Obtain a Legal Document - The Bahamas High Commission

OBTAIN BAHAMIAN DOCUMENTS

Canada is not a party to “The Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents” (1961); therefore, public documents originating in Canada for use in The Bahamas, must be legalized by Bahamas diplomatic or consular agents in Ottawa.

Bahamians can obtain a certified copy of deeds and other legal documents that have been recorded at the Deeds and Documents Registry at the Registrar General’s Department.

OBTAINING LEGAL DOCUMENTS FROM THE BAHAMAS
AUTHENTICATION OF DOCUMENTS FOR USE IN CANADA/BAHAMAS
PROVINCIAL AUTHORITIES RESPONSIBLE FOR ATTESTATION OF NOTARIES
AUTHENTICATION FEES
OBTAINING/EXCHANGING BAHAMIAN DRIVER'S LICENSE

Deeds and Document Certification

Bahamians can obtain a certified copy of deeds and other legal documents that have been recorded at the Deeds and Documents Registry at the Registrar General’s Department.

Eligibility

There are no eligibility criteria for this service.

Process

Complete the relevant application form.
Submit completed application form to the Deeds and Documents Section of the Registrar General’s Department.
Pay applicable fees.

Application Form(s)

Application Form for certified copy of deeds and documents. (This form can be obtained at the Deeds and Documents Section of the Registrar General’s Department)

Supporting Documents

Completed application form.

Turn-around time

Contact relevant service authority for more information on processing time.

Deadline

There are no deadlines for this service.

Related Fee(s)

There is a fee of BS$4.00 a page attached to this service.

For more information please contact

Deeds & Documents Section
Registrar General’s Department
Cor. of Shirley and Charlotte Street
P.O. Box N 532
Nassau
New Providence
The Bahamas
Tel.
(242) 397-9162
(242) 397-9165
(242) 397-9158
Fax. (242) 322-5553
Email. [email protected]

Opening Hours: 9:30am to 4:00pm, Monday to Friday

Execution of documents in Canada may be done before a Bahamas Consular Officer or Canadian Notary Public as follows:

(A) Execution before Bahamas Consular Officer:

(i) Sign the document in front of the consular officer and witness, if one is required, (e.g. conveyances).
(ii) Where a witness is provided, he/she must complete an Affidavit attesting to the signing.

(B) Execution before a Notary Public:

(i) Sign in front of a Notary of good standing and, witness if required.
(ii) The witness completes an Affidavit attesting to the signing, before the Notary.
(iii) The Notary signs the document(s) and places his seal and stamp on it.
(iv) The signature, seal and stamp of the Notary must then be certified by the designated Provincial authority.
For further information on authenticating Canadian documents please visit http://www.international.gc.ca/department-ministere/authentication-authentification_documents.aspx?lang=eng

Once the document has been certified by the relevant Provincial authority, forward all documents to The Bahamas High Commission, affixed with the certificate from the Provincial authority, and an authentication fee of US$60.00 per document. The application fee has to be the EXACT amount and only in U.S. dollars in the form of a bank cheque, a bank money order or a postal money order, made payable to The Bahamas High Commission. The Bahamas High Commission will NOT accept Canadian currency, cash, personal or business cheques or credit cards. For the return of your documents, from The Bahamas High Commission to your address, please submit a prepaid courier package to The Bahamas High Commission at the time of application.

A. Federal Level
Governor General
Authentication Officer, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

B. Provincial Level
Province
Provincial Authority

ALBERTA
Lieutenant Governor Office of the Lieutenant Governor Legislative Building
Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2B6
Office of the Deputy Attorney General
9833 – 109 Street Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2E8
Tel: (780) 427-5981 Fax: (780) 427-8621

BRITISH COLUMBIA
Lieutenant Governor Government House Victoria, British Columbia V8S 1V9
Society of Notaries Public 1407 – 736 Granville Street Vancouver, British Columbia V6Z 1G3 (604) 681-4516
The Law Society of British Columbia 845 Cambie Street Vancouver, British Columbia V6B 4Z9 1-800-903-5300 (toll free within British Columbia)
TTY: 604-443-5700 Fax: (604) 609-5232
Ministry of Provincial Secretary & Government Services Parliament Buildings Vancouver, British Columbia V8V 1X4

MANITOBA
Lieutenant Governor Government House Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 1S4 Tel: (204) 945-2753 Fax: (204) 945-4329

NEW BRUNSWICK
Lieutenant Governor Office of Lieutenant Governor P.O. Box 6000 Fredericton, New Brunswick E38 5H1

NEWFOUNDLAND
Lieutenant Governor Government House St. John’s, Newfoundland A1C 5W4
Department of Justice St. John’s, Newfoundland

NOVA SCOTIA
Lieutenant Governor Government House Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 1Z2

ONTARIO
Ministry of Government Services 777 Bay Street Toronto, ON M5G 2C8
Tel: (416) 326-8555
Toll Free: 1-800-268-1142
Management Board Secretariat Official Documents Services 9th Floor, 77 Grenville Street Toronto, Ontario M5S 1B3
Tel: (416) 325-8416
Fax: (416) 325-8434

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
Lieutenant Governor Government House Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island C1A 7L9

QUEBEC
Lieutenant Gouverneur Cabinet du Lieutenant Gouverneur Québec
Chambre des Notaires du Québec Suite 1700 630 Ouest Boulevard Dorchester Montréal, Québec H3B 1T6
Tel: (514) 879-1793

SASKATCHEWAN
Lieutenant Governor Lieutenant Governor’s Office Hotel Saskatchewan Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 0S3
Saskatchewan Provincial Secretary 1874 Scarth Street Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 3U7
Tel: (306) 787-2951

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
Inspector of Legal Offices Department of Justice & Public Services Northwest Territories

YUKON
Administrator of Yukon Box 2703 Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C6
Tel: (403) 667-5811

FEES

Administering an oath or receiving a declaration, Affirmation or attestation: US$150.00
Authenticating or legalising a signature or seal: US$60.00
(a) For each additional signature/seal within the document except where this service is included under another fee: US$20.00
Supplying a witness or attestation: US$20.00
Uniting documents and sealing the fastening: US$20.00
Obtaining a legalization or other certification from another authority upon any document in addition to cost, if any: US$50.00
Preparing any certificate, declaration or document not otherwise provided for: US$25.00
Certify a copy of a document: US$30.00

The processing fee must be the EXACT amount and only in U.S. dollars in the form of a bank cheque, a bank money order or a postal money order, made payable to The Bahamas High Commission. The Bahamas High Commission will NOT accept Canadian currency, cash, personal or business cheques or credit cards.

Clients are required to provide a prepaid courier envelope for the return of all documents.

The Bahamas Commission DOES NOT issue or facilitate the acquisition of Bahamian Drivers Licenses. To obtain or renew a Bahamian Drivers License, Bahamian Nationals must contact The Bahamas Road Traffic Department.

To exchange Bahamian Drivers License, nationals must submit formal request for a Drivers License Authentication Letter to the Bahamas High Commission. For more information on application process, visit Obtaining Canadian Drivers License.