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Which Documents Can Be Commissioned Online in Ontario?

By Secure Commission · Updated

People preparing a document often search for "commissioning documents" without knowing exactly which category their paperwork falls into, or whether a commissioner of oaths can even handle it. Here is a plain-language rundown of which documents a commissioner of oaths in Ontario can commission remotely, which ones are commonly confused with it, and which ones need a notary instead.

What "commissioning a document" means

Commissioning a document means a commissioner of oaths administers an oath or affirmation, or takes a solemn declaration, confirming that the person signing swears or declares its contents to be true. Since 2020, Ontario has permitted this to happen remotely by video under O. Reg. 431/20, made under the Commissioners for Taking Affidavits Act. See our guide on whether remote commissioning is legal in Ontario for the full requirements.

Documents commonly commissioned remotely in Ontario

A commissioner of oaths can commission most documents that require a sworn statement rather than a notarized copy, including:

  • Affidavits
  • Statutory declarations
  • Consent letters (for example, child travel consent)
  • Solemn declarations
  • Immigration and citizenship forms
  • Financial and insurance declarations
  • Government application forms
  • Landlord and tenant declarations

If you are unsure whether your document is an affidavit or a statutory declaration, our guide on statutory declarations vs. affidavits explains the difference.

Where these documents come up most often

In practice, most remote commissioning requests fall into a few recurring situations:

What a commissioner of oaths cannot do

A commissioner of oaths is not the same as a notary public, and the two roles cover different documents. A commissioner cannot certify that a copy of a document is a true copy, cannot notarize a document, and cannot issue an apostille for documents headed outside Canada. If your document needs any of those, you need a notary public instead. Our commissioner of oaths vs. notary public comparison walks through the difference in more detail.

Not sure if your document qualifies?

The organization asking for your document (a court, government office, insurer, lender or employer) ultimately decides whether it will accept a remotely commissioned document. Before booking, check what the form or request actually asks for, and if anything is unclear, contact us and we will confirm within one business day.

What it costs

Single-document commissioning starts at $29 CAD, with a monthly plan for up to 10 documents available at $99 CAD. Pricing is always shown before any payment is collected.

Ready to get your document commissioned? Book an appointment or read how it works.

Frequently asked questions

Can a power of attorney be commissioned online?

The portion of a power of attorney document that needs a commissioner's signature can typically be commissioned remotely in Ontario, the same as an affidavit or statutory declaration. Some financial institutions or land registry offices have their own witnessing or notarization requirements for specific power-of-attorney documents, so confirm with the receiving organization before booking.

Can documents for use outside Canada be commissioned through Secure Commission?

No. Documents that will be used outside Canada typically need to be notarized, and many countries also require an apostille. A commissioner of oaths cannot notarize documents or issue an apostille, so a notary public is needed for those.

What if I am not sure which category my document falls into?

Contact Secure Commission before booking. Tell us what the document is for and which organization will receive it, and we will confirm within one business day whether it can be commissioned remotely.

This guide is general information about remote commissioning in Ontario and is not legal advice.

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