As of January 11, 2024, Canada joined a list of 125 countries that are active parties to the Convention of 5 October 1961. Through the Hague Conference on Private International Law, the Convention of 5 October 1961 is a multinational treaty abolishing the requirement of legalization for foreign public documents for use in numerous countries around the world. Various types of documents such as government issued certified documents (corporate documents, birth certificates, divorce decrees, etc.) will no longer be required to have to go through the various channels of certification by the Embassy or Consulate offices within Canada for use in any country who is currently party to the Hague Convention for Apostille purposes. Countries which are signatories to the Apostille Convention are required to accept the Apostille issued by any other country who is also signatory to the Convention making it a time-saving and cost-effective process.