents to IRCC?
For the IRCC submission itself an apostille on the original is usually not required — you need a certified translation of your documents. The apostille is more often needed separately: for credential evaluation via WES/ECA and for some provincial bodies. So separate the stages: IRCC wants the translation, while a diploma apostille is mainly for recognition and provinces.
Which translation does Canada accept: certified or notarized?
IRCC requires a certified translation — a full translation with all seals and stamps plus the translator's statement of accuracy. The translator cannot be a member of your family. Ukraine has no sworn translator, so a certified or notarized translation is done; for a translator outside Canada you add the translator's notarized affidavit, not an apostille on the translation itself.
How much does an apostille for Canada documents cost in 2026 and who issues it?
The state fee from 1 January 2026 is UAH 670 for individuals and UAH 1160 for legal entities — a separate state charge, not the agency price. Three authorities issue the apostille by document type: MON for educational documents, the Ministry of Justice for civil-registry and notarial documents, the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the police clearance, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the rest. Timelines and agency services are billed separately.
In short: for Canada in 2026, build your package by purpose with a full certified translation for IRCC, and add the apostille where it is genuinely needed — for credential evaluation via WES/ECA and provincial bodies, not just in case. Remember the three authorities (MON, Justice, Foreign Affairs) and the state fee of UAH 670/1160. The Etalon bureau helps you assemble documents remotely across Ukraine and from abroad.
