Notary public in Ontario
1,678 notaries and commissioners across 108 cities and towns, with hours, weekend availability and mobile service. Pick your city.
Largest cities
More cities and towns
- Innisfil (2)
- Timmins (1)
- Lakeshore (2)
- East Gwillimbury (1)
- Fort Erie (2)
- LaSalle (1)
- Centre Wellington (2)
- Leamington (2)
- Grimsby (2)
- King (1)
- Lincoln (1)
- Strathroy-Caradoc (2)
- Thorold (1)
- Amherstburg (2)
- Huntsville (1)
- Port Colborne (2)
- Russell (1)
- Pelham (2)
- North Grenville (1)
- Midland (2)
- North Perth (1)
- St. Clair (2)
- West Nipissing / Nipissing Ouest (2)
- Trent Hills (1)
- South Glengarry (1)
- Tiny (2)
- Brock (1)
- Kincardine (2)
- Brighton (1)
- Erin (1)
- Norwich (1)
- Mapleton (1)
- North Dumfries (1)
- Grey Highlands (1)
- South Huron (1)
- Cavan Monaghan (2)
- Mono (1)
- Plympton-Wyoming (1)
- Alnwick/Haldimand (2)
- Wainfleet (1)
- Petrolia (2)
- Asphodel-Norwood (1)
- Perth South (1)
- Point Edward (2)
Who can notarize in Ontario
Ontario notaries are appointed under the Notaries Act. Lawyers and paralegals licensed by the Law Society of Ontario are not notaries automatically: they apply and are appointed for life while in good standing.
Other people can be appointed only when their job needs it, for 10 years, and may notarize only documents for that employer or organization, never for the public.
A notary can
- Witness and attest the signing of a document.
- Certify a true copy of a document.
- Everything a commissioner for taking affidavits can do: administer oaths and take affidavits, statutory declarations and affirmations.
Good to know
- Remote notarization is not permitted in Ontario: the notary must be with you in person.
- A notary must refuse a document they know or should know is incomplete, misleading or fraudulent.
- A document that was only commissioned (sworn before a commissioner) can’t be apostilled by Ontario; it needs a notary’s seal.
Commissioner of oaths or notary? Lawyers and paralegals are commissioners for taking affidavits by virtue of their office. A commissioner can swear an affidavit or declaration but can’t certify a true copy or notarize a signature. Which do you need?
Source: Ontario: Information for notaries public in Ontario. Checked October 23, 2026.
Getting a document apostilled in Ontario
Issued by Ontario Official Documents Services (Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement). $16 a document for a notarized document; $32 for an Ontario government, court or post-secondary document. Within 15 business days by mail; about 30 minutes in person when everything is in order (court documents can take up to 10 business days).
Steps, documents and address